2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 20

20 And it came about afterward that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon and with them some of the Ammonim came against Jehoshaphat in war. 2 So people came and told Jehoshaphat, saying: "There has come against you a large crowd from the region of the sea, from Edom, and there they are in Hazazontamar, that is to say, Engedi. 3 After that Jehoshaphat became afraid and set his face to search for Jehovah. So he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 Eventually those of Judah were collected together to inquire of Jehovah. Even from all the cities of Judah they came to consult Jehovah. 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the congregation of Judah and of Jerusalem in the house of Jehovah before the new courtyard, 6 and he proceeded to say: "O Jehovah the God of our forefathers, are you not God in the heavens, and are you not dominating over all the kingdoms of the nations, and are there not in your hand power and mightiness, with no one to hold his ground against you? 7 Did not you yourself, O God of ours, drive away the inhabitants of this land from before your people Israel and then give it to the seed of Abraham, your lover, to time indefinite? 8 And they took up dwelling in it, and they proceeded to build in it for you a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 'If there should come upon us calamity, sword, adverse jugment, or pestilence or famine, let us stand before this house and before you (for your name is in this house), that we may call to you for aid out of our distress, and may you hear and save.' 10 And now here the sons of Ammon, and Moab and the mountainous region of Seir, whom you did not allow Israel to invade when they were coming out of the land of Egypt, but they turned away from them and did not annihilate them, 11 yes, here they are rewarding us by coming in to drive us out from your possession that you caused us to possess. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For in us there is no power before this large crowd that is coming against us; and we ourselves do not know what we ought to do, but our eyes are toward you." 13 All the while all those of Judah were standing before Jehovah, even their little ones, their wives and their sons. 14 Now as for Jahaziel the son of Benaiah the son of Jeiel the son of Mattaniah the Levite of the sons of Asaph, the spirit of Jehovah came to be upon him in the middle of the congregation. 15 Consequently he said: "Pay attention, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jersusalem and King Jehoshaphat! Here is what Jehovah has said to you, 'Do not you be afraid or be terrified because of this large crowd; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. There they are coming up by the pass of Ziz; and you will be certain to find them at the end of the torrent valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this instance. Take your position, stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah in your behalf. O Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid or be terrified. Tomorrow go out against them, and Jehovah will be with you.'" 18 At once Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the earth, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem themselves fell down before Jehovah to do obeisance to Jehovah. 19 Then the Levites of the sons of Kihathites and of the sons of the Korahites rose up to praise Jehovah the God of Israel with an extraordinarily loud voice. 20 And they proceeded to go out to the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out Jehoshaphat stood up and then said: "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Put faith in Jehovah YOUR God that you may prove yourselves of long duration. Put faith in his prophets and so prove successful." 21 Further, he took counsel with the people and stationed singers to Jehovah and those offering praise in holy adornment as they went out ahead of the armed men, and saying: "GIVE praise to Jehovah, for to time indefinite is his loving-kindness." 22 And at the time that they started off with the joyful cry and praise, Jehovah set men in abush against the sons of Ammon, Moab and the mountainous region of Seir who were coming into Judah, and they went smiting one another. 23 And the sons of Ammon and Moab proceeded to stand up against the inhabitants of the mountainous region of Seir to devote them to destruction and annihilate them; and as soon as they finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped eah one to bring his own fellow to ruin. 24 But as for Judah, it came to the watchtower of the wilderness. When they turned their faces toward the crowd, why, there they were, their carcasses fallen to the earth without anyone escaping. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his people came to plunder the spoil on them, and they got to find among them in abundance both goods and clothing and desirable articles; and they went stripping them off for themselves until they could carry no more. And it came to be three days that they were plundering the spoil, for it was abundant. 26 And on the fourth day they congregated together at the low plain of Beracah, for there they blessed Jehovah. That is why they called the name of that place Low Plain of Beracah-until today. 27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned, with Jehoshaphat at their head, to return to Jerusalem with rejoicing, for Jehovah had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments and with harps and with trumpets to the house of Jehovah. 29 And the dread of God came to be upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Jehovah had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Thus the royal realm of Jehoshaphat had no disturbance, and his God continued to give him rest all around. 31 And Jehoshaphat went on reigning over Judah. Thirty-five years ol he was when he began to reign, and for twenty-five years he reigned in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he kept walking in the way of his father Asa, and he did not turn aside from it, by doing what was right in Jehovah's eyes. 33 Only the high places themselves did not disappear; and the people themselves had not yet prepared their heart for the God of their forefathers. 34 As for the rest of the affairs of Jehoshaphat, the first and the last, there they are written among the words of Jehu the son of Hanani, which were inserted in the Book of the Kings of Israel. 35 And after this Jehoshaphat the king of Judah had partnership with Ahaziah the king of Israel, who acted wickedly. 36 So he made him a partner with himself in making ships to go to Tarshish and they made ships in Eziongeber. 37 However, Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Maresha spoke prophetically against Jehoshaphat, saying: "Inasmuch as you have had partnership with Ahaziah, Jehovah will certainly break down your works." Accordingly the ships were wrecked, and they did not retain strength to go to Tarshish.