2 Chronicles 17-20

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2 Chronicles 17

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. 3 And Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and did not seek the Baalim, 4 but sought to the Elohim of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance. 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. 9 And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Yahweh with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.

10 And the fear of Yahweh fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats. 12 And Jehoshaphat grew very great; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store. 13 And he had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. 14 And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand; 15 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand; 16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 17 And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; 18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready prepared for war. 19 These were they that waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

 

2 Chronicles 18

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he contracted a marriage with Ahab. 2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead. 3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war.

4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray you, for the word of Yahweh. 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for Elohim will deliver it into the hand of the king. 6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we may inquire of him? 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh: but I hate him; for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Do not let the king say so. 8 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. 9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron, and said, In this manner says Yahweh, With these shall you push the Syrians, until they are consumed. 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.

12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth: let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of theirs, and speak good. 13 And Micaiah said, As Yahweh lives, what my Elohim says, that I will speak. 14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go you up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand. 15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I command you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh? 16 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace. 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? 18 And Micaiah said, Therefore hear the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And Yahweh said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, I will entice him. And Yahweh said to him, With what? 21 And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so. 22 Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you.

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak to you? 24 And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself. 25 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; 26 and say, In this manner says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. 27 And Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, you peoples, all of you.

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. 31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they turned about to fight against him: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him; and Elohim moved them to depart from him. 32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 33 And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am severely wounded. 34 And the battle increased that day: however the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.

 

2 Chronicles 19

And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked, and love them that hate Yahweh? For this thing wrath is upon you from before Yahweh. 3 Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek Elohim.

4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill-country of Ephraim, and brought them back to Yahweh, the Elohim of their fathers. 5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, Consider what you do: for you judge not for man, but for Yahweh; and he is with you in the judgment. 7 Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our Elohim, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.

8 Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and the priests, and of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. And they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying, In this manner shall you do in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10 And whenever any controversy shall come to you from your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them, that they be not guilty towards Yahweh, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren: do this, and you shall not be guilty. 11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may Yahweh be with the good.

 

2 Chronicles 20

And it came to pass after this, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-amar (the same is En-gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek to Yahweh; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to seek help of Yahweh: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Yahweh.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Yahweh, before the new court; 6 and he said, O Yahweh, the Elohim of our fathers, are you not Elohim in heaven? And are you not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand is power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, O our Elohim, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham your friend forever? 8 And they dwelt in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying, 9 If evil come upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, (for your name is in this house,) and cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and did not destroy them; 11 behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our Elohim, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither do we know what to do: but our eyes are on you. 13 And all Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Yahweh in the middle of the assembly; 15 and he said, Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat: In this manner says Yahweh to you, Fear not, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but Elohim’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them: behold, they come up by the ascent of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed: tomorrow go out against them; for Yahweh is with you. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshiping Yahweh. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in Yahweh your Elohim, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper. 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing to Yahweh, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks to Yahweh; for his lovingkindness endures forever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to kill and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

24 And when Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked upon the multitude; and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none that escaped. 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the plunder of them, they found among them in abundance both riches and dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in taking the plunder, it was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Beracah; for there they blessed Yahweh: therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets to the house of Yahweh. 29 And the fear of Elohim was on all the kingdoms of the countries, when they heard that Yahweh fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his Elohim gave him rest all around.

31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh. 33 However the high places were not taken away; neither as yet had the people set their hearts to the Elohim of their fathers. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel; the same did very wickedly: 36 and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish; and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying. Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works. And the ships were broken, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

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