1 IT came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,
6 And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Then 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, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.
27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord.
29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord.
33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.
37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

1It came to passe after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them, other beside the Ammonites, came against Iehoshaphat to battell.

2Then there came some that tolde Iehoshaphat, saying, There commeth a great multitude against thee from beyond the Sea on this side Syria, and behold, they bee in Hazazon-Tamar, which is En-gedi.

3And Iehoshaphat feared, and set himselfe to seeke the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Iudah.

4And Iudah gathered themselues together, to aske helpe of the Lord: euen out of all the cities of Iudah they came to seeke the Lord.

5 And Iehoshaphat stood in the Congregation of Iudah and Ierusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new Court,

6And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heauen? and rulest not thou ouer all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

7Art not thou our God, who didst driue out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gauest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for euer?

8And they dwelt therein, and haue built thee a Sanctuarie therein for thy Name, saying,

9If, when euill commeth vpon vs, as the sword, iudgement, or pestilence, or famine, wee stand before this house, and in thy presence (for thy Name is in this house) and cry vnto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt heare & helpe.

10And now behold, the children of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel inuade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not:

11Beholde, I say, how they reward vs, to come to cast vs out of thy possession, which thou hast giuen vs to inherit.

12O our God, wilt thou not iudge them? for wee haue no might against this great company that commeth against vs? neither know wee what to doe; but our eyes are vpon thee.

13And all Iudah stood before the Lord, with their litle ones, their wiues and their children.

14 Then vpon Iahaziel the sonne of Zechariah, the sonne of Benaiah, the sonne of Iehiel, the sonne of Mattaniah, a Leuite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the Congregation:

15And he said, Hearken yee, all Iudah, and ye inhabitants of Ierusalem, and thou king Iehoshaphat, Thus sayth the Lord vnto you; Be not afraid, nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battell is not yours, but Gods.

16To morrow goe ye downe against them: behold, they come vp by the cliffe of Ziz, and ye shall finde them at the end of the brooke, before the wildernesse of Ieruel.

17Yee shall not neede to fight in this battell; set your selues, stand yee still, and see the saluation of the Lord with you, O Iudah and Ierusalem: feare not, nor be dismayed; to morow goe out against them, for the Lord will bee with you.

18And Iehoshaphat bowed his head, with his face to the ground: and all Iudah, and the inhabitants of Ierusalem, fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.

19And the Leuites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood vp to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a loude voice on high.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went foorth into the wildernesse of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Iehoshaphat stood and said, Heare me, O Iudah, and yee inhabitants of Ierusalem; Beleeue in the Lord your God, so shall you be established; beleeue his Prophets, so shall yee prosper.

21And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed Singers vnto the Lord, and that should praise the beautie of holinesse, as they went out before the armie; and to say, Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for euer.

22 And when they beganne to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Iudah, and they were smitten.

23For the children of Ammon and Moab, stood vp against the inhabitants of mount Seir, vtterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, euery one helped to destroy another.

24And when Iudah came toward the watch-tower in the wildernesse, they looked vnto the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

25And when Iehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoile of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious iewels (which they stript off for themselues) more then they could cary away: and they were three dayes in gathering of the spoile, it was so much.

26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselues in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therfore the name of the same place was called the valley of Berachah vnto this day.

27Then they returned, euery man of Iudah and Ierusalem, and Iehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go againe to Ierusalem with ioy: for the Lord had made them to reioyce ouer their enemies.

28And they came to Ierusalem with Psalteries, and harpes, and trumpets, vnto the house of the Lord.

29And the feare of God was on all the kingdoms of those countreys, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.

30So the Realme of Iehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gaue him rest round about.

31 And Iehoshaphat reigned ouer Iudah: Hee was thirtie and fiue yeeres olde when hee began to reigne, and he reigned twentie and fiue yeeres in Ierusalem: and his mothers name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

32And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord.

33Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts vnto the God of their fathers.

34Now the rest of the actes of Iehoshaphat first and last, behold, they are written in the booke of Iehu the sonne of Hanani; who is mentioned in the booke of the Kings of Israel.

35 And after this did Iehoshaphat king of Iudah ioine himselfe with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:

36And he ioyned himselfe with him to make ships to goe to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-Geber.

37Then Eliezer the sonne of Dodanah of Mareshah, prophesied against Iehoshaphat, saying; Because thou hast ioyned thy selfe with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy workes: and the ships were broken, that they were not able to goe to Tarshish.

 

 

II == Gen 14:7 ; Josh 15:62

 

 

 

 

III == 2nd Chr 19:3 ; Ezra 8:21 ; Jer 36:9 ; Jon 3:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Deut 4:39 ; Josh 2:11 ; 1st Kings 8:23 ; 1st Chr 29:12 ; Ps 47:2 , 8 ; 62:11 ; Dan 4:17 , 25 , 32 ; Matt 6:9 , 13

 

VII == Gen 17:7 ; Ex 6:7 ; Ps 44:2 ; Isa 41:8 ; James 2:23

 

IX == 1st Kings 8:33 , 37 ; 2nd Chr 6:20 , 28-30

 

 

X == Num 20:21 ; Deut 2:4 , 9 , 19

 

 

 

XI == Ps 83:12

 

XII == 1st Sam 3:13 ; Ps 25:15 ; 121:1-2 ; 123:1-2 ; 141:8

 

 

 

 

XIV == Num 11:25-26 ; 24:2 ; 2nd Chr 15:1 ; 24:20

 

 

XV == Ex 14:13-14 ; Deut 1:29-30 ; 31:6 , 8;2nd Chr 32:7

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == Ex 14:13-14 ; Num 14:9 ; 2nd Chr 15:2 ; 32:8

 

 

XVIII == Ex 4:31

 

 

 

 

 

 

XX == Isa 7:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXI == 1st Chr 16:29 , 34 , 41 ; 2nd Chr 5:13 ; 7:3 , 6 ; Ps 136:1

 

 

XXII == Judg 7:22 ; 1st Sam 14:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == Neh 12:43

 

 

 

 

 

XXIX == 2nd Chr 17:10

 

 

XXX == 2nd Chr 15:15 ; Job 34:29

XXXI == 1st Kings 22:41

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIII == 2nd Chr 12:14 ; 17:6 ; 19:3

 

XXXIV == 1st Keys 16:1 , 7

 

 

XXXV == 1st Kings 22:48-49

 

 

XXXVI == 1st Kings 22:49

 

XXXVII == 1st Kings 22:48 ; 2nd Chr 9:21

 

 

 

1. After this the Moabites, the Ammonites, and with them some Meunites came to fight against Jehoshaphat.

2 The message was brought to Jehoshaphat: "A great multitude is coming against you from across the sea, from Edom; they are already in Hazazon-tamar" (which is En-gedi).

3 Jehoshaphat was frightened, and he hastened to consult the LORD. He proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

4 Then Judah gathered to seek help from the LORD; from every one of the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5 Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD before the new court,

6 and he said: "LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand is power and might, and no one can withstand you.

7 Was it not you, our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend?

8 They have dwelt in it and they built in it a sanctuary to your honor, saying,

9 'When evil comes upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house, and we will cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save!'

10 And now, see the Ammonites, Moabites, and those of Mount Seir whom you did not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt, but instead they passed them by and did not destroy them.

11 See how they are now repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you have given us.

12 O our God, will you not pass judgment on them? We are powerless before this vast multitude that comes against us. We are at a loss what to do, hence our eyes are turned toward you."

13 All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their young sons.

14 And the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the clan of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly,

15 and he said: "Listen, all of Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! The LORD says to you: 'Do not fear or lose heart at the sight of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.

16 Go down against them tomorrow. You will see them coming up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will come upon them at the end of the wadi which opens on the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 You will not have to fight in this encounter. Take your places, stand firm, and see how the LORD will be with you to deliver you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or lose heart. Tomorrow go out to meet them, and the LORD will be with you.'"

18 Then Jehoshaphat knelt down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD in worship.

19 Levites from among the Kohathites and Korahites rose to sing the praises of the LORD, the God of Israel, in a resounding chorus.

20 In the early morning they hastened out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were going out, Jehoshaphat halted and said: "Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Trust in the LORD, your God, and you will be found firm. Trust in his prophets and you will succeed."

21 After consulting with the people, he appointed some to sing to the LORD and some to praise the holy Appearance as it went forth at the head of the army. They sang: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his mercy endures forever."

22 At the moment they began their jubilant hymn, the LORD laid an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and those of Mount Seir who were coming against Judah, so that they were vanquished.

23 For the Ammonites and Moabites set upon the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely exterminated them. And when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they began to destroy each other.

24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the desert and looked toward the throng, they saw only corpses fallen on the ground, with no survivors.

25 Jehoshaphat and his people came to take plunder, and they found an abundance of cattle and personal property, garments and precious vessels. They took so much that they were unable to carry it all; they were three days taking the spoil, so great was it.

26 On the fourth day they held an assembly in the Valley of Beracah - for there they blessed the LORD; therefore that place has ever since been called the Valley of Beracah.

27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, turned back toward Jerusalem celebrating the joyful victory the LORD had given them over their enemies.

28 They came to Jerusalem, to the house of the LORD, with harps, lyres and trumpets.

29 And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the surrounding lands when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 Thereafter Jehoshaphat's kingdom enjoyed peace, for his God gave him rest on every side.

31 Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.

32 He followed the path of his father Asa unswervingly, doing what was right in the LORD'S sight.

33 But the high places were not removed, nor as yet had the people fixed their hearts on the God of their fathers.

34 The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, can be found written in the chronicle of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil.

36 He joined with him in building ships to sail to Tarshish; the fleet was built at Ezion-geber.

37 But Eliezer, son of Dodavahu from Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will shatter your work." And the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish

v 1,2. Jehoshaphat was warned that Moabites, Ammonites and Edomites were gathered at Engedi midway on the west side of the Dead Sea for war against him. v 3,4. He was alarmed and proclaimed a fast to the Lord, and people came from all Judah.

 

 

 

 

 

v 5-9. He stood in the temple courtyard in the midst of all the people and prayed, acknowledging God as the supreme ruler, the One who had driven out the enemies and given the land to Israel. Then he reminded God of His promise to deliver them if they would seek Him before His temple according to Solomon’s prayer, 6:34 and God’s answer, 7:14.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 10-12. He builds his case that the Lord had not allowed them to harm those nations when they passed through, but this is the way Israel is being rewarded. Now he beseeches God to judge them, because Judah is helpless before them otherwise.

 

 

 

 

v 13. The people share the concern and petition as the women even stand their holding their babies.

 

v 14. The Spirit of the Lord came upon one man, Jahaziel, a Levite as he stood with the other people in the midst of the congregation.

v 15-19. Jahaziel gave comfort to “fear not, nor be dismayed” of the huge army, because the battle was the Lord’s. All they had to do the next day was to go to the mountain pass of Zif and watch what the Lord would do. They wouldn’t even need to fight, just go out against them. At this, Jehoshaphat and all the people fell down worshiping the Lord, then the Levites stood up to loudly praise the Lord. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 20,21. Early next morning, Jehoshaphat and the singers led the way as he reminded them to believe the Lord and His prophets and the singers praised the Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

v 22-25. When the “singing army” met the enemy, the Lord used this to cause such confusion by their own ambushers that the Ammonites and Moabites attacked and annihilated the Edomites. Then when they were destroyed the others continued to kill each other, possibly began battling for spoils, until every single one was dead. It took Jehoshaphat and his people three days to carry off the spoils of jewels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 26-30. They had no doubt thanked the Lord immediately, but they make the fourth day a day of praise in the Valley of Berachah, or Blessing. Jehoshaphat led the soldiers back with joy, and musical instruments accompanied them to the temple, if not before. When enemy countries heard how the Lord had fought Judah’s battle, they were fearful, and the realm of Jehoshaphat experienced peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 31-34. See comments in 1 Ki. 22:41-46 concerning this phase of Jehoshaphat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 35-37. See comments in 1 Ki. 22:48-49 about shipping alliance with Ahab.