And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
Joash, king of Israel, captured Amaziah, king of Judah (who was the son of Joash and grandson of Jehoahaz), at Beth Shemesh. He then brought Amaziah to Jerusalem and tore down a section of Jerusalem's wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, about 600 feet of wall.
This verse describes how the northern kingdom of Israel defeated the southern kingdom of Judah, capturing their king and destroying part of Jerusalem's protective wall as a show of dominance.
📚 Historical Context
During the divided kingdom period of ancient Israel in the 8th century BC, King Amaziah of Judah had achieved military success against Edom but then unwisely provoked Joash, the king of Israel, leading to a decisive battle. Joash defeated Amaziah at Beth Shemesh, captured him, and then advanced to Jerusalem to demonstrate his superiority by breaching the city's walls. This event highlights the ongoing conflicts and power struggles between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, reflecting the consequences of poor leadership decisions.
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