2 Kings 14:8-12

14:8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel. He said, “Come, let’s meet face to face.” ¹  14:9 King Jehoash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, “A thornbush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal ²  of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn. ³  14:10 You thoroughly defeated Edom ⁴  and it has gone to your head! ⁵  Gloat over your success, ⁶  but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you?” ⁷  14:11 But Amaziah would not heed the warning, ⁸  so King Jehoash of Israel attacked. ⁹  He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face ¹⁰  in Beth Shemesh of Judah. 14:12 Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home. ¹¹ 

¹ tn Heb “let us look at each other [in the] face.” The expression refers here to meeting in battle. See v. 11.

² tn Heb “the animal of the field.”

³ sn Judah is the thorn in the allegory. Amaziah’s success has deceived him into thinking he is on the same level as the major powers in the area (symbolized by the cedar). In reality he is not capable of withstanding an attack by a real military power such as Israel (symbolized by the wild animal).

⁴ tn Or “you have indeed defeated Edom.”

⁵ tn Heb “and your heart has lifted you up.”

⁶ tn Heb “be glorified.”

⁷ tn Heb “Why get involved in calamity and fall, you and Judah with you?”

⁸ tn Heb “did not listen.”

⁹ tn Heb “went up.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “looked at each other [in the] face.”

¹¹ tn Heb “and Judah was struck down before Israel and they fled, each to his tent.”