Amaziah succeeded Joash. he was a reasonable king, but not as good as David He continued doing the things that his father Joash did, but the high places remained.
Amaziah executed (literally) judgement on those who had assassinated his father. However, this was tempered by adhering the to the injunction of the law of Moses that the children were not to be put to death for the sins of their parents. There is firm judgement in the Bible, but it is characterised by justice and mercy.
Judah and Israel were hostile to each other and after establishing his firm control, of the land Amaziah wanted to do battle with Israel. Jehoash, the king of Israel sent him a rather poetic reply declining to do battle.
Amaziah was bent on war, so battle ensued. The battle did not go well for Amaziah. He himself was captured, and Jerusalem and Judah suffered loss, including the breaking down of portions of her walls.
We then get the rather sudden announcement of the death of both Amaziah and Jehoash. Amaziah was succeeded by his son Azariah.
In Israel Jehoash was succeeded by Jeroboam II. He continued the family tradition of doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and reigned for 41 years. Some kings reigned for a very short time, others for a considerable period. Whether or not they did evil seems to have had little bearing on the length of their reign.
However, Jeroboam did restore some of the boundaries to Israel. This was done because of God honouring his promise to Jehu.
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