see who is the better man - a characteristic Oriental phrase.

If the challenge of Amaziah was peculiarly Oriental and boastful in its tone, the reply of Jehoash

equaled and even surpassed it in these respects. The allegory* which he used about the "thorn" in

Lebanon that had sought a family alliance with the cedar, meant that it was absolute folly on the

part of Amaziah to regard himself as the equal of Jehoash.

* This, rather than a parable.

Yet t his was implied in his purpose of measuring himself with him. A contest between them!

Why, a beast of the field in Lebanon passing over the thorn would crush it down.* Then followed

the mocking application of the simile:

"Thou hast indeed smitten Edom make thyself glorious [enjoy thy glory], and abide at home' why

shouldest thou meddle** with evil, that thou fall, thou and Judah with thee?" (2 Kings 14:10.)

* A "thornbush," not, "a thistle," as in the A.V.

** In the Hithpael, when the word is used in connection with war.

The advice was sound, though extremely provocative to one in the mood of Amaziah. But Jehoash

did not await his attack. Marching southwards, he met the Judaean army at Beth Shemesh, the

south-eastern point in the ancient possession of Dan, close to the border of Philistia,* situated in a

beautiful valley only eight or nine hours west of Jerusalem. The battle was most disastrous for

Judah. The army fled; Amaziah was taken prisoner; and the Israelitish host advanced unopposed to

Jerusale m. Here they made a breach in the wall 400 cubits (or about 600 feet**) wide, from the

northern gate of Ephraim (or Benjamin, the present Damascus gate)to that in the north-west corner

of the wall, where it runs southward.

* Here the Philistines first deposited the Ark (1 Samuel 6:12 -14).

** The ancient Jewish cubit was two spans, each of three hand-breadths, the handbreadth being

four fingers wide, i.e., a cubit = 6 handbreadths, = 24 fingerbreadths.

Thus the city would be laid open towards the north, or the land of Israel. Josephus (Ant. ix. 9, 3)

has it that Jehoash through this breach made triumphal entry into Jerusalem, carrying his royal

prisoner with him.* The victor plundered the Temple of what treasures it still contained in charge

of one Obed-Edom.** He also stripped the royal palace of its valuables, and taking with him

"hostages" - probably from the chief nobles - returned to Samaria.***

* Less credit attaches to his notice that Jehoash had threatened to kill Amaziah unless he

persuaded the inhabitants of Jerusalem to open the city to him. Evidently there could not have

been any idea of holding out but Josephus may have felt it desirable thus to account for an easy

capture of the city which offered such stubborn resistance to the Romans.

** 2 Chronicles 25:24. But probably the booty from the Temple was inconsiderable. Comp. 2

Kings 12:18. Perhaps the name Obed-Edom, as treasurer of the Temple at that time, may in itself

be significant. In any case, the special mention of the name marks this as a contemporary notice.

*** That Jehoash left Amaziah on the throne indicates how completely the power of the latter

must have been broken.

The war between Judah and Israel probably occurred quite near the close of the reign of Jehoash,

king of Israel. As Amaziah of Judah reigned altogether twenty-nine years (2 Kings 14:2), and