Category: 2 Chronicles

Rehoboam Reigns over Judah and Builds Cities

1 Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors to fight against [the ten tribes of] Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of the Lordcame to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

3 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,

4 ‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brothers (countrymen); return, every man to his house, for this thing is from Me.” ’ ” And they listened toandobeyed the words of the Lordand turned back from going against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built [fortified] cities for defense in Judah.

6 Hebuilt Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

11 He strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, [olive] oil, and wine.

12 And in each city he put [large] shields and spears, and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

13 Further, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with Rehoboam from all their districts.

Jeroboam Appoints False Priests

14 For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord.

15 Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places, for the satyrs (goat demons) and calves (idols) which he had made.

16 Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LordGod of Israel followedthem to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the LordGod of their fathers.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years; for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

Rehoboam’s Family

18 Rehoboam took as his wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.

19 She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 After her he took Maacah the daughter (granddaughter) of Absalom, and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter (granddaughter) of Absalom more than all his wives andconcubines—for he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah the chief leader among his brothers, because heintendedto make him king.

23 He acted wisely and distributed some of his sons throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions, and he sought many wivesfor them.

Shishak of Egypt Invades Judah

1 When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord.

2 And it came about in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, thatShishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem

3 with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. The people who came with him from Egypt were beyond counting—the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and theEthiopians.

4 Shishak took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have abandoned (turned away from) Me, so I have abandoned you into the hands of Shishak.’ ”

6 Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lordis righteous.”

7 When the Lordsaw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lordcame to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them somemeasureof a remnant [that escapes]; and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak.

8 Nevertheless they will become his slaves, so that they may know [the difference between] My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

Plunder Impoverishes Judah

9 So Shishak king of Egypt went up against Jerusalem; he took the treasures of the house of the Lordand the treasures of the king’s house (palace). He took everything. He even took the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

10 In their place King Rehoboam made shields of bronze and entrusted them to the care of the officers of the guard who guarded the door of the king’s house.

11 And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guards came and carried the shields andthenbrought them back into the guards’ room.

12 When Rehoboam humbled himself, the wrath of the Lordturned away from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and also conditions were good in Judah.

13 So King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city in which the Lordhad chosen from all the tribes of Israel to put His Name. And his mother was Naamah the Ammonitess.

14 He did evil because he did not set his heart to seekandworshipandhonor the Lord.

15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, from the first to the last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, according to genealogical enrollment?There werewars between Rehoboam [of Judah] and Jeroboam [of Israel] continually.

16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried in the City of David; and Abijah his son became king in his place.

Abijah Succeeds Rehoboam

1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam [of Israel].

3 Abijah began the battle with an army of brave soldiers, 400,000 chosen men. Jeroboam drew up in battle formation against him with 800,000 chosen men, valiant men.

Civil War

4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel:

5 Do you not know that the LordGod of Israel, gave rule over Israel forever to David and to his sons by a covenant ofsalt [a permanent pact, extending to each generation of Israel]?

6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord [the king],

7 and worthless (unprincipled, unethical) men gathered around him, uselessandwicked men, who proved too strong for Rehoboam the son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young and timid, and could not assert himself against them.

8 “And now you intend to assert yourselves against the kingdom of the Lordwhich is in the hands of the sons of David, since you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves (idols) which Jeroboam made for you as gods.

9 Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples ofotherlands? So whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of non-existent gods (idols).

10 But as for us, the Lordis our God, and we have not abandoned (turned away from) Him. The sons of Aaron are ministering to the Lordas priests, and the Levites attend to their service.

11 Every morning and every evening they offer the burnt offerings and the fragrant incense to the Lord; and theshowbread is set on the clean table [of pure gold], and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening; for we keep the charge of the Lordour God [that is, the obligation we have to Him], but you have abandoned (turned away from) Him.

12 Behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests [are here] with their signal trumpets to sound an alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LordGod of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”

13 But Jeroboam had set an ambush to come from the rear, so that Israel was in front of Judah and the ambush was behind them.

14 When [the men of] Judah turned around, they were attacked from both front and rear; so they cried out to the Lord[for help], and the priests blew the trumpets.

15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry; and as they shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel [with defeat] before Abijah and Judah.

16 And the sons of Israel fled before Judah, and God handed over the sons of Israel to them.

17 Abijah and his people inflicted on them a great defeat, so that 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.

18 Thus the sons of Israel were subdued (humbled) at that time, and the sons of Judah prevailed because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers.

19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured [several] cities from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephraim (Ephron), with their villages.

Death of Jeroboam

20 Jeroboam did not recover strength again during the time of [the reign of] Abijah. And the Lordstruck him and he died.

21 But Abijah became powerful. He took fourteen wives for himself and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his sayings, are written in the writing of the prophet Iddo.

Asa Succeeds Abijah in Judah

1 So Abijah slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in the City of David; and Asa his son became king in his place. The land was at peace for ten years during his days.

2 Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the Lordhis God.

3 He removed the foreign altars and high places and tore down the [pagan] pillars (obelisks, memorial stones), and cut to pieces the Asherim [the symbols of the goddess Asherah].

4 And he commanded Judah to seek the LordGod of their fathers [to inquire of and for Him and seek Him as a vital necessity], and to observe the law [given to Moses] and the commandment.

5 Asa also removed the [idolatrous] high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom was at restandundisturbed under his reign.

6 He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was at rest, and there was no one at war with him in those years, because the Lordhad given him rest.

7 So he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates and bars [to secure the doors]. The land is still ours because we have sought the Lordour God; we have sought Him [longing for Him with all our heart] and He has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered.

8 Now Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, who carried large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, who carried shields and drew bows, all courageous men.

9 Now Zerah the Ethiopian (Cushite) came out against Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came as far as Mareshah.

10 Then Asa went out against him, and they drew up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 Asa called out to the Lordhis God, saying, “O Lord, there is no one besides You to helpin the battlebetween the powerful and the weak; so help us, O Lordour God, for we trust inandrely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”

12 So the Lordstruck the Ethiopians [with defeat] before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far asGerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that none of themwere foundalive; for they were destroyed before the Lordand His army. And they carried away a very large amount of spoil.

14 They attackedanddestroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the Lordhad fallen on them. They plundered all the cities, for there was a large amount of spoil in them.

15 They also struck down the people [living] in tents who had livestock, and took captive large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

The Prophet Azariah Warns Asa

1 Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,

2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lordis with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him, as your soul’s first necessity], He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will abandon (turn away from) you.

3 Now for a long time Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest, and without [God’s] law.

4 But when they were in their troubleanddistress they turned to the LordGod of Israel, and [in desperation earnestly] sought Him, and He let them find Him.

5 In those times there was no peace for him who went out or for him who came in, for great suffering came on all the inhabitants of the lands.

6 Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.

7 But as for you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”

Asa’s Reforms

8 And when Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the repulsive idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. Then he restored the altar [of burnt offering] of the Lordwhich was in front of the porch [of the temple] of the Lord.

9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and the strangers who were with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, for they came over to Asa from Israel in large numbers when they saw that the Lordhis God was with him.

10 So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

11 They sacrificed to the Lordon that day from the spoil they had brought—700 oxen and 7,000 sheep.

12 They entered into a covenant (solemn agreement) to seek the LordGod of their fathers with all their heart and soul;

13 and that whoever would not seek the LordGod of Israel, was to be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman.

14 They swore an oath to the Lordwith a loud voice, with [jubilant] shouting, with trumpets, and with horns.

15 All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought Him with their whole heart, and He let them find Him. So the Lordgave them rest on every side.

16 He also removed Maacah, King Asa’s mother, fromthe position ofqueen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for [the goddess] Asherah. Asa cut down her idol, crushed it, and burned it at the Brook Kidron.

17 But the high places [of pagan worship] were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.

18 He brought the things that his father [Abijah] had dedicated and those things that he had dedicated into the house of God—silver and gold and utensils.

19 And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

Asa Wars against Baasha

1 In thethirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to preventanyonefrom going out or coming in to [meet with] Asa king of Judah.

2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lordand from the king’s house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria), who lived in Damascus, saying,

3 “Let there bea treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I am sending you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

4 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they attackedandconquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.

5 When Baasha heard about it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work.

6 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.

Asa Imprisons the Prophet

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Aram (Syria) and did not rely on the Lordyour God, the army of the king of Aram (Syria) has escaped out of your hand.

8 Were not the Ethiopians and Lubim a huge army with a great number of chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, He placed them in your hand.

9 For the eyes of the Lordmove to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you will have wars.”

10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison [in the stocks], for he was enraged with him because of this. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.

11 Now the acts of Asa, from the first to the last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

12 In thethirty-ninth year of his reign Asa developed a disease in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his illness he did not seek the Lord, but [relied only on] the physicians.

13 So Asa slept with his fathers [in death], dying in the forty-first year of his reign.

14 They buried him in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself in the City of David, and they laid him on a bier which he had filled with various kinds of spices blended by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire in his honor.

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

1 Jehoshaphat his son then became king [of Judah] in Asa’s place, and strengthened his position over Israel.

2 He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which his father Asa had captured.

His Good Reign

3 The Lordwas with Jehoshaphat because hefollowed the example of his father (ancestor) David. He did not seek [to follow] the Baals [the false gods],

4 but sought the God of his father, and walked in (obeyed) His commandments, and did not act as Israel did.

5 Therefore the Lordestablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great wealth and honor.

6 His heart was encouragedandhe took great pride in the ways of the Lord; moreover, he again removed the high places [of pagan worship] and the Asherim from Judah.

7 Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

8 and with them were the Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with them the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

9 They taught in Judahhavingthe Book of the Law of the Lordwith them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

10 Now the dread of the Lordwas on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

12 So Jehoshaphat became greater and greater. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.

13 He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and soldiers, courageous men, in Jerusalem.

14 This was the number of them by their fathers’ (ancestors’) households: of Judah, the commanders of thousands, Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 courageous men;

15 and next to him was Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;

16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for the Lord, and with him 200,000 courageous men;

17 and of Benjamin: Eliada, a brave man, and with him 200,000 men armed with bow and shield;

18 and next to him was Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armedandready for military service.

19 These are the ones who were in the service of the king, besides those he had placed in fortified cities throughout Judah.

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

1 Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and was allied bymarriage with Ahab.

2 Some years later he went down to [visit] Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to [fight against] Ramoth-gilead?” He answered, “I am as you are, and my people as your people [your hopes and concerns are ours];we will bewith you in the battle.”

4 Further, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquirefirst for the word of the Lord.”

5 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will hand it over to the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lordstill here by whom we may inquire?”

7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies [anything] good for me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so [perhaps this time it will be different].”

Ahab’s False Prophets Assure Victory

8 Then the king of Israel called for an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly.”

9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, arrayed in their robes; they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

10 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans (Syrians) until they are destroyed.’ ”

11 All the prophets prophesied this, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed; the Lordwill hand it over to the king.”

Micaiah Brings Word from God

12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, “Listen, the words of the prophets are of one accord,foretelling afavorableoutcomefor the king. So just let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”

13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lordlives, I will [only] speak what my God says.”

14 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And he said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.”

15 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I warn you (make you swear an oath) to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

16 Then Micaiah said,

“I saw all [the people of] Israel

Scattered on the mountains,

As sheep that have no shepherd;

And the Lordsaid,

‘These have no master.

Let each one return to his house in peace.’ ”

17 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good in regard to me, but [only] evil?”

18 So Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lordsitting on His throne, and all the host (army) of heaven standing on His right and on His left.

19 Then the Lordsaid, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall [defeated] at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this and another said that.

20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lordand said, ‘I will entice him.’ The Lordsaid to him, ‘By what means?’

21 He said, ‘I will go out and be a deceptive spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then the Lordsaid, ‘You are to entice him and also succeed. Go and do so.’

22 Now, you see, the Lordput a deceptive spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours; and the Lordhas [actually] proclaimed disaster against you.”

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came up and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the Lordgo [when he departed] from me to speak to you?”

24 Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you go into an inner room [desperately trying] to hide yourself.”

25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,

26 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this man in prison and feed him just enough bread and water to survive until I return in peace (safely).” ’ ”

27 But Micaiah said, “If you actually return in peace, the Lordhas not spoken by me.” And he added, “Listen [to what I have said], you people, all of you.”

Ahab’s Defeat and Death

28 So [Ahab] the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead.

29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and will go into battle, but you put on your [royal] robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle.

30 Now the king ofAram (Syria) had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with the small or the great, but only with the king of Israel.”

31 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat [of Judah], they said, “It is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat called out [for God’s help], and the Lordhelped him; and God diverted them away from him.

32 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

33 Then a certain man drew his bow at random and struck [Ahab] the king of Israel between the scales ofhisarmor. So Ahab said to his chariot driver, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, because I am seriously wounded.”

34 The battle raged that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans (Syrians) until the evening, and at sunset he died.

Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat

1 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house (palace) in Jerusalem.

2 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate the Lordand in doing sobringwrath from the Lordon yourself?

3 But there aresomegood things found in you, for you have removed the Asherim (idols) from the land and you have set your heart to seek God [with all your soul’s desire].”

4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

Reforms Instituted

5 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

6 and he said to the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lordwho is with you in the matter of judgment.

7 So now let the fear (reverent awe) of the Lordbe on you [to keep you from making unjust decisions]; be careful in what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lordour God, or partiality, or acceptance of a bribe.”

8 In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the fathers’householdsof Israel torenderthe judgment of the Lordand to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

9 Then the king commanded them, “Do this in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly.

10 Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brothers (relatives) who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, or between statutes and judgments, you are to warn [and instruct] them so that they may not be guilty before the Lord; otherwise [God’s] wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this and you will not be guilty.

11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters; and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lordbe with the upright.”

Judah Invaded

1 Now it happened after this that the Moabites and the Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Then it was reported to Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude has come against you from beyond the [Dead] Sea, out ofAram (Syria); and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is, Engedi).”

3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the Lord; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 So [the people of] Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; indeed they came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord[longing for Him with all their heart].

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lordin front of the new courtyard,

6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, there is no one able to take a stand against You.

7 O our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Your friend Abraham?

8 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your Name, saying,

9 ‘If evil comes on us, or the sword of judgment, or plague, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your NameandYour Presence is in this house) and we will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear and save us.’

10 Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt (for they turned away from them and did not destroy them),

11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to drive us out of Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.

12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

13 So all Judah stood before the Lord, with their infants, their wives, and their children.

Jahaziel Answers the Prayer

14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lordcame upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph.

15 He said, “Listen carefully, all [you people of] Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The Lordsays this to you: ‘Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

16 Go down against them tomorrow. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the river valley, in front of the Wilderness of Jeruel.

17 Youneednot fight in thisbattle;take your positions, stand and witness the salvation of the Lordwho is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lordis with you.’ ”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping Him.

19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LordGod of Israel, with a very loud voice.

Enemies Destroy Themselves

20 So they got up early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believeandtrust in the Lordyour God and you will be established (secure). Believeandtrust in His prophets and succeed.”

21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lordand those who praised Him in their holy (priestly) attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Praiseandgive thanks to the Lord, for His mercyandlovingkindness endure forever.”

22 When they began singing and praising, the Lordset ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down [in defeat].

23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab [suspecting betrayal] rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, completely destroying them; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 When [the men of] Judah came to the lookout tower of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.

25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them,includingequipment, garments, and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry away; so much that they spent three days gathering the spoil.

Triumphant Return to Jerusalem

26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for it was there that they blessed the Lord. For that reason they named that place “The Valley of Beracah (blessing)” until today.

27 Then they returned to Jerusalem with joy, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, led by Jehoshaphat, for the Lordhad made them rejoice over their enemies.

28 They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house (temple) of the Lord.

29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lordhad fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest on all sides.

31 Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

32 He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord.

33 Only the high places [for pagan sacrifices] were not removed, for the people had not yet set their hearts firmly on the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the records of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

Alliance Displeases God

35 After [all] this Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, and he acted wickedly in doing so.

36 He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish [for trade], and they built them in Ezion-geber.

37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lordhas broken down what you have built.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to go to Tarshish.