In the second year of Jehoash's reign as king of Israel Amaziah became king of Judah at the age of 25, and he reigned for 29 years. He was a partial improvement in terms of religion although pagan worship in the high places continued. Once his reign was firmly established he proceeded to execute the officials who had murdered his father. Then Amaziah defeated 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. This victory inflated Amaziah's self confidence so he challenged king Jehoash to battle. Jehoash told him to calm down, but when he insisted Israel attacked Judah and won and Amaziah was taken captive. Jehoash then plundered all the gold and silver from Jerusalem. Then Jehoash died and was succeeded by his son Jeroboam, but Amaziah lived on another 15 years before he was killed at Lachish, being replaced by his 16-yer-old son Azariah.
In the 15th year of Amaziah's reign Jeroboam II came to power in Israel where he reigned for 41 years. He did evil in the sight of the Lord but he did restore some of Israel's boundaries including the capture of Damascus and Hamath. When he died his son Zechariah succeeded him as king.
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