19When King Jehoshaphat of Judah arrived safely home in Jerusalem,H3092H4428H3063H7725H1004H7965H3389 2Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. "Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?" he asked the king. "Because of what you have done, the LORD is very angry with you.H3058H1121H2607H2374H3318H6440H559H4428H3092H5826H7563H157H8130H3068H2063H7110H6440H3068 3Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God."H61H2896H1697H4672H1197H842H776H3559H3824H1875H430 4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.H3092H3427H3389H3318H7725H5971H884H2022H669H7725H3068H430H1 5He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns,H5975H8199H776H1219H5892H3063H5892H5892 6and he said to them, "Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the LORD. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case.H559H8199H7200H6213H8199H120H3068H1697H4941 7Fear the LORD and judge with integrity, for the LORD our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes."H6343H3068H8104H6213H5766H3068H430H4856H6440H4727H7810 8In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges for cases involving the LORD's regulations and for civil disputes.H3389H3092H5975H3881H3548H7218H1H3478H4941H3068H7379H7725H3389 9These were his instructions to them: "You must always act in the fear of the LORD, with faithfulness and an undivided heart.H6680H559H6213H3374H3068H530H8003H3824 10Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God's laws, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the LORD, so that he will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty.H7379H935H251H3427H5892H1818H1818H8451H4687H2706H4941H2094H816H3068H7110H251H3541H6213H816 11"Amariah the high priest will have final say in all cases involving the LORD. Zebadiah son of Ishmael, a leader from the tribe of Judah, will have final say in all civil cases. The Levites will assist you in making sure that justice is served. Take courage as you fulfill your duties, and may the LORD be with those who do what is right."H568H7218H3548H1697H3068H2069H1121H3458H5057H1004H3063H4428H1697H3881H7860H6440H6213H2388H3068H2896
20After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat.H310H1121H4124H1121H5983H5984H935H3092H4421 2Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar." (This was another name for En-gedi.)H935H5046H3092H559H935H7227H1995H5676H3220H758H2688H5872 3Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.H3092H3372H5414H6440H1875H3068H7121H6685H5921H3063 4So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD's help.H3063H6908H1245H3068H5892H3063H935H1245H3068 5Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD.H3092H5975H6951H3063H3389H1004H3068H6440H2319H2691 6He prayed, "O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!H559H3068H430H1H430H8064H4910H4467H1471H3027H3581H1369H3320 7O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?H430H3423H3427H776H6440H5971H3478H5414H2233H85H157H5769 8Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name.H3427H1129H4720H8034H559 9They said, 'Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.'H7451H935H2719H8196H1698H7458H5975H6440H1004H6440H8034H1004H2199H6869H8085H3467 10"And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.H1121H5983H4124H2022H8165H5414H3478H935H935H776H4714H5493H8045 11Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.H1580H935H1644H3425H3423 12O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help."H430H8199H3581H6440H7227H1995H935H3045H587H6213H5869 13As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children,H3063H5975H6440H3068H1571H2945H802H1121 14the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.H3166H1121H2148H1121H1141H1121H3273H1121H4983H3881H1121H623H7307H3068H8432H6951 15He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.H559H7181H3063H3427H3389H4428H3092H559H3068H3372H2865H6440H7227H1995H4421H430 16Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.H4279H3381H5927H4608H6732H4672H5490H5158H6440H4057H3385 17But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"H3898H2063H3320H5975H7200H3444H3068H3063H3389H3372H2865H4279H3318H6440H3068 18Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD.H3092H6915H639H776H3063H3427H3389H5307H6440H3068H7812H3068 19Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.H3881H1121H6956H1121H7145H6965H1984H3068H430H3478H1419H6963H4605 20Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed."H7925H1242H3318H4057H8620H3318H3092H5975H559H8085H3063H3427H3389H539H3068H430H539H539H5030H6743 21After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: "Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!"H3289H5971H5975H7891H3068H1984H1927H6944H3318H6440H2502H559H3034H3068H2617H5769 22At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.H6256H2490H7440H8416H3068H5414H693H1121H5983H4124H2022H8165H935H3063H5062 23The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.H1121H5983H4124H5975H3427H2022H8165H2763H8045H3615H3427H8165H376H5826H4889H7453 24So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.H3063H935H4707H4708H4057H6437H1995H6297H5307H776H6413 25King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!H3092H5971H935H962H7998H4672H7230H7399H6297H2532H3627H5337H369H4853H7969H3117H962H7998H7227 26On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the LORD there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.H7243H3117H6950H6010H1294H1288H3068H8034H4725H7121H6010H1294H3117 27Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the LORD had given them victory over their enemies.H7725H376H3063H3389H3092H7218H7725H3389H8057H3068H8055H341 28They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the LORD.H935H3389H5035H3658H2689H1004H3068 29When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the LORD himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.H6343H430H4467H776H8085H3068H3898H341H3478 30So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.H4438H3092H8252H430H5117H5439 31So Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.H3092H4427H3063H7970H2568H8141H1121H4427H4427H6242H2568H8141H3389H517H8034H5806H1323H7977 32Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight.H3212H1870H609H1H5493H6213H3477H5869H3068 33During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.H1116H5493H5971H3559H3824H430H1 34The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Jehu Son of Hanani, which is included in The Book of the Kings of Israel.H3499H1697H3092H7223H314H3789H1697H3058H1121H2607H5927H5612H4428H3478 35Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.H310H3092H4428H3063H2266H274H4428H3478H6213H7561 36Together they built a fleet of trading ships at the port of Ezion-geber.H2266H6213H591H3212H8659H6213H591H6100 37Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, "Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy your work." So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.H461H1121H1735H4762H5012H3092H559H2266H274H3068H6555H4639H591H7665H6113H3212H8659
21When Jehoshaphat died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Jehoram became the next king.H3092H7901H1H6912H1H5892H1732H3088H1121H4427 2Jehoram's brothers—the other sons of Jehoshaphat—were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.H251H1121H3092H5838H3171H2148H5838H4317H8203H1121H3092H4428H3478 3Their father had given each of them valuable gifts of silver, gold, and costly items, and also some of Judah's fortified towns. However, he designated Jehoram as the next king because he was the oldest.H1H5414H7227H4979H3701H2091H4030H4694H5892H3063H4467H5414H3088H1060 4But when Jehoram had become solidly established as king, he killed all his brothers and some of the other leaders of Judah.H3088H6965H4467H1H2388H2026H251H2719H8269H3478 5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.H3088H7970H8147H8141H1121H4427H4427H8083H8141H3389 6But Jehoram followed the example of the kings of Israel and was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab's daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the LORD's sight.H3212H1870H4428H3478H6213H1004H256H1323H256H802H6213H7451H5869H3068 7But the LORD did not want to destroy David's dynasty, for he had made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever.H3068H14H7843H1004H1732H1285H3772H1732H559H5414H5216H1121H3117 8During Jehoram's reign, the Edomites revolted against Judah and crowned their own king.H3117H123H6586H3027H3063H4427H4428 9So Jehoram went out with his full army and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he went out at night and attacked them under cover of darkness.H3088H5674H8269H7393H6965H3915H5221H123H5437H8269H7393 10Even so, Edom has been independent from Judah to this day. The town of Libnah also revolted about that same time. All this happened because Jehoram had abandoned the LORD, the God of his ancestors.H123H6586H3027H3063H3117H6256H3841H6586H3027H5800H3068H430H1 11He had built pagan shrines in the hill country of Judah and had led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to give themselves to pagan gods and to go astray.H6213H1116H2022H3063H3427H3389H2181H5080H3063 12Then Elijah the prophet wrote Jehoram this letter: "This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: You have not followed the good example of your father, Jehoshaphat, or your grandfather King Asa of Judah.H935H4385H452H5030H559H559H3068H430H1732H1H1980H1870H3092H1H1870H609H4428H3063 13Instead, you have been as evil as the kings of Israel. You have led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship idols, just as King Ahab did in Israel. And you have even killed your own brothers, men who were better than you.H3212H1870H4428H3478H3063H3427H3389H2181H2181H1004H256H2026H251H1H1004H2896 14So now the LORD is about to strike you, your people, your children, your wives, and all that is yours with a heavy blow.H1419H4046H3068H5062H5971H1121H802H7399 15You yourself will suffer with a severe intestinal disease that will get worse each day until your bowels come out."H7227H2483H4245H4578H4578H3318H2483H3117H3117 16Then the LORD stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs, who lived near the Ethiopians, to attack Jehoram.H3068H5782H3088H7307H6430H6163H5921H3027H3569 17They marched against Judah, broke down its defenses, and carried away everything of value in the royal palace, including the king's sons and his wives. Only his youngest son, Ahaziah, was spared.H5927H3063H1234H7617H7399H4672H4428H1004H1121H802H1121H7604H3059H6996H1121 18After all this, the LORD struck Jehoram with the severe intestinal disease.H310H3068H5062H4578H369H4832H2483 19The disease grew worse and worse, and at the end of two years it caused his bowels to come out, and he died in agony. His people did not build a great funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors.H3117H3318H6256H7093H8147H3117H4578H3318H5973H2483H4191H7451H8463H5971H6213H8316H8316H1 20Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.H7970H8147H1121H4427H4427H3389H8083H8141H3212H2532H6912H5892H1732H6913H4428
22Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son, their next king, since the marauding bands who came with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.H3427H3389H4427H274H6996H1121H4427H1416H935H6163H4264H2026H7223H274H1121H3088H4428H3063H4427 2Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri.H705H8147H8141H1121H274H4427H4427H259H8141H3389H517H8034H6271H1323H6018 3Ahaziah also followed the evil example of King Ahab's family, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong.H1980H1870H1004H256H517H3289H7561 4He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, just as Ahab's family had done. They even became his advisers after the death of his father, and they led him to ruin.H6213H7451H5869H3068H1004H256H3289H310H4194H1H4889 5Following their evil advice, Ahaziah joined King Joram, the son of King Ahab of Israel, in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. When the Arameans wounded Joram in the battle,H1980H6098H3212H3088H1121H256H4428H3478H4421H2371H4428H758H7433H1568H7421H5221H3141 6he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had received at Ramoth. Because Joram was wounded, King Ahaziah of Judah went to Jezreel to visit him.H7725H7495H3157H4347H5221H7414H3898H2371H4428H758H5838H1121H3088H4428H3063H3381H7200H3088H1121H256H3157H2470 7But God had decided that this visit would be Ahaziah's downfall. While he was there, Ahaziah went out with Joram to meet Jehu grandson of Nimshi, whom the LORD had appointed to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.H8395H274H430H935H3141H935H3318H3088H3058H1121H5250H3068H4886H3772H1004H256 8While Jehu was executing judgment against the family of Ahab, he happened to meet some of Judah's officials and Ahaziah's relatives who were traveling with Ahaziah. So Jehu killed them all.H3058H8199H1004H256H4672H8269H3063H1121H251H274H8334H274H2026 9Then Jehu's men searched for Ahaziah, and they found him hiding in the city of Samaria. They brought him to Jehu, who killed him. Ahaziah was given a decent burial because the people said, "He was the grandson of Jehoshaphat—a man who sought the LORD with all his heart." But none of the surviving members of Ahaziah's family was capable of ruling the kingdom.H1245H274H3920H2244H8111H935H3058H4191H6912H559H1121H3092H1875H3068H3824H1004H274H3581H6113H4467 10When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of Judah's royal family.H6271H517H274H7200H1121H4191H6965H1696H2233H4467H1004H3063 11But Ahaziah's sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah's infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king's children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him.H3090H1323H4428H3947H3101H1121H274H1589H8432H4428H1121H4191H5414H3243H2315H4296H3090H1323H4428H3088H802H3077H3548H269H274H5641H6440H6271H4191 12Joash remained hidden in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.H2244H1004H430H8337H8141H6271H4427H776
23In the seventh year of Athaliah's reign, Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He summoned his courage and made a pact with five army commanders: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.H7637H8141H3077H2388H3947H8269H3967H5838H1121H3395H3458H1121H3076H5838H1121H5744H4641H1121H5718H478H1121H2147H1285 2These men traveled secretly throughout Judah and summoned the Levites and clan leaders in all the towns to come to Jerusalem.H5437H3063H6908H3881H5892H3063H7218H1H3478H935H3389 3They all gathered at the Temple of God, where they made a solemn pact with Joash, the young king. Jehoiada said to them, "Here is the king's son! The time has come for him to reign! The LORD has promised that a descendant of David will be our king.H6951H3772H1285H4428H1004H430H559H4428H1121H4427H3068H1696H1121H1732 4This is what you must do. When you priests and Levites come on duty on the Sabbath, a third of you will serve as gatekeepers.H1697H6213H7992H935H7676H3548H3881H7778H5592 5Another third will go over to the royal palace, and the final third will be at the Foundation Gate. Everyone else should stay in the courtyards of the LORD's Temple.H7992H4428H1004H7992H8179H3247H5971H2691H1004H3068 6Remember, only the priests and Levites on duty may enter the Temple of the LORD, for they are set apart as holy. The rest of the people must obey the LORD's instructions and stay outside.H935H1004H3068H3548H8334H3881H935H6944H5971H8104H4931H3068 7You Levites, form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to enter the Temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes."H3881H5362H4428H5439H376H3627H3027H935H1004H4191H4428H935H3318 8So the Levites and all the people of Judah did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. Jehoiada the priest did not let anyone go home after their shift ended.H3881H3063H6213H3077H3548H6680H3947H376H582H935H7676H3318H7676H3077H3548H6358H4256 9Then Jehoiada supplied the commanders with the spears and the large and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of God.H3077H3548H5414H8269H3967H2595H4043H7982H4428H1732H1004H430 10He stationed all the people around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.H5975H5971H376H7973H3027H3233H3802H1004H8042H3802H1004H4196H1004H4428H5439 11Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king's son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God's laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone shouted, "Long live the king!"H3318H4428H1121H5414H5145H5715H4427H3077H1121H4886H559H2421H4428 12When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and the shouts of praise to the king, she hurried to the LORD's Temple to see what was happening.H6271H8085H6963H5971H7323H1984H4428H935H5971H1004H3068 13When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar at the Temple entrance. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Singers with musical instruments were leading the people in a great celebration. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"H7200H4428H5975H5982H3996H8269H2689H4428H5971H776H8056H8628H2689H7891H3627H7892H3045H1984H6271H7167H899H559H7195H7195 14Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops, "Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her." For the priest had said, "She must not be killed in the Temple of the LORD."H3077H3548H3318H8269H3967H6485H2428H559H3318H1004H7713H935H310H4191H2719H3548H559H4191H1004H3068 15So they seized her and led her out to the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and they killed her there.H7760H3027H935H3996H5483H8179H4428H1004H4191 16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD's people.H3077H3772H1285H5971H4428H3068H5971 17And all the people went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.H5971H935H1004H1168H5422H7665H4196H6754H7665H2026H4977H3548H1168H6440H4196 18Jehoiada now put the priests and Levites in charge of the Temple of the LORD, following all the directions given by David. He also commanded them to present burnt offerings to the LORD, as prescribed by the Law of Moses, and to sing and rejoice as David had instructed.H3077H7760H6486H1004H3068H3027H3548H3881H1732H2505H1004H3068H5927H5930H3068H3789H8451H4872H8057H7892H3027H1732 19He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the LORD's Temple to keep out those who for any reason were ceremonially unclean.H5975H7778H8179H1004H3068H2931H1697H935 20Then the commanders, nobles, rulers, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the LORD. They went through the upper gate and into the palace, and they seated the king on the royal throne.H3947H8269H3967H117H4910H5971H5971H776H3381H4428H1004H3068H935H8432H5945H8179H4428H1004H3427H4428H3678H4467 21So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed.H5971H776H8055H5892H8252H4191H6271H2719
Dublin, OH
declared war on Jehoshaphat.H310
