After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed(A) the officials(B) who had murdered his father the king. 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)

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.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 14:6 Deut. 24:16

And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

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10 You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant.(A) Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

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10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?

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11 Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir.

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11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.

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12 The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.(A)

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12 And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.

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17 The Edomites(A) had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners,(B)

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17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

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