1Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin, of Jerusalem. 2And he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. 3And when he firmly established the kingdom, he killed the servants who had killed his father, King Joash. 4But he did not kill their children, but acted as is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “The fathers shall not die for the children, nor shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.”

5Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah together, and appointed commanders over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the clans of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found three hundred thousand choice men, able to go out to war, who could handle spear and shield. 6He also hired a hundred thousand men of valor out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver. 7But there came a man of God to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you; for the LORD is not with Israel, nor with the descendants of Ephraim. 8Even if you do go, and fight bravely, God shall overthrow you before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to overthrow.” 9And Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have paid for the army of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than that.” 10So Amaziah dismissed the army that had come from Ephraim, and sent them home. Therefore, they were furious with Judah, and returned home in a rage.

11And Amaziah took courage, and led his army out to the Valley of Salt, and killed ten thousand men of Seir. 12And Judah captured another ten thousand, and took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them off the edge of the cliff, so that they all were dashed to pieces. 13But meanwhile, the soldiers of the army which Amaziah dismissed and sent home raided the towns of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, killing three thousand people, and carrying off much plunder.

14After Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, and set them up as his gods, and bowed before them, and burned incense to them. 15Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and He sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why have you sought the gods of other people, that were not able to rescue their followers from you?” 16And as he talked with him, Amaziah said to him, “Who appointed you the king's counsel? Stop! Why be put to death?” Then the prophet stopped speaking, but not before adding, “I know that God has decided to destroy you, because you have done this, and have rejected my counsel.”

17Then, after consulting advisors, Amaziah, king of Judah, sent this message to Jehoash (sometimes also referred to as “Joash”; but not to be confused with Joash, king of Judah, whose death and burial were recorded in the preceding chapter, (24:24-25)), son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel: “Come and face me in battle.” 18And Jehoash (Joash), king of Israel, sent this message to Amaziah, king of Judah: “The thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a mighty cedar in Lebanon: ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’, and then a wild beast, in passing by, trod down the thistle. 19You say that you have defeated the Edomites; and have become arrogant and boastful. Stay home. Why meddle to your own harm, and cause Judah to fall with you?” 20But Amaziah would not hear; because this was all of God, to hand Judah over to their enemies, because they turned to the gods of Edom. 21So Jehoash, king of Israel, went up to Beth-shemesh, in Judah; and Jehoash and Amaziah looked each other in the face. 22And Judah was defeated by Israel, and all the men of Judah fled to their tents. 23And Jehoash, of Israel, captured Amaziah, king of Judah, son of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, where Jehoash tore down a four-hundred-cubit (600 feet) section of the wall of Jerusalem, from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate. 24And he took all the gold and silver, and all the articles that were found in the Temple of God, under the care of Obed-edom, treasurer of the king's palace; and returned to Samaria with hostages.

25And Amaziah, son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first to last, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27After Amaziah turned to idolatry instead of following the LORD, a conspiracy against him arose in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish. But the conspirators pursued Amaziah to Lachish, where they killed him. 28And they brought him on a horse, and buried him with his fathers in the city of David.