2 Chronicles 20

Jehoshaphat's Prayer

1 It happened after this that the people of a Moab with the people of b Ammon, and others with them besides the c Ammonites, 1 came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from 2 Syria; and they are d in Hazazon Tamar" (which is e En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set 3 himself to f seek the LORD, and g proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask h help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not i God in heaven, and j do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and k in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 "Are You not l our God, who m drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham n Your friend forever? 8 "And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 o 'If disaster comes upon us - sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine - we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your p name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' 10 "And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir - whom You q would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but r they turned from them and did not destroy them - 11 "here they are, rewarding us s by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 "O our God, will You not t judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but u our eyes are upon You."

13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD. 14 Then v the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: w 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, x for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 'Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the 4 brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 y 'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, z for the LORD is with you."

18 And Jehoshaphat a bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.

20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: b Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, c and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
d "Praise the LORD,
e For His mercy endures forever." 5

22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, f the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they 6 had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, g they helped to destroy one another.

The Lord Delivers Judah

24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the 7 dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of 8 Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah 9 until this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had h made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. 29 And i the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his j God gave him rest all around.

31 k So Jehoshaphat was king 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 the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of his father l Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. 33 Nevertheless m the 10 high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not n directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, o which is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

The End of Jehoshaphat's Reign

35 After this p Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, q who acted very r wickedly. 36 And he allied himself with him s to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works." t Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go u to Tarshish.

  1. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 18:2
    Then he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought tribute.
  2. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 19:15
    When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai his brother, and entered the city. So Joab went to Jerusalem.
  3. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 26:7
    God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 14:7
    Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
  5. Cross References
    Joshua 15:62
    Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi: six cities with their villages.
  6. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 19:3
    "Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God."
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 7:6
    So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.
    Ezra 8:21
    Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.
    Jeremiah 36:9
    Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem.
    Jonah 3:5
    So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.
  8. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 14:11
    And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:39
    Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
    Joshua 2:11
    And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
    1 Kings 8:23
    And he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
    Matthew 6:9
    In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 22:28
    For the kingdom is the LORD's, And He rules ove...
    Psalms 47:2
    For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a grea...
    Psalms 47:8
    God reigns over the nations; God sits on His ho...
    Daniel 4:17
    'This decision is by the decree of the watchers...
    Daniel 4:25
    They shall drive you from men, your dwelling sh...
    Daniel 4:32
    And they shall drive you from men, and your dwe...
  11. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 29:12
    Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.
    2 Chronicles 25:8
    "But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow."
    Psalms 62:11
    God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.
    Matthew 6:13
    And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 13:14 - 17
    And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are - northward, southward, eastward, and westward.
    Genesis 17:7
    And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
    Exodus 6:7
    I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 44:2
    You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
  14. Cross References
    Isaiah 41:8
    But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
    James 2:23
    And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
  15. Cross References
    1 Kings 8:33
    When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple.
    1 Kings 8:37
    When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is.
    2 Chronicles 6:28 - 30
    When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is.
  16. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 6:20
    That Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.
  17. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:4
    And command the people, saying, "You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully.
    Deuteronomy 2:9
    "Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'"
    Deuteronomy 2:19
    'And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'"
  18. Cross References
    Numbers 20:21
    Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 83:1 - 18
    Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God!
  20. Cross References
    Judges 11:27
    'Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the LORD, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.'"
    1 Samuel 3:13
    For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 25:15
    My eyes are ever toward the LORD, For He shall ...
    Psalms 121:1
    I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills - From when...
    Psalms 121:2
    My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven an...
    Psalms 123:1
    Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in ...
    Psalms 123:2
    Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the han...
    Psalms 141:8
    But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In Yo...
  22. Cross References
    Numbers 11:25
    Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again.
    Numbers 11:26
    But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp.
    Numbers 24:2
    And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
    2 Chronicles 15:1
    Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded.
    2 Chronicles 24:20
    Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God: 'Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.'
  23. Cross References
    Exodus 14:13
    And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid...
    Exodus 14:14
    "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hol...
    Deuteronomy 1:29
    Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or af...
    Deuteronomy 1:30
    The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will...
    Deuteronomy 31:6
    "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor...
    Deuteronomy 31:8
    "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before yo...
    2 Chronicles 32:7
    Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor ...
  24. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:47
    "Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."
    Zechariah 14:3
    Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.
  25. Cross References
    Exodus 14:13
    And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
    Exodus 14:14
    "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
  26. Cross References
    Numbers 14:9
    "Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."
    2 Chronicles 15:2
    And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
    2 Chronicles 32:8
    With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
  27. Cross References
    Exodus 4:31
    So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.
    2 Chronicles 7:3
    When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.
    2 Chronicles 29:28
    So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
  28. Cross References
    Isaiah 7:9
    The head of Ephraim is Samaria, And the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established." '
  29. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 16:29
    Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
    Psalms 29:2
    Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
    Psalms 90:17
    And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.
    Psalms 96:9
    Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.
    Psalms 110:3
    Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.
  30. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 16:34
    Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
    Psalms 106:1
    Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
    Psalms 136:1
    Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
  31. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 16:41
    And with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endures forever.
    2 Chronicles 5:13
    Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: " For He is good, For His mercy endures forever," that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud.
  32. Cross References
    Judges 7:22
    When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.
    1 Samuel 14:20
    Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man's sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
  33. Cross References
    Judges 7:22
    When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.
    1 Samuel 14:20
    Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man's sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
  34. Cross References
    Nehemiah 12:43
    Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.
  35. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 14:14
    Then they defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came upon them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was exceedingly much spoil in them.
    2 Chronicles 17:10
    And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.
  36. Cross References
    1 Kings 22:41 - 43
    Jehoshaphat the son of Asa had become king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
    2 Chronicles 14:6
    And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.
    2 Chronicles 14:7
    Therefore he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.
    2 Chronicles 15:15
    And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.
    Job 34:29
    When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone? -
  37. Cross References
    1 Kings 22:41 - 43
    Jehoshaphat the son of Asa had become king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
  38. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 14:2
    Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
  39. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 15:17
    But the high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days.
    2 Chronicles 17:6
    And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah.
  40. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 12:14
    And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.
    2 Chronicles 19:3
    "Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God."
  41. Cross References
    1 Kings 16:1
    Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani, against Baasha, saying:
    1 Kings 16:7
    And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them.
  42. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 18:1
    Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab.
  43. Cross References
    1 Kings 22:48 - 53
    Jehoshaphat made merchant ships to go to Ophir for gold; but they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber.
  44. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 19:2
    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 those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
  45. Cross References
    1 Kings 9:26
    King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
    1 Kings 10:22
    For the king had merchant ships at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.
  46. Cross References
    1 Kings 22:48
    Jehoshaphat made merchant ships to go to Ophir for gold; but they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber.
  47. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 9:21
    For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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