Now it came about after
this
that the sons
of Moab
and the sons
of Ammon
, together
with some
of the 1 aMeunites
, came
to make war
against
Jehoshaphat
.
Then some came and reported
to Jehoshaphat
, saying
, "A great
multitude
is coming
against
you from beyond
the sea
, out of 1Aram
and behold
, they are in aHazazon-tamar
(that is Engedi
)."
Jehoshaphat was afraid
and 1 aturned
his attention
to seek
the LORD
, and bproclaimed
a fast
throughout
all
Judah
.
So Judah gathered
together to aseek
help from the LORD
; they even
came
from all
the cities
of Judah
to seek
the LORD
.
Then Jehoshaphat stood
in the assembly
of Judah
and Jerusalem
, in the house
of the LORD
before
the new
court
,
and he said, "O LORD
, the God
of our fathers
, aare You not God
in the heavens
? And bare You not ruler
over
all
the kingdoms
of the nations
? Power
and might
are in Your hand
so that no
one
can stand
against
You.
"Did You not, O our God, drive
out the inhabitants
of this
land
before
Your people
Israel
and agive
it to the descendants
of bAbraham
Your friend
forever
?
"They have lived in it, and have built
You a sanctuary
there for Your name
, saying
,
` aShould evil
come
upon us, the sword
, or judgment
, or pestilence
, or famine
, we will stand
before
this
house
and before
You (for bYour name
is in this
house
) and cry
to You in our distress
, and You will hear
and deliver
us.'
"Now behold
, athe sons
of Ammon
and Moab
and 1Mount
Seir
, bwhom
You did not let
Israel
invade
when they came
out of the land
of Egypt
(they turned
aside
from them and did not destroy
them),
see how they are rewarding
us by acoming
to drive
us out from Your possession
which
You have given
us as an inheritance
.
"O our God, awill You not judge
them? For we are powerless
before
this
great
multitude
who are coming
against
us; nor
do we know
what
to do
, but bour eyes
are on You."
All Judah
was standing
before
the LORD
, with their infants
, their wives
and their children
.
Then in the midst of the assembly
athe Spirit
of the LORD
came
upon Jahaziel
the son
of Zechariah
, the son
of Benaiah
, the son
of Jeiel
, the son
of Mattaniah
, the Levite
of the sons
of Asaph
;
and he said, "Listen
, all
Judah
and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
and King
Jehoshaphat
: thus
says
the LORD
to you, ` aDo not fear
or be dismayed
because
of this
great
multitude
, for bthe battle
is not yours but God's
.
`Tomorrow go
down
against
them. Behold
, they will come
up by the ascent
of Ziz
, and you will find
them at the end
of the valley
in front
of the wilderness
of Jeruel
.
`You need not fight in this
battle; station
yourselves, astand
and see
the salvation
of the LORD
on your behalf
, O Judah
and Jerusalem
.' Do not fear
or be dismayed
; tomorrow
go
out to face
them, bfor the LORD
is with you."
Jehoshaphat abowed
his head with his face
to the ground
, and all
Judah
and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
fell
down
before
the LORD
, worshiping
the LORD
.
The Levites, from the sons
of the Kohathites
and of the sons
of the Korahites
, stood
up to praise
the LORD
God
of Israel
, with a very
loud
voice
.
They rose early
in the morning
and went
out to the wilderness
of Tekoa
; and when they went
out, Jehoshaphat
stood
and said
, "Listen
to me, O Judah
and inhabitants
of Jerusalem
, aput
your trust
in the LORD
your God
and you will be established
. Put
your trust
in His prophets
and succeed
."
When he had consulted with the people
, he appointed
those who sang
to the LORD
and those who apraised
Him in holy
attire
, as they went
out before
the army
and said
, " bGive
thanks
to the LORD
, for His lovingkindness
is everlasting
."
When they began
singing
and praising
, the LORD
aset
ambushes
against
the sons
of bAmmon
, Moab
and Mount
Seir
, who had come
against Judah
; so they were 1routed
.
For the sons of Ammon
and Moab
rose
up against
the inhabitants
of Mount
Seir
destroying
them completely
; and when they had finished
with the inhabitants
of Seir
, athey helped
to destroy
one
another
.
When Judah came
to the lookout
of the wilderness
, they looked
toward
the multitude
, and behold
, they were corpses
lying
on the ground
, and no
one
had escaped
.
When Jehoshaphat and his people
came
to take
their spoil
, they found
much
among them, including goods
, 1garments
and valuable
things
which they took
for themselves, more than
they could carry
. And they were three
days
taking
the spoil
because
there was so much
.
Then on the fourth day
they assembled
in the valley
of Beracah
, for there
they blessed
the LORD
. Therefore
they have named
that place
"The Valley
of 1Beracah
" until
today
.
Every man
of Judah
and Jerusalem
returned
with Jehoshaphat
at their head
, returning
to Jerusalem
with joy
, afor the LORD
had made them to rejoice
over
their enemies
.
They came to Jerusalem
with harps
, lyres
and trumpets
to the house
of the LORD
.
And athe dread of God
was on all
the kingdoms
of the lands
when they heard
that the LORD
had fought
against
the enemies
of Israel
.
So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat
was at peace
, afor his God
gave
him rest
on all
sides
.
aNow Jehoshaphat reigned
over
Judah
. He was thirty-five
years
old
when he became
king
, and he reigned
in Jerusalem
twenty-five
years
. And his mother's
name
was Azubah
the daughter
of Shilhi
.
He walked in the way
of his father
Asa
and did not depart
from it, doing
right
in the sight
of the LORD
.
aThe high places
, however
, were not removed
; bthe people
had not yet
directed
their hearts
to the God
of their fathers
.
Now the rest of the acts
of Jehoshaphat
, first
1to last
, behold
, they are written
in the annals
of aJehu
the son
of Hanani
, which
is 2recorded
in the Book
of the Kings
of Israel
.
aAfter this
Jehoshaphat
king
of Judah
allied
himself with Ahaziah
king
of Israel
. He acted
wickedly
1in so doing
.
So he allied himself with him to make
ships
to go
ato Tarshish
, and they made
the ships
in Ezion-geber
.
Then Eliezer the son
of Dodavahu
of Mareshah
prophesied
against
Jehoshaphat
saying
, "Because you have allied
yourself with Ahaziah
, the LORD
has destroyed
your works
." So the ships
were broken
and could
not go
to Tarshish
.