Category: 2 Chronicles

Rehoboam in Jerusalem

1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem,he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin — 180,000 choice warriors — to fight against Israel to restore the reign to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of theLordcame to Shemaiah,the man of God:

3 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people:

4 ‘This is what theLordsays: You are not to march up and fight against your brothers.Each of you must return home, for this incident has come from Me.’ ”

So they listened to what theLordsaid and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

Judah’s King Rehoboam

5 Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he fortified citiesin Judah.

6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.

11 He strengthened their fortifications and put leaders in them with supplies of food, oil, and wine.

12 He also put large shields and spears in each and every city to make them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.

13 The priests and Levites from all their regions throughout Israel took their stand with Rehoboam,

14 for the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessionsand went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons refused to let them serve as priests of Yahweh.

15 Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places,the goat-demons,and the golden calves he had made.

16 Those from every tribe of Israel who had determined in their hearts to seek Yahweh their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years,because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

18 Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.

19 She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 After her, he married Maacah daughterof Absalom. She bore Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith to him.

21 Rehoboam loved Maacah daughterof Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. He acquired 18 wivesand 60 concubines and was the father of 28 sons and 60 daughters.

22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief, leader among his brothers, intending to make him king.

23 Rehoboam also showed discernment by dispersing some of his sons to all the regions of Judah and Benjamin and to all the fortified cities. He gave them plenty of provisions and sought many wives for them.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/11-2337f36a202ab2bdd89bccee1675dab1.mp3?version_id=72—

Shishak’s Invasion

1 When Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power,he abandoned the law of theLord— he and all Israel with him.

2 Because they were unfaithful to theLord, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishakking of Egypt went to war against Jerusalem

3 with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and countless people who came with him from Egypt — Libyans,Sukkiim, and Cushites.

4 He captured the fortified citiesof Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

5 Then Shemaiahthe prophet went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: “This is what theLordsays: ‘You have abandoned Me; therefore, I have abandoned you into the hand of Shishak.’ ”

6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “Yahweh is righteous.”

7 When theLordsaw that they had humbled themselves, theLord’s message came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them but will grant them a little deliverance.My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.

8 However, they will become his servants so that they may recognize the difference between serving Me and serving the kingdoms of other lands.”

9 So King Shishak of Egypt went to waragainst Jerusalem.He seized the treasuries of theLord’s temple and the treasuries of the royal palace. He took everything. He took the gold shields that Solomon had made.

10 King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them into the care of the captains of the royal escortswho guarded the entrance to the king’s palace.

11 Whenever the king entered theLord’s temple, the royal escorts would carry the shields and take them back to the royal escorts’ armory.

12 When Rehoboam humbled himself, theLord’s anger turned away from him, and He did not destroy him completely.Besides that, conditions were good in Judah.

Rehoboam’s Last Days

13 King Rehoboamestablished his royal power in Jerusalem. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king and reigned 17 years in Jerusalem, the city theLordhad chosen from all the tribes of Israel to put His name.Rehoboam’s mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.

14 Rehoboam did what was evil, because he did not determine in his heart to seek theLord.

15 The eventsof Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of Shemaiahthe Prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning genealogies.There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their reigns.

16 Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Abijahbecame king in his place.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/12-57b9df3485d61de31530d51f269fc7f7.mp3?version_id=72—

Judah’s King Abijah

1 In the eighteenth yearof Israel’s King Jeroboam, Abijahbecame king over Judah

2 and reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiahdaughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah.

There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

3 Abijah set his army of warriors in order with 400,000 choice men. Jeroboam arranged his mighty army of 800,000 choice men in battle formation against him.

4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim,which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel, hear me.

5 Don’t you know that theLordGod of Israel gave the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants foreverby a covenant of salt?

6 But Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord.

7 Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young, inexperienced, and unable to assert himself against them.

8 “And now you are saying you can assert yourselves against theLord’s kingdom, which is in the hand of one of David’s sons. You are a vast number and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.

9 Didn’t you banish the priests of Yahweh, the descendants of Aaron and the Levites, and make your own priests like the peoples of other lands do?Whoever comes to ordain himselfwith a young bull and seven rams may become a priestof what are not gods.

10 “But as for us, Yahweh is our God. We have not abandoned Him; the priests ministering to theLordare descendants of Aaron, and the Levites serve at their tasks.

11 They offer a burnt offering and fragrant incense to theLordevery morning and every evening,and they set the rows of the bread of the Presence on the ceremonially clean table.They light the lamps of the gold lampstand every evening. We are carrying out the requirements of Yahweh our God, while you have abandoned Him.

12 Look, God and His priests are with us at our head. The trumpets are ready to sound the charge against you. Israelites, don’t fight against theLordGod of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”

13 Now Jeroboam had sent an ambusharound to advance from behind them. So they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

14 Judah turned and discovered that the battle was in front of them and behind them, so they cried out to theLord.Then the priests blew the trumpets,

15 and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. When the men of Judah raised the battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

16 So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God handed them over to them.

17 Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 choice men of Israel were killed.

18 The Israelites were subdued at that time. The Judahites succeeded because they depended on theLord, the God of their ancestors.

19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephronand its villages.

20 Jeroboam no longer retained his powerduring Abijah’s reign; ultimately, theLordstruck himand he died.

21 However, Abijah grew strong, acquired 14 wives, and fathered 22 sons and 16 daughters.

22 The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, along with his ways and his sayings, are written in the Writingof the Prophet Iddo.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/13-8fd5b694a6af116348f7d2027426c8e7.mp3?version_id=72—

1 Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place.During his reign the land experienced peace for 10 years.

Judah’s King Asa

2 Asa did what was good and rightin the sight of theLordhis God.

3 He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.

4 He told the people of Judah to seek theLordGod of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.

5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah,and the kingdom experienced peace under him.

6 Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah.No one made war with him in those days because theLordgave him rest.

7 So he said to the people of Judah, “Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars.The land is still ours because we sought theLordour God. We sought Him and He gave us rest on every side.” So they built and succeeded.

The Cushite Invasion

8 Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears,and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors.

9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.

10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 Then Asa cried out to theLordhis God:“Lord, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us,Lordour God, for we depend on You,and in Your name we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You.”

12 So theLordrouted the Cushites before Asa and before Judah,and the Cushites fled.

13 Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar.The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahweh and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot.

14 Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of theLordwas on them.They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them.

15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/14-3036d3e01d87c0f9b368d5d7276b510b.mp3?version_id=72—

Revival Under Asa

1 The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded.

2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Asa and all Judah and Benjamin, hear me. TheLordis with youwhen you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you,but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you.

3 For many years Israel has been without the true God,without a teaching priest, and without instruction,

4 but when they turned to theLordGod of Israel in their distress and sought Him, He was found by them.

5 In those times there was no peace for those who went about their daily activities because the residents of the lands had many conflicts.

6 Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every possible distress.

7 But as for you, be strong; don’t be discouraged,for your work has a reward.”

8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim.He renovated the altar of theLordthat was in front of the portico of theLord’s temple.

9 Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, as well as those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for they had defected to him from Israel in great numbers when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him.

10 They were gathered in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

11 At that time they sacrificed to theLord700 cattle and 7,000 sheep from all the plunder they had brought.

12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek theLordGod of their ancestors with all their mind and all their heart.

13 Whoever would not seek theLordGod of Israel would be put to death, young or old,man or woman.

14 They took an oath to theLordin a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with rams’ horns.

15 All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their mind. They had sought Him with all their heart, and He was found by them.So theLordgave them rest on every side.

16 King Asaalso removed Maacah, his grandmother,from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image, then crushed it and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

17 The high places were not taken away from Israel; nevertheless, Asa was wholehearted his entire life.

18 He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into God’s temple: silver, gold, and utensils.

19 There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/15-50bd42048aa629689f1c5d8ddf7d3da9.mp3?version_id=72—

Asa’s Treaty with Aram

1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa,Israel’s King Baasha went to war against Judah. He built Ramah in order to deny access to anyone — going or coming — to Judah’s King Asa.

2 So Asa brought out the silver and gold from the treasuries of theLord’s temple and the royal palace and sent it to Aram’s King Ben-hadad, who lived in Damascus, saying,

3 “There’s a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Go break your treaty with Israel’s King Baasha so that he will withdraw from me.”

4 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies to the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim,and all the storage citiesof Naphtali.

5 When Baasha heard about it, he quit building Ramah and stopped his work.

6 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had built it with. Then he built Geba and Mizpah with them.

Hanani’s Rebuke of Asa

7 At that time, Hananithe seer came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, “Because you depended on the king of Aram and have not depended on theLordyour God,the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.

8 Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen?When you depended on Yahweh, He handed them over to you.

9 For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout the earthto show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.”

10 Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prisonbecause of his anger over this. And Asa mistreated some of the people at that time.

Asa’s Death

11 Note that the eventsof Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a disease in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his disease he didn’t seek theLordbut only the physicians.

13 Asa died in the forty-first year of his reign and rested with his fathers.

14 He was buried in his own tomb that he had made for himself in the city of David. They laid him out in a coffin that was full of spices and various mixtures of prepared ointments;then they made a great fire in his honor.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/16-9d3ee13179c78c2447ac96de1ff50af7.mp3?version_id=72—

Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

1 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his placeand strengthened himself against Israel.

2 He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judahand set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

3 Now theLordwas with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David.He did not seek the Baals

4 but sought the God of his father and walked by His commands, not according to the practices of Israel.

5 So theLordestablished the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

6 His mind rejoiced in theLord’s ways, and he againremoved the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan

7 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials — Ben-hail,Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah — to teach in the cities of Judah.

8 The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites.

9 They taught throughout Judah, having the book of theLord’s instruction with them.They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10 The terror of theLordwas on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah,so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat.

11 Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

Jehoshaphat’s Military Might

12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortressesand storage cities in Judah

13 and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, brave warriors, in Jerusalem.

14 These are their numbers according to their ancestral families. For Judah, the commanders of thousands:

Adnah the commander and 300,000 brave warriors with him;

15 next to him, Jehohanan the commander and 280,000 with him;

16 next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteerof theLord, and 200,000 brave warriors with him;

17 from Benjamin, Eliada, a brave warrior, and 200,000 with him armed with bow and shield;

18 next to him, Jehozabad and 180,000 with him equipped for war.

19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/17-5622c4fe86e1b2e2938c8736ed831bd1.mp3?version_id=72—

Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab

1 Now Jehoshaphathad riches and honor in abundance,and he made an alliance with Ahab through marriage.

2 Then after some years, he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and for the people who were with him. Then he persuaded him to march up to Ramoth-gilead,

3 for Israel’s King Ahab asked Judah’s King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? ”

He replied to him, “I am as you are, my people as your people; we will be with you in the battle.”

4 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what theLord’s will is.”

5 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, 400 men, and asked them, “Should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain? ”

They replied, “March up, and God will hand it over to the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore? Let’s ask him.”

7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king shouldn’t say that,” Jehoshaphat replied.

8 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah! ”

9 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were sitting on the threshing floor at the entrance to Samaria’s gate,and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.

10 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’ ”

11 And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “March up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for theLordwill hand it over to the king.”

Micaiah’s Message of Defeat

12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

13 But Micaiah said, “As theLordlives, I will say whatever my God says.”

14 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should Irefrain? ”

Micaiah said, “March up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.”

15 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahweh? ”

16 So Micaiah said:

I saw all Israel scattered on the hills

like sheep without a shepherd.

And theLordsaid,

“They have no master;

let each return home in peace.”

17 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster? ”

18 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of theLord. I saw theLordsitting on His throne, and the whole heavenly host was standing at His right hand and at His left hand.

19 And theLordsaid, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? ’ So one was saying this and another was saying that.

20 “Thena spirit came forward, stood before theLord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’

“TheLordasked him, ‘How? ’

21 “So he said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’

“Then He said, ‘You will entice him and also prevail. Go and do that.’

22 “Now, you see, theLordhas put a lying spirit into the mouth ofthese prophets of yours, and theLordhas pronounced disaster against you.”

23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the spirit from theLordleave me to speak to you? ”

24 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.”

25 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return himto Amon, the governor of the city,and to Joash, the king’s son,

26 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prisonand feed him only bread and wateruntil I come back safely.’ ”

27 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, theLordhas not spoken through me.” Then he said, “Listen, all you people! ”

Ahab’s Death

28 Then the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.

29 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel! ” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried outand theLordhelped him. God drew them away from him.

32 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

33 But a man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to the charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,for I am badly wounded! ”

34 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.

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Jehu’s Rebuke of Jehoshaphat

1 Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his home in Jerusalem in peace.

2 Then Jehuson of Hanani the seer went out to confront himand said to King Jehoshaphat, “Do you help the wicked and love those who hate theLord?Because of this, theLord’s wrath is on you.

3 However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have decided to seek God.”

Jehoshaphat’s Reforms

4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

5 He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city.

6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man, but for theLord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.

7 And now, may the terror of theLordbe on you. Watch what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with theLordour God.”

8 Jehoshaphat also appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites and priests and some of the heads of the Israelite families for deciding theLord’s will and for settling disputes of the residents ofJerusalem.

9 He commanded them, saying, “In the fear of theLord, with integrity, and with a whole heart, you are to do the following:

10 for every dispute that comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities — whether it regards differences of bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, or judgments— you are to warn them, so they will not incur guilt before theLordand wrath will not come on you and your brothers.Do this, and you will not incur guilt.

11 “Note that Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all matters related to theLord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all matters related to the king, and the Levites are officers in your presence. Be strong; may theLordbe with those who do what is good.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/19-20e7e6ea38e538d2f182e7f855db6f4e.mp3?version_id=72—

War against Eastern Enemies

1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites,came to fight against Jehoshaphat.

2 People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edomhas come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar”(that is, En-gedi).

3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolvedto seek theLord. Then he proclaimed a fastfor all Judah,

4 who gathered to seek theLord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in theLord’s temple before the new courtyard.

6 He said:

Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, 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 Are You not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israeland who gave it forever to the descendants of AbrahamYour friend?

8 They have lived in the land and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name and have said,

9 “If disaster comes on us — sword or judgment, pestilence or famine— we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your name is in this temple.We will cry out to You because of our distress, and You will hear and deliver.”

10 Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir.You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.

11 Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of Your possession that You gave us as an inheritance.

12 Our God, will You not judge them?For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.

God’s Answer

13 All Judah was standing before theLordwith their infants, their wives, and their children.

14 In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of theLordcame onJahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants),

15 and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what theLordsays: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number,for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

16 Tomorrow, go 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 You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of theLord.He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged.Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you.’ ”

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before theLordto worship Him.

19 Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahitesstood up to praise theLordGod of Israel shouting with a loud voice.

Victory and Plunder

20 In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in Yahweh your God, and you will be established;believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for theLordand some to praise the splendor of His holiness.When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing:

Give thanks to theLord,

for His faithful love endures forever.

22 The moment they began their shouts and praises, theLordset an ambushagainst the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated.

23 The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them.When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.

24 When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the large army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; nobody had escaped.

25 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder. They found among theman abundance of goods on the bodiesand valuable items. So they stripped them until nobody could carry any more. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.

26 They assembled in the Valley of Beracahon the fourth day, for there they praised theLord. Therefore, that place is still called the Valley of Beracah today.

27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem turned back with Jehoshaphat their leader, returning joyfully to Jerusalem, for theLordenabled them to rejoice over their enemies.

28 So they came into Jerusalem to theLord’s temple with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

29 The terror of Godwas on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him rest on every side.

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign

31 Jehoshaphat became king over Judah.He was 35 years old when he became king and reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

32 He walked in the way of Asa his father; he did not turn away from it but did what was right in theLord’s sight.

33 However, the high places were not taken away;the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.

34 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign from beginning to end are written in the Events of Jehuson of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of Israel’s Kings.

Jehoshaphat’s Fleet of Ships

35 After this,Judah’s King Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Israel’s King Ahaziah, who was guilty of wrongdoing.

36 Jehoshaphat formed an alliance with him to make ships to go to Tarshish,and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.

37 Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you formed an alliance with Ahaziah, theLordhas broken up what you have made.” So the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CH/20-af1881a86d8d9c12b493332c59b8c2ef.mp3?version_id=72—