| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Berean Study Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’ ” |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Then Jehoshaphat bowed facedown, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.” |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.” |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had made an end to the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables—more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32And Jehoshaphat walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers. |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel. |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber. |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish. |
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