³ After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king.

²⁵ When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried^(A) in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

²⁶ Those who conspired against him were Zabad,^[a] son of Shimeath an Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith^[b](B) a Moabite woman.^(C)

⁵ After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed^(A) the officials^(B) who had murdered his father the king. ⁶ Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law^(C) of Moses where the Lord commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”^[a](D)

⁷ He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt^(E) and captured Sela^(F) in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.

⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”

⁹ But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle^(G) in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant.^(H) Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

¹¹ Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh^(I) in Judah. ¹² Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.^{(J) 13} Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall^(K) of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate^(L) to the Corner Gate^(M)—a section about four hundred cubits long.^{[b] 14} He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

¹⁵ As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war^(N) against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ¹⁶ Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.

¹⁷ Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. ¹⁸ As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

¹⁹ They conspired^(O) against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish,^(P) but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. ²⁰ He was brought back by horse^(Q) and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.

²¹ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^[c](R) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² He was the one who rebuilt Elath^(S) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

³¹ “‘Do not accept a ransom^(A) for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death.

³² “‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest.

³³ “‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land,^(B) and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

¹⁴ But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately,^(A) that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.^(B)

⁵ And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting.^(A) I will demand an accounting from every animal.^(B) And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.^(C)