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In the second year of the reign of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz as king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah
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at the age of twenty-five, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.
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He did what was pleasing to the Lord, but he was not like his ancestor King David; instead, he did what his father Joash had done.
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He did not tear down the pagan places of worship, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
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As soon as Amaziah was firmly in power, he executed the officials who had killed his father, the king.
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However, he did not kill their children but followed what the Lord had commanded in the Law of Moses: "Parents are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their children, and children are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their parents; people are to be put to death only for a crime they themselves have committed."
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Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomite soldiers in Salt Valley; he captured the city of Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, the name it still has.
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Then Amaziah sent messengers to King Jehoash of Israel, challenging him to fight.
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But King Jehoash sent back the following reply: "Once a thorn bush on the Lebanon Mountains sent a message to a cedar: "Give your daughter in marriage to my son.' A wild animal passed by and trampled the bush down.