Ahab Dies in Battle^(A)

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 ^(B)disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

³⁰ Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.”

³¹ So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat ^(C)cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them from him. ³² For so it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. ³³ Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the ^[a]joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” ³⁴ The battle increased that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; and about the time of sunset he died.

Jehoshaphat’s Additional Reforms

19 Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. ² And Jehu the son of Hanani ^(D)the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and ^(E)love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the ^(F)wrath of the Lord is upon you. ³ Nevertheless ^(G)good things are found in you, in that you have removed the ^[b]wooden images from the land, and have ^(H)prepared your heart to seek God.”

The Reforms of Jehoshaphat

⁴ So Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the mountains of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord God of their ^(I)fathers. ⁵ Then he set ^(J)judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, ⁶ and said to the judges, “Take heed to what you are doing, for ^(K)you do not judge for man but for the Lord, ^(L)who is with you ^[c]in the judgment. ⁷ Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for ^(M)there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no ^(N)partiality, nor taking of bribes.”

⁸ Moreover in Jerusalem, for the judgment of the Lord and for controversies, Jehoshaphat ^(O)appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the chief fathers of Israel, ^[d]when they returned to Jerusalem. ⁹ And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall act ^(P)in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and with a loyal heart: ^10 (Q)Whatever case comes to you from your brethren who dwell in their cities, whether of bloodshed or offenses against law or commandment, against statutes or ordinances, you shall warn them, lest they trespass against the Lord and ^(R)wrath come upon ^(S)you and your brethren. Do this, and you will not be guilty. ¹¹ And take notice: ^(T)Amariah the chief priest is over you ^(U)in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters; also the Levites will be officials before you. Behave courageously, and the Lord will be ^(V)with the good.”