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2 Chronicles 17:1-20:37 — Jehoshaphat King of Judah

2Chr.17.1-20.37

¹Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel . ²He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and he set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured. ³The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David and did not seek the Baals. ⁴Instead, he sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, not according to the practices of Israel. ⁵So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat; and he had great riches and honor. ⁶His heart was bold in the ways of the LORD, and he also removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah. ⁷In the third year of his reign, he sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. ⁸With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, and with them the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹They taught in Judah, having with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. ¹⁰And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute and silver as a levy, and the Arabs also brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. ¹²Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah. ¹³He had much work in the cities of Judah, and in Jerusalem he had warriors, mighty men of valor. ¹⁴These were their musters according to their fathers' houses: from Judah, the commanders of thousands—Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor; ¹⁵next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000; ¹⁶next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor; ¹⁷and from Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bow and shield; ¹⁸next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war. ¹⁹These were those who served the king, besides those whom the king had stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

Chapter 18

¹Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab. ²After some years, he went down to Ahab in Samaria, and Ahab slaughtered sheep and cattle in abundance for him and for the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. ³And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we are with you in the war.” ⁴But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.” ⁵So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead for battle, or shall I refrain?” They said, “Go up, and God will give it into the hand of the king.” ⁶But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here still a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of him?” ⁷The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, only evil. He is Micaiah son of Imla.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” ⁸Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imla quickly.” ⁹Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in robes, sitting at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. ¹⁰Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall gore Aram until they are finished off.'” ¹¹And all the prophets prophesied the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.” ¹²The messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one mouth are favorable to the king. Please let your word be like one of theirs, and speak favorably.” ¹³But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.” ¹⁴When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead for battle, or shall I refrain?” And he said, “Go up and prosper, and they will be given into your hand.” ¹⁵But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?” ¹⁶Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each return to his house in peace.'” ¹⁷And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” ¹⁸And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right and on his left.” ¹⁹And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab king of Israel, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. ²⁰Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'How?' ²¹And he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You will entice him, and you will also prevail. Go out and do so.' ²²Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has spoken disaster against you. ²³Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?” ²⁴And Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.” ²⁵And the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son,” ²⁶“and say, 'Thus says the king: Put this man in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace.'” ²⁷But Micaiah said, “If you indeed return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!” ²⁸So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. ²⁹And 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. ³⁰Now the king of Aram had commanded the commanders of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” ³¹And when the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; God drew them away from him. ³²And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. ³³But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. So he said to the chariot driver, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded.” ³⁴And the battle raged that day, and the king of Israel kept himself standing in his chariot opposite the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.

Chapter 19

¹Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. ²And Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD.” ³Nevertheless, good things are found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart to seek God. ⁴Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. ⁵He appointed judges in the land, in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. ⁶And he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you judge not for man but for the LORD, and he is with you in giving judgment.” ⁷Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice, no partiality, and no taking of bribes. ⁸Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD and for disputes. And they were in Jerusalem. ⁹And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a whole heart.” ¹⁰“And whenever any dispute comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, whether between bloodshed and bloodshed, or between law, commandment, statutes, and judgments, you shall warn them, so that they may not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath come upon you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not incur guilt.” ¹¹“And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in every matter of the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in every matter of the king. The Levites will serve as officers before you. Be strong and act, and may the LORD be with the good.”

Chapter 20

¹After this, the Moabites and the Ammonites, and with them some of the Ammonites , came against Jehoshaphat for battle. ²Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram ; and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). ³Then Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he set his face to seek the LORD and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴And Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. ⁵Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD, before the new court, ⁶and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? And do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that none can stand against you.” ⁷“Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” ⁸“And they have lived in it and built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying,” ⁹“'If disaster comes upon us, whether sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house, and we will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.'” ¹⁰“And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, for they turned away from them and did not destroy them,” ¹¹“behold how they repay us, by coming to drive us out of your possession that you gave us to inherit.” ¹²“Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” ¹³Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. ¹⁴Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. ¹⁵And he said, “Listen, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.'” ¹⁶“Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley before the wilderness of Jeruel.” ¹⁷“You will not need to fight in this battle. Take your stand, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” ¹⁸Then Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. ¹⁹And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. ²⁰And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will prosper.” ²¹And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy splendor, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” ²²And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. ²³For the men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. ²⁴When Judah came to the lookout over the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, there were dead bodies fallen on the earth; none had escaped. ²⁵When Jehoshaphat and his people came to carry off their spoil, they found among them in abundance goods, bodies, and precious articles, and they took for themselves more than they could carry. They spent three days taking the spoil, because it was so much. ²⁶On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah , for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Berakah to this day. ²⁷Then every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. ²⁸They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. ²⁹And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. ³⁰So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest all around. ³¹Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. ³²He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. ³³Only the high places were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers. ³⁴Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, behold, they are written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani, which were incorporated into the Book of the Kings of Israel. ³⁵After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. ³⁶He joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. ³⁷Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your work.” So the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

Translation Notes

4/11/2026

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