Jehoshaphat Reigns over Judah
aJehoshaphat his son then became king in his place, and strengthened himself over Israel. 2 And he put military forces in all athe fortified cities of Judah, and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim bwhich Asa his father had captured.
Jehoshaphat’s Kingdom Established
3 And Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the ways of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father, walked in His commandments, aand did not act as Israel did. 5 So Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat, and ahe had great riches and honor. 6 And his heart took great pride in the ways of Yahweh, and again he atook away the high places 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, ato teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them athe Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. 9 And they taught in Judah, having athe book of the law of Yahweh with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
10 Now athe dread of Yahweh was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Indeed, some of the Philistines abrought presents and silver as their tax burden to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 12 So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah. 13 And he had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. 14 This was their muster according to their fathers’ households:
of Judah, commanders of thousands, Adnah was the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;
15 and next to him was Johanan the commander, and with him 280,000;
16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, awho volunteered for Yahweh, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor;
17 and of Benjamin, Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 equipped with bow and shield;
18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for military duty.
19 These are they who attended on the king, apart from athose whom the king put in the fortified cities through all Judah.
Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
Now aJehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab. 2 aAnd some years later he went down to Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab sacrificed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and incited him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”
4 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh.” 5 Then the king of Israel gathered 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 give it into the hand of the king.” 6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of Yahweh here that we may inquire of him?” 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
8 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hasten to bring Micaiah son of Imla.” 9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, clothed in their royal garments, and they were sitting aat the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are consumed.’” 11 All the prophets were also prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, and Yahweh will give it into the hand of the king.”
12 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets, as if from one mouth, are good to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak that which is good.” 13 But Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, awhat my God says, that I shall speak.”
14 Then he came to the king, and 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, and they will be given into your hand.” 15 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?” 16 So he said,
“I saw all Israel
Scattered on the mountains,
aLike sheep which have no shepherd;
And Yahweh said,
‘These have no master.
Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”
17 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not say to you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
18 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh. aI saw Yahweh sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left. 19 And Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. 20 Then a aspirit came forward and stood before Yahweh and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ 21 And he said, ‘I will go out and be aa lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 22 So now, behold, aYahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, but Yahweh has spoken calamity against you.”
23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and astruck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of Yahweh pass from me to speak to you?” 24 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide.” 25 Then the king of Israel said, “aTake Micaiah and return him to Amon bthe ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “aPut this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’” 27 And Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely, Yahweh has not spoken by me.” And he said, “aListen, all you people.”
The Death of Ahab
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your garments.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. 30 Now the king of Aram had commanded the commanders of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.” 31 Now it happened that when the commanders of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel,” and they turned to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat acried out, and Yahweh helped him, and God incited them away from him. 32 So it happened that when the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33 Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight, for I am severely wounded.” 34 Now the battle raged that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans until the evening; and at sunset he died.
Jehoshaphat Returns to Jerusalem
Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in peace to his house in Jerusalem. 2 aAnd Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him to his face and said to King Jehoshaphat, “bShould you help the wicked and love those who hate Yahweh and cso bring wrath on yourself from Yahweh? 3 But asome good has been found in you, for byou have purged the Asheroth from the land and you chave set your heart to seek God.”
4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. Indeed, he returned and went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and acaused them to return back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges
5 And he appointed ajudges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, in each city. 6 And he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for ayou do not judge for man but for Yahweh who is with you when you render judgment. 7 So now then let the dread of Yahweh be upon you; be careful what you do, because with Yahweh our God athere is no unrighteousness bor partiality or the taking of a bribe.”
8 In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some aof the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh and to judge disputes. So they returned to Jerusalem. 9 Then he commanded them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 10 aWhenever any dispute comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before Yahweh and bwrath may not come on you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not be guilty. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in aall that pertains to Yahweh, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. bBe strong and act, and Yahweh be with the one who is good.”
War Against Judah
Now it happened after this, that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the aAmmonites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in aHazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).” 3 And Jehoshaphat was afraid and aset his face to seek Yahweh, and bcalled for a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to aseek help from Yahweh; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Yahweh.
Jehoshaphat Before the Assembly
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Yahweh before the new court, 6 and he said, “O Yahweh, 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 take their stand against You. 7 Did You not, O our God, dispossess the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and agive it to the seed of bAbraham Your friend forever? 8 And they have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, 9 ‘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 save us.’ 10 So now, behold, athe sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount 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), 11 and behold, they are rewarding us by acoming to drive us out from Your possession which You have caused us to possess. 12 O our God, awill You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; and we do not know what we should do, but bour eyes are on You.”
13 Now all Judah was standing before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
Yahweh’s Spirit Comes upon Jahaziel
14 Then in the midst of the assembly athe Spirit of Yahweh 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; 15 and he said, “Pay attention, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says Yahweh to you, ‘aDo not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for bthe battle is not yours but God’s. 16 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. 17 You need not fight in this battle; take your stand—astand and see the salvation of Yahweh on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, bfor Yahweh is with you.”
18 So Jehoshaphat abowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshiping Yahweh. 19 Then the Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, rose up to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
Yahweh Eradicates the Multitude
20 And 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, aestablish your faith in Yahweh your God and you will be established. Establish your faith in His prophets and succeed.” 21 When he had taken counsel with the people, he caused those who sang to Yahweh and those who apraised Him to stand in holy attire, as they went out before the army, saying, “bGive thanks to Yahweh, for His lovingkindness endures forever.” 22 When they began singing for joy and praising, Yahweh aset ambushes against the sons of bAmmon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were defeated. 23 Indeed, the sons of Ammon and Moab stood against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to devote them to destruction and to utterly eradicate them; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, athey helped to bring one another to ruin.
24 Now Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, and they turned toward the multitude, and behold, they were corpses fallen on the ground, and no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil and found much among them, including goods, garments, 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.
Jehoshaphat Returns to Jerusalem
26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed Yahweh. Therefore they have named that place “The Valley of Beracah” until today. 27 And every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with gladness, afor Yahweh had made them glad over their enemies. 28 And they came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house of Yahweh. 29 And athe dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, afor his God gave him rest all around.
31 aThus 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. 32 And he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it, doing what is right in the sight of Yahweh. 33 aThe high places, however, were not taken away; bthe people had not yet set their hearts to the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first to last, behold, they are written in the chronicles of aJehu the son of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahaziah
35 aAfterwards, Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing. 36 So he allied himself with him to make ships to go ato Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.