Study Desk

^(C1)Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, "Come, let's face each other."

But Joash the king of Israel sent a reply to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "^(C1)The thorn bush that was in Lebanon sent word to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' But a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush.

"You said, 'Behold, you have ^(F1)defeated Edom.' And ^(C1)your heart has lifted you up in boasting. Now stay home; why should you provoke trouble so that you, would fall, you and Judah with you?"

But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, so that He might hand them over to Joash, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which belonged to Judah.

And Judah was defeated ^(F1)by Israel, and they fled, every man to his tent.

Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of ^(C1)Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, ^(F1)four hundred cubits.

He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of God with ^(C1)Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages too, and returned to Samaria.