2Chronicles 18-20; Psalms 75

Jehoshaphat and Ahab

18Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab's daughter.H3092H6239H3519H7230H2859H256 2A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. Then Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to join forces with him to recover Ramoth-gilead.H7093H8141H3381H256H8111H256H2076H6629H1241H7230H5971H5496H5927H7433H1568 3"Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat replied, "Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle."H256H4428H3478H559H3092H4428H3063H3212H7433H1568H559H5971H5971H4421 4Then Jehoshaphat added, "But first let's find out what the LORD says."H3092H559H4428H3478H1875H1697H3068H3117 5So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, 400 of them, and asked them, "Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?" They all replied, "Yes, go right ahead! God will give the king victory."H4428H3478H6908H5030H702H3967H376H559H3212H7433H1568H4421H2308H559H5927H430H5414H4428H3027 6But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not also a prophet of the LORD here? We should ask him the same question."H3092H559H5030H3068H1875 7The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, "There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah." Jehoshaphat replied, "That's not the way a king should talk! Let's hear what he has to say."H4428H3478H559H3092H259H376H1875H3068H8130H5012H2896H3117H7451H4321H1121H3229H3092H559H4428H559 8So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah."H4428H3478H7121H259H5631H559H4116H4319H1121H3229

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab

9King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab's prophets were prophesying there in front of them.H4428H3478H3092H4428H3063H3427H376H3678H3847H899H3427H1637H6607H8179H8111H5030H5012H6440 10One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, "This is what the LORD says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!"H6667H1121H3668H6213H7161H1270H559H559H3068H5055H758H3615 11All the other prophets agreed. "Yes," they said, "go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the LORD will give the king victory!"H5030H5012H559H5927H7433H1568H6743H3068H5414H3027H4428 12Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, "Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success."H4397H1980H7121H4321H1696H559H1697H5030H2896H4428H259H6310H1697H259H1696H2896 13But Micaiah replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, I will say only what my God says."H4321H559H3068H2416H430H559H1696 14When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, "Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?" Micaiah replied sarcastically, "Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!"H935H4428H4428H559H4318H3212H7433H1568H4421H2308H559H5927H6743H5414H3027 15But the king replied sharply, "How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the LORD?"H4428H559H6471H7650H1696H571H8034H3068 16Then Micaiah told him, "In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, 'Their master has been killed

. Send them home in peace.'"H559H7200H3478H6327H2022H6629H7462H3068H559H113H7725H376H1004H7965 17"Didn't I tell you?" the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. "He never prophesies anything but trouble for me."H4428H3478H559H3092H559H5012H2896H7451 18Then Micaiah continued, "Listen to what the LORD says! I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right and on his left.H559H8085H1697H3068H7200H3068H3427H3678H6635H8064H5975H3225H8040 19And the LORD said, 'Who can entice King Ahab of Israel to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?' "There were many suggestions,H3068H559H6601H256H4428H3478H5927H5307H7433H1568H559H559H3602H559H3602 20and finally a spirit approached the LORD and said, 'I can do it!' "'How will you do this?' the LORD asked.H3318H7307H5975H6440H3068H559H6601H3068H559 21"And the spirit replied, 'I will go out and inspire all of Ahab's prophets to speak lies.' "'You will succeed,' said the LORD. 'Go ahead and do it.'H559H3318H8267H7307H6310H5030H559H6601H3201H3318H6213 22"So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For the LORD has pronounced your doom."H3068H5414H8267H7307H6310H5030H3068H1696H7451 23Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him across the face. "Since when did the Spirit of the LORD leave me to speak to you?" he demanded.H6667H1121H3668H5066H5221H4321H3895H559H335H1870H5674H7307H3068H1696 24And Micaiah replied, "You will find out soon enough when you are trying to hide in some secret room!"H4321H559H7200H3117H935H2315H2315H2244 25"Arrest him!" the king of Israel ordered. "Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash.H4428H3478H559H3947H4321H7725H526H8269H5892H3101H4428H1121 26Give them this order from the king: 'Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!'"H559H559H4428H7760H1004H3608H398H3899H3906H4325H3906H7725H7965 27But Micaiah replied, "If you return safely, it will mean that the LORD has not spoken through me!" Then he added to those standing around, "Everyone mark my words!"H4321H559H7725H7725H7965H3068H1696H559H8085H5971

The Death of Ahab

28So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies against Ramoth-gilead.H4428H3478H3092H4428H3063H5927H7433H1568 29The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "As we go into battle, I will disguise myself so no one will recognize me, but you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.H4428H3478H559H3092H2664H935H4421H3847H899H4428H3478H2664H935H4421 30Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his chariot commanders: "Attack only the king of Israel! Don't bother with anyone else."H4428H758H6680H8269H7393H559H3898H6996H1419H4428H3478 31So when the Aramean chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they went after him. "There is the king of Israel!" they shouted. But Jehoshaphat called out, and the LORD saved him. God helped him by turning the attackers away from him.H8269H7393H7200H3092H559H4428H3478H5437H3898H3092H2199H3068H5826H430H5496 32As soon as the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they stopped chasing him.H8269H7393H7200H4428H3478H7725H310 33An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. "Turn the horses

and get me out of here!" Ahab groaned to the driver of the chariot. "I'm badly wounded!"H4900H7198H8537H5221H4428H3478H1694H8302H559H7395H376H2015H3027H3318H4264H2470 34The battle raged all that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans. In the evening, just as the sun was setting, he died.H4421H5927H3117H4428H3478H5975H4818H5227H758H6153H6256H8121H935H4191

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

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

War with Surrounding Nations

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

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign

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

75[For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. A song to be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”] We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.H5329H516H4210H7892H623H430H3034H3034H8034H7138H6381H5608 2God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked.H3947H4150H8199H4339 3When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm. InterludeH776H3427H4127H8505H5982H5542 4“I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!H559H1984H1984H7563H7311H7161 5Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance.’”H7311H7161H4791H1696H6277H6677 6For no one on earth—from east or west, or even from the wilderness—should raise a defiant fist

.H7311H2022H4161H4628H4057 7It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.H430H8199H8213H7311 8For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs.H3027H3068H3563H3196H2560H4392H4538H5064H2088H8105H7563H776H4680H8354 9But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.H5046H5769H2167H430H3290 10For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.”H7161H7563H1438H7161H6662H7311