II Chronicles 20
1After that, Moabites, Ammonites, together with some Ammonim, “Meunites” (1 Chron. 4.41); cf. Kimhi. came against Jehoshaphat to wage war.
2The report was brought to Jehoshaphat: “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram, and is now in Hazazon-tamar”—that is, En-gedi.
3Jehoshaphat was afraid; he decided to resort to GOD and proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
4Judah assembled to plead before GOD. They also came from all the towns of Judah to seek GOD.
5Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the House of GOD at the front of the new court.
6He said, “ETERNAL God of our ancestors, truly You are the God in heaven and You rule over the kingdoms of the nations; power and strength are Yours; none can oppose You.
7O our God, you dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and You gave it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever.
8They settled in it and in it built for You a House for Your name. They said,
9‘Should misfortune befall us—the punishing sword, pestilence, or famine, we shall stand before this House and before You—for Your name is in this House—and we shall cry out to You in our distress, and You will listen and deliver us.’
10Now the people of Ammon, Moab, and the hill country of Seir, into whose [land] You did not let Israel come when they came from Egypt, but they turned aside from them and did not wipe them out,
11these now repay us by coming to expel us from Your possession that You gave us as ours.
12O our God, surely You will punish them, for we are powerless before this great multitude that has come against us, and do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
13All Judah stood before GOD with their dependents—their womenfolk and their children.
14Then in the midst of the congregation the spirit of GOD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah the Levite, of the sons of Asaph,
15and he said, “Give heed, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat; thus said GOD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed by this great multitude, for the battle is God’s, not yours.
16March down against them tomorrow as they come up by the Ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the wadi in the direction of the wilderness of Jeruel.
17It is not for you to fight this battle; stand by, wait, and witness your deliverance by GOD, O Judah and Jerusalem; do not fear or be dismayed; go forth to meet them tomorrow and GOD will be with you.’”
18Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem threw themselves down before GOD to worship GOD.
19Levites of the sons of Kohath and of the sons of Korah got up to extol the ETERNAL God of Israel at the top of their voices.
20Early the next morning they arose and went forth to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Trust firmly in the ETERNAL your God and you will stand firm; trust firmly in God’s prophets and you will succeed.”
21After taking counsel with the people, he stationed singers to GOD extolling the One majestic in holiness as they went forth ahead of the vanguard, saying, “Praise GOD, whose steadfast love is eternal.”
22As they began their joyous shouts and hymns, GOD set ambushes for the Ammonites, Moabites, and [the inhabitants of] the hill country of Seir, who were marching against Judah, and they were routed.
23The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of the hill country of Seir to exterminate and annihilate them. When they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, each helped to destroy his fellow.
24When Judah reached the lookout in the wilderness and looked for the multitude, they saw them lying on the ground as corpses; not one had survived.
25Jehoshaphat and his army came to take the booty, and found an abundance of goods, corpses, and precious objects, which they pillaged, more than they could carry off. For three days they were taking booty, there was so much of it.
26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Blessing—for there they blessed GOD; that is why that place is called the Valley of Blessing to this day.
27Judah’s and Jerusalem’s contingents, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for GOD had given them cause for rejoicing over their enemies.
28They came to Jerusalem to the House of GOD, to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and trumpets.
29The terror of God seized all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that GOD had fought the enemies of Israel.
30The kingdom of Jehoshaphat was untroubled, and his God granted him respite on all sides.
31Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
32He followed the course of his father Asa and did not deviate from it, doing what was pleasing to GOD.
33However, the shrines did not cease; the people still did not direct their heart toward the God of their ancestors.
34As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, early and late, they are recorded in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which were included in the book of the kings of Israel.
35Afterward, King Jehoshaphat of Judah entered into a partnership with King Ahaziah of Israel, thereby acting wickedly.
36He joined with him in constructing ships to go to Tarshish; the ships were constructed in Ezion-geber.
37Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, “As you have made a partnership with Ahaziah, GOD will break up your work.” The ships were wrecked and were unable to go to Tarshish.