Amaziah of Judah replaces his slain father (14:1–7) and is described as having something of a divided heart: some faithfulness mingled with compromise. Notably, he takes revenge for his father’s death, presumably on Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer for their role in 12:21. For some reason the king acts within limits prescribed by Deuteronomy 24:16, but he himself will be struck down later (14:19), possibly in retaliation. His most impressive achievement is his victory over the Edomites described in 14:7, where renaming the city—some identify Sela as “Petra”—is probably self-aggrandizing behavior that reinforces his victory, anticipating his royal pride in the next scene. In all likelihood fortified by this triumph over Edom, Amaziah proceeds to throw down the gauntlet t…