2 Chronicles 20:1-22 ▼

1 And 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.

2 And 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).

3 And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek YHWH, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 And Judah gathered together to inquire of YHWH; even from all the cities of Judah they came to seek YHWH.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of YHWH, before the new court,

6 and 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.

7 Are 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?

8 And 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.’

10 And 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.

11 And behold, they are recompensing to us by coming to throw us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit.

12 Our 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.”

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

14 And 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,

15 and 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.

16 Tomorrow 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.

17 It 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?.’”

18 And 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.

19 And 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.

20 And 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.

21 And 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.”

22 And 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.