And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Thistle. Hebrew choach, something prickly; (Haydock) "a thorn. "Syriac and Arabic, "a plum-tree. "Nothing could be more cutting (Calmet) than this answer of Joas, to show the king of Juda how much he despised his power. (Haydock)
The ancients were much pleased with such ingenious similes. See Judges ix. 7.