The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Chronicles 20
1 After this, the children of Moab,
the children of Ammon, and with them
some of the Ammonites, came against
Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Thensome came who told Jehoshaphat,
saying, “A great multitude is coming
against you from beyond the sea from
Syria. Behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar”
(that is, En Gedi).
3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek Yahweh. He proclaimed a fast
throughout all Judah.
4 Judah gathered themselves together to
seek help from Yahweh. They came out of
all the cities of Judah to seek Yahweh.
5 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of
Judah and Jerusalem, in Yahweh’s house,
before the new court;
6 and he said, “Yahweh, the God of our
fathers, aren’t you God in heaven? Aren’t
you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand,
so that no one is able to withstand you.
7 Didn’t you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people
Israel, and give it to the offspring† of Abraham your friend forever?
8 They lived in it, and have built you a
sanctuary in it for your name, saying,
9 ‘If evil comes on us—the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand
before this house, and before you (for your
name is inthishouse), and cry to youinour
affliction, and you will hear and save.’
10 Now, behold, the children of Ammon
and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you
would not let Israel invade when they
came out of the land of Egypt, but they
turned away from them, and didn’t destroy them;
11 behold, how they reward us, to come
to castus out of yourpossession, whichyou
have given us to inherit.
12 Our God, will you not judge them?
For we have no might against this great
company that comes against us. We don’t
know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13 All Judah stood before Yahweh, with
their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Then Yahweh’s Spirit came on Jahaziel
the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah,
the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the
Levite, of the sons of Asaph, in the middle
of the assembly;
15 and he said, “Listen, allJudah, and you
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King
Jehoshaphat. Yahweh says to you, ‘Don’t
be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because
of this great multitude; for the battle is not
yours, but God’s.
16 Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of
Ziz. You will find them at the end of the
valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 You will not need to fight this battle.
Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and
Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for
Yahweh is with you.
18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his
face to the ground; and all Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before
Yahweh, worshiping Yahweh.
19 The Levites, of the children of the
Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh,the God
of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice.
20 They rose early in the morning and
went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As
they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and you inhabitants
ofJerusalem! Believe in Yahweh your God,
so you will be established! Believe his
prophets, so you will prosper.”
21 When he had taken counsel with the
people, he appointed those who were to
sing to Yahweh and give praise in holy
array as they go out before the army, and
say, “Give thanks to Yahweh, for his loving
kindness endures forever.”
22 When they began to sing and to praise,
Yahweh set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir,
who had come against Judah; and they
were struck.
23 For the children of Ammon and Moab
stood up against the inhabitants of Mount
Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When
they had finished the inhabitants of Seir,
everyone helped to destroy each other.
24 When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they looked at the
multitude; and behold, they were dead
bodies fallen to the earth, and there were
none who escaped.
25 When Jehoshaphat and his people
came to take their plunder, they found
among them inabundance both riches and
dead bodies with precious jewels, which
they stripped off for themselves, more
than they could carry away. They took
plunder for three days, it was so much.
26 On the fourth day, they assembled
themselves in Beracah‡ Valley, for there
they blessed Yahweh. Therefore the name
ofthat place was called “Beracah Valley” to
this day.
27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in
front ofthem,to go againto Jerusalemwith
joy; for Yahweh had made them to rejoice
over their enemies.
28 They came to Jerusalem with stringed
instruments, harps, and trumpets to Yahweh’s house.
29 The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard
that Yahweh fought against the enemies of
Israel.
30 So the realm ofJehoshaphat was quiet,
for his God gave him rest all around.
31 So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah.
He was thirty-five years old whenhebegan
to reign. He reigned twenty-five years
in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was
Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
32 He walked in the way of Asa his father,
and didn’t turn away from it, doing that
which was right in Yahweh’s eyes.
33 However the high places were not
taken away, and the people had still not set
their hearts on the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are
written in the history of Jehu the son of
Hanani, which is included in the book of
the kings of Israel.
35 After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah
joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel.
The same did very wickedly.
36 He joined himself with him to make
ships to go to Tarshish. They made the
ships in Ezion Geber.
37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu
of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have
joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has
destroyed your works.” The ships were
wrecked, so that they were not able to go
to Tarshish.