War against Jehoshaphat

1And it came to pass after this, that the sons of Moab came, and the sons of Ammon, and with them some Meunites,† against Jehoshaphat to the battle. 2And they came in and declared to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude from beyond the sea† is coming against you from Edom,† and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).

3And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek YHWH, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4And Judah gathered together to inquire of YHWH; even from all the cities of Judah they came to seek YHWH.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

5And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of YHWH, before the new court, 6and he said, “O YHWH, God of our fathers, are You not He, the God in the heavens? And You are ruling over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand are power and might, and there is no one to stand against You.

7Are not You our God, who drove out those dwelling in this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham Your friend forever? 8And they dwell in it and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9‘If disaster comes upon us, sword, 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 distress, and You will hear and save.’

10And behold the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not give to Israel to enter against them when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and they did not destroy them. 11And behold, they are recompensing to us by coming to throw us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit.

12Our God, will You not bring judgment against them? For there is no power in us before the face of this great multitude that is coming against us, and we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

13And all Judah stood before YHWH with their little ones, their wives, and their sons.

The Prophecy of Jahaziel

14And upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, the Spirit of YHWH came in the midst of the assembly, 15and he said, “Listen, all Judah and dwellers of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! Thus says YHWH to you⁺: ‘You⁺ are not to be afraid and not dismayed before this great multitude, for the battle is not unto you⁺, but unto God. 16Tomorrow go down against them. Surely they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you⁺ will find them at the end of the valley, before the face of the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17It is not for you⁺ to fight in this. Station yourselves, stand firm, and see the salvation of YHWH who is with you⁺, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for YHWH is with you⁺.’”

18And Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the earth, and all Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem fell down before the face of YHWH, to bow down to YHWH. 19And the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and from of the sons of the Korahites rose to praise YHWH, God of Israel, in a loud voice on high.

The Enemies Destroy Themselves

20And they rose early in the morning, and they went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and you dwellers of Jerusalem. Believe in YHWH your⁺ God and be steadfast; remain steadfast in His prophets, and you shall prosper.

21And he took counsel with the people and appointed singers to YHWH, and those giving praise to the splendor of holiness, in the going out before the army, and they were saying:

“Give thanks to YHWH,

for forever is His loving devotion.”

22And as they began to sing and to praise, YHWH set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, and they were struck down. 23And the sons of Ammon stood up—and Moab—against those dwelling in Mount Seir, to devote to destruction† and to destroy, and at their finishing with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped, a man against his neighbor for destruction.

24And Judah came to the watchtower in the wilderness, and they looked toward the multitude, and behold, their corpses were fallen on the earth, and no one had escaped. 25And Jehoshaphat came, and his people, to take away the spoils, and they found among them an abundance of goods, and corpses, and precious articles,† and they took for themselves more than they could carry away. And they were three days gathering the spoil, because it was so much.

The Joyful Return

26And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah,† for there they blessed YHWH. Upon thus was called the name of that place the Valley of Berachah to this day.

27And they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for YHWH had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28And they came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets to the house of YHWH.

29And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands in their hearing that YHWH had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave rest to him all around.

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
(1 Kings 22:41–50)

31And Jehoshaphat was king over Judah, a son of thirty-five years in his reigning, and twenty-five years he reigned in Jerusalem. And the name of His mother was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

32And he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the eyes of YHWH.

33Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and still the people did not establish their hearts to the God of their fathers.

34And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the first and the last, indeed they are written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani, which is taken up in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

Jehoshaphat’s Fleet Is Wrecked

35And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel; he acted wickedly in so doing.† 36And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish,† and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.

37And Eliezer son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “For your joining yourself with Ahaziah, YHWH has destroyed your works.”

And the ships were wrecked, and they were not able to go to Tarshish.†

Footnotes:

1 Some LXX manuscripts (see also 2 Chronicles 26:7); Hebrew together with some other Ammonites or together with some besides the Ammonites
2 That is, the Dead Sea
2 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Vulgate from Aram
9 Or the sword of judgment
23 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to YHWH, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.
25 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate and they found among them an abundance of goods and clothing and valuables
26 Beracah means blessing.
35 Or king of Israel, who made him act wickedly or king of Israel, by whom he acted wickedly
36 Or a fleet of trading ships
37 Or set sail to trade