历代志下 20
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
约沙法祷告退敌
20 后来摩押人、亚扪人同一些米乌尼人[a]一起来攻打约沙法。 2 有人禀告约沙法说:“有一支大军从死海对岸的以东[b]杀来,已经攻到哈洗逊·他玛。”哈洗逊·他玛就是隐·基底。 3 约沙法很害怕,决定寻求耶和华,在整个犹大宣告禁食。 4 犹大人聚集起来寻求耶和华。他们从犹大各城前来寻求耶和华。
5 约沙法站在耶和华殿的新院里,在犹大和耶路撒冷的民众面前, 6 说:“我们祖先的上帝耶和华啊,你不是住在天上的上帝吗?你主宰万邦万国,你手中有权柄和能力,无人能抵挡你。 7 我们的上帝啊,你不是曾经在你的以色列子民面前驱逐这地方的居民,把这片土地赐给你的朋友亚伯拉罕的后裔永远作产业吗? 8 你的子民在这里居住,为你的名建造殿宇,说, 9 ‘如果我们遭遇祸患,无论是战祸、瘟疫或饥荒,当我们在急难中站在这殿前向你呼求时,你必定垂听,施行拯救,因为你的名在这殿里。’
10 “从前以色列人离开埃及的时候,你不准他们侵犯亚扪人、摩押人和来自西珥山的人,他们就绕道而行,没有毁灭这些人。 11 但现在这些人要报复我们,把我们从你赐给我们作产业的地方赶走。 12 我们的上帝啊,难道你不惩罚他们吗?面对前来攻击的大军,我们无力抵挡,不知道该怎么办,我们只有仰望你。”
13 犹大人与他们的妻子、儿女和婴孩都站在耶和华面前。 14 这时,耶和华的灵降在雅哈悉身上。雅哈悉是利未人亚萨的后裔、玛探雅的玄孙、耶利的曾孙、比拿雅的孙子、撒迦利雅的儿子。 15 他说:“全体犹大人、耶路撒冷的居民和约沙法王啊,你们要留心听!耶和华对你们如此说,‘你们不要因敌军强大而恐惧惊慌,因为战争的胜败不在乎你们,而在乎上帝。 16 明天你们下去迎敌,敌军会从洗斯坡上来,你们一定会在耶鲁伊勒旷野前面的谷口遇见他们。 17 你们不用与他们交战,只要守住阵势,站立不动,看耶和华为你们施行拯救。犹大人和耶路撒冷人啊,不要恐惧,不要惊慌,明天只管出去迎敌,耶和华必与你们同在!’”
18 于是,约沙法面伏于地,所有犹大人和耶路撒冷的居民也都俯伏在耶和华面前敬拜祂。 19 哥辖族和可拉族的利未人都站起来,高声赞美以色列的上帝耶和华。 20 第二天清晨,众人起来去提哥亚的旷野。他们出发的时候,约沙法站着说:“犹大人和耶路撒冷的居民啊,请听我说!要信靠你们的上帝耶和华,你们就必坚立;要相信祂的先知,你们就必得胜。” 21 约沙法与众人商议后,就派歌乐手穿上圣洁的礼服走在军队前面,赞美耶和华,说:“你们要称谢耶和华,因祂的慈爱永远长存!”
22 他们开始唱歌赞美的时候,耶和华就派伏兵击杀前来攻打犹大的亚扪人、摩押人和来自西珥山的人,打败了他们。 23 原来亚扪人和摩押人攻击来自西珥山的人,消灭了他们,然后亚扪人和摩押人又自相残杀。
24 犹大人来到旷野的瞭望塔俯瞰那支大军,发现敌军尸横遍野,无一幸免。 25 约沙法和他的百姓前去拾财物,发现尸体中有许多财物、衣服和贵重物品,多得拿不完。他们拾了三天才拾完。 26 第四天,他们聚集到一个山谷,一起称颂耶和华。那里从此名叫比拉迦[c]谷,直到今天。
27 犹大人和耶路撒冷人在约沙法的带领下,欢欢喜喜地返回耶路撒冷,因为耶和华使他们战胜了仇敌。 28 他们一路弹琴、鼓瑟、吹号回到耶路撒冷,进入耶和华的殿。 29 列邦列国听闻耶和华打败了以色列的敌人,都很惧怕。 30 因此,约沙法执政期间国家太平,因为他的上帝赐他四境平安。
约沙法逝世
31 约沙法三十五岁登基做犹大王,在耶路撒冷执政二十五年。他母亲叫阿苏巴,是示利希的女儿。 32 约沙法效法他父亲亚撒,做耶和华视为正的事,不偏不离。 33 然而,他没有拆除丘坛,民众还没有全心归向他们祖先的上帝。
34 约沙法其他的事迹自始至终都记在哈拿尼的儿子耶户的史记上。耶户的史记收录在以色列的列王史上。
35 后来,犹大王约沙法与作恶多端的以色列王亚哈谢修好。 36 他们在以旬·迦别造船,要去他施。 37 玛利沙人多大瓦的儿子以利以谢向约沙法预言说:“因为你与亚哈谢修好,耶和华必破坏你所造的船只。”那些船只果然坏了,无法前往他施。
2 Cronica 20
Ang Pulong Sa Dios
Gipildi ni Jehoshafat ang Moab ug Ammon
20 Human niini, nakiggira kang Jehoshafat ang mga Moabihanon, ang mga Amonihanon, ug ang uban sa mga Meunhon.[a] 2 May mga tawo nga miadto kang Jehoshafat ug miingon, “May daghan kaayong mga sundalo nga nagapadulong sa pagsulong kanimo. Gikan kini sila sa Edom[b] sa pikas nga bahin sa Patay nga Dagat. Anaa na sila sa Hazazon Tamar” (nga mao ang En Gedi). 3 Nahadlok si Jehoshafat, ug midangop siya sa Ginoo. Unya nagmando siya nga magpuasa ang tanang taga-Juda. 4 Busa nagtigom ang mga tawo gikan sa tanang mga lungsod sa Juda sa pagpangayo ug tabang sa Ginoo. 5 Mitindog si Jehoshafat atubangan sa katawhan sa Juda ug sa Jerusalem didto sa atubangan sa bag-ong hawanan sa templo sa Ginoo 6 ug miingon, “Ginoo, Dios sa among mga katigulangan, ikaw ang Dios nga anaa sa langit. Ikaw ang nagagahom sa tanan nga gingharian sa kalibotan. Gamhanan ka gayod ug walay makasukol kanimo. 7 O among Dios, dili ba nga gipang-abog mo man ang mga lumulupyo niini nga yuta sa dihang miabot ang imong katawhan? Ug dili ba nga gihatag mo kini sa mga kaliwat ni Abraham nga imong higala aron ilang panag-iyahon, hangtod sa kahangtoran? 8 Gipuy-an kini nila ug gitukoran ug templo sa pagpasidungog kanimo. Miingon sila, 9 ‘Kon adunay kalamidad nga moabot kanamo sama sa gira, baha,[c] katalagman, o kagutom, motindog kami sa imong presensya atubangan niini nga templo diin ginapasidunggan ikaw. Magpakitabang kami kanimo ug patalinghogan mo kami ug luwason.’
10 “Karon ginasulong kami sa mga tawo nga gikan sa Ammon, Moab, ug sa Bukid sa Seir. Kaniadto wala ka motugot nga sakopon ang ilang mga teritoryo sa mga Israelinhon nga migawas gikan sa Ehipto. Busa milikay ang mga Israelinhon kanila ug wala sila laglaga. 11 Apan karon, tan-awa kon unsa ang ilang gibalos kanamo. Gisulong nila kami aron abugon sa yuta nga imong gihatag kanamo ingon nga panulondon. 12 O among Dios, dili mo ba sila silotan? Wala kamiy ikasukol niining daghang mga sundalo nga nagasulong kanamo. Dili kami kahibalo kon unsay among buhaton, apan nagasalig kami kanimo.”
13 Samtang nagtindog didto ang tanang kalalakin-an sa Juda uban sa ilang mga asawa ug mga anak, apil ang ilang gagmayng kabataan, 14 gigamhan sa Espiritu sa Ginoo si Jahaziel nga nagatindog didto uban kanila. Si Jahaziel anak ni Zacarias. Si Zacarias anak ni Benaya. Si Benaya anak ni Jeil. Ug si Jeil anak ni Matania nga Levita ug kaliwat ni Asaf.
15 Miingon si Jahaziel, “Pamati Haring Jehoshafat, ug kamong tanan nga nagapuyo sa Jerusalem ug sa ubang bahin sa Juda! Mao kini ang gisulti sa Ginoo kaninyo, ‘Ayaw kamo kahadlok o kawad-ig kadasig tungod niining daghang mga sundalo, kay ang away dili inyo kondili iya sa Dios. 16 Ugma, lugsong kamo ngadto kanila. Makita ninyo sila nga nagatungas sa tungasanan sa Ziz, sa tumoy sa lugut nga nagapaingon sa kamingawan sa Jeruel. 17 Dili na kinahanglan nga makig-away pa kamo. Ipahimutang ang inyong kaugalingon, ug tan-awa ninyo ang buhaton sa Ginoo sa pagluwas kaninyo. Ayaw kamo kahadlok o kawad-ig kadasig, mga taga-Juda ug taga-Jerusalem. Atubanga ninyo sila ugma ug ang Ginoo magauban kaninyo.’ ” 18 Mihapa si Jehoshafat ug ang tanang taga-Juda ug taga-Jerusalem sa pagsimba sa Ginoo. 19 Unya nanindog ang mga Levita nga gikan sa mga pamilya ni Kohat ug ni Kora ug midayeg sa Ginoo, ang Dios sa Israel, sa makusog kaayo nga tingog.
20 Sayo pa kaayo pagkasunod adlaw, nangadto sila si Jehoshafat sa kamingawan sa Tekoa. Samtang naglakaw sila, mihunong si Jehoshafat ug miingon, “Pamatia ninyo ako, mga taga-Juda ug taga-Jerusalem! Tuo kamo sa Ginoo nga inyong Dios, ug malig-on kamo. Tuo kamo sa iyang mga propeta, ug magmadaogon kamo.” 21 Pagkahuman niyag pangayo ug tambag sa mga tawo, nagpili siyag mga mag-aawit nga mag-una kanila ug mag-awit ug mga pagdayeg sa Ginoo tungod sa iyang balaan ug halangdon nga presensya. Mao kini ang ilang giawit, “Pasalamati ang Ginoo kay ang iyang gugma walay kataposan.” 22 Ug sa pagsugod nilag awit sa mga pagdayeg, gipaunay ug away sa Ginoo ang mga Amonihanon, mga Moabihanon, ug mga taga-Bukid sa Seir nga nagasulong sa Juda. Nangalaglag sila 23 kay gisulong sa mga Amonihanon ug Moabihanon ang mga sundalo sa mga taga-Bukid sa Seir ug gilaglag sila sa hingpit.[d] Pagkahuman, sila na usab ang nagpinatyanay. 24 Pag-abot sa mga sundalo sa Juda sa ibabaw nga bahin sa kamingawan, nakita nila ang mga patayng lawas sa ilang mga kaaway nga nanagbuy-od sa yuta. Walay bisan usa nga nakaikyas. 25 Busa miadto si Jehoshafat ug ang iyang mga tawo sa pagpanguha sa mga kabtangan sa ilang mga kaaway. Daghan ang ilang nakuha nga mga kagamitan, mga bisti,[e] ug uban pang mahalong mga butang. Tulo gayod ka adlaw silang naghakot tungod sa hilabihan nga kadaghan sa mga kabtangan. 26 Sa ikaupat ka adlaw, nagtigom sila sa Kapatagan sa Beraca ug didto nagdayeg sila sa Ginoo. Mao kana ang hinungdan nga gitawag kini nga Kapatagan sa Beraca[f] hangtod karon.
27 Unya namalik silang tanan sa Jerusalem pinangulohan ni Jehoshafat. Malipayon kaayo sila tungod kay gipadaog sila sa Ginoo sa ilang mga kaaway. 28 Pag-abot nila sa Jerusalem, midiretso sila sa templo sa Ginoo, ug nagtukar sila ug mga harpa, lira, ug mga trumpeta.
29 Sa dihang nadungog sa tanang mga gingharian sa palibot nga ang Ginoo mismo ang nakiggira sa mga kaaway sa Israel, nangahadlok sila sa Dios.[g] 30 Busa nakasinati ug kalinaw ang gingharian ni Jehoshafat kay gihatagan siya sa iyang Dios ug kalinaw sa iyang palibot.
Ang Kataposan sa Paghari ni Jehoshafat
(1 Hari 22:41-50)
31 Mao kadto ang kasaysayan sa paghari ni Jehoshafat sa Juda. Nagaedad siya ug 35 ka tuig sa dihang nahimo siyang hari. Sa Jerusalem siya nagpuyo, ug naghari siya sulod sa 25 ka tuig. Ang iyang inahan mao si Azuba nga anak ni Shilhi. 32 Gisunod ni Jehoshafat ang pagkinabuhi sa iyang amahan nga si Asa. Gihimo niya ang matarong atubangan sa Ginoo. 33 Apan wala niya panguhaa ang mga simbahanan diha sa habog nga mga dapit, ug ang mga tawo wala magmatinud-anon sa pagsunod sa Dios sa ilang mga katigulangan.
34 Ang uban pang sugilanon mahitungod sa paghari ni Jehoshafat, gikan sa sinugdan hangtod sa kataposan, nahisulat sa mga sugilanon ni Jehu nga Anak ni Hanani, nga nalakip sa libro sa mga sugilanon bahin sa mga hari sa Juda.
35 Apan sa kaulahiang panahon sa paghari ni Jehoshafat sa Juda, nakig-abin siya kang Ahazia nga hari sa Israel, nga usa ka daotang tawo. 36 Nagkasabot sila nga magpahimog mga barko nga pangnegosyo[h] didto sa Ezion Geber. 37 Unya miingon si Eliezer nga anak ni Dodavahu nga taga-Maresha kang Jehoshafat, “Tungod kay nakig-abin ka kang Ahazia, gub-on sa Ginoo ang inyong gipahimo nga mga barko.” Busa naguba ang mga barko ug wala na kini makabiyahe.
Footnotes
- 20:1 Meunhon: Mao kini sa ubang mga kopya sa Septuagint. Sa Hebreo, Amonihanon.
- 20:2 Edom: Mao kini sa usa ka kopya sa Hebreo. Sa kadaghanan nga kopya sa Hebreo ug sa Septuagint, Aram.
- 20:9 baha: Mao kini sa usa ka kopya sa Griego. Sa Hebreo, paghukom.
- 20:23 gilaglag sila sa hingpit: Ang Hebreo nga pulong nga gigamit dinhi nagkahulogan sa mga butang nga gihalad sa Ginoo pinaagi sa paghalad o paglaglag niini.
- 20:25 mga bisti: Mao kini sa uban nga mga kopya sa Hebreo. Apan sa kadaghanan nga kopya, mga patayng lawas.
- 20:26 Beraca: Ang buot ipasabot, pagdayeg.
- 20:29 nangahadlok sila sa Dios: o, nangahadlok sila pag-ayo.
- 20:36 mga barko nga pangnegosyo: sa Hebreo, mga barko paingon sa Tarshish.
2 Chronicles 20
International Standard Version
Judah is Invaded Unexpectedly
20 Sometime after these events, the Moabites and the Ammonites, accompanied by some other descendants of Ammon,[a] attacked Jehoshaphat and started a war. 2 Jehoshaphat’s military advisors[b] came and informed him, “We’ve been attacked by a vast invasion force from Aram,[c] beyond the Dead[d] Sea. Be advised—they’ve already reached Hazazon-tamar, also known as En-gedi.”
3 In mounting fear, Jehoshaphat devoted himself[e] to seek the Lord. He proclaimed a period of[f] fasting throughout all of the territory of[g] Judah, 4 and the tribe of[h] Judah assembled together to seek the Lord. People[i] came from all of the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.
Jehoshaphat Prays and the People Wait
5 Jehoshaphat stood among the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s Temple in the vicinity of the new court 6 and said:
“Lord God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven, are you not? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, don’t you? In your own hands you grasp both strength and power, don’t you? As a result, no one can oppose you, can they? 7 You are our God, who expelled the former inhabitants of this land right in front of our people Israel, aren’t you? Then you gave it to your friend Abraham’s descendant[j] forever, didn’t you? 8 They lived in it and have built there a sanctuary for your name, where they said, 9 ‘If evil comes upon us, such as war[k] as punishment, disease, or famine and we stand in your presence in this Temple (because your Name is in this Temple) and cry out to you in our distress, then you will hear and deliver.’ 10 Now therefore look! The Ammonites, the Moabites, and the inhabitants of[l] Mount Seir,[m] whom you would not permit Israel to attack when they arrived from the land of Egypt—since they turned away from them and did not eliminate them— 11 Look how they’re rewarding us! They’re coming to drive us from your property that you gave us to be our inheritance. 12 Our God, you are going to punish them, aren’t you? We have no strength to face this vast multitude that has come against us, nor do we know what to do, except that our eyes are on you.”
13 All of Judah was standing in the Lord’s presence, along with their little babies, their wives, and their children.
The Prophetic Response of Jahaziel
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Zechariah’s son Jahaziel, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a descendant of Levi from the descendants of Asaph in the middle of the assembly, and he said:
15 “Pay attention, everyone in Judah, in Jerusalem, and you, too, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Stop being afraid, and stop being discouraged because of this vast invasion force,[n] because the battle doesn’t belong to you, but to God. 16 Tomorrow you are to go down to attack them. Pay attention, now—they’ll be coming up near the ascent of Ziz.[o] You’ll find them at the end of the valley that looks out over the Jeruel wilderness. 17 You won’t be fighting in this battle. Take your stand, but stand still, and watch the Lord’s salvation on your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem! Never fear and never be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, since the Lord is with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face[p] to the ground, and all the assembled inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem fell face down in the Lord’s presence and worshipped the Lord. 19 Descendants of Levi from the descendants of Kohath and from the descendants of Korah stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel in a very loud voice that ascended to heaven.[q]
Jehoshaphat’s Instructions the Next Morning
20 The army[r] got up early the next morning and headed out into the wilderness of Tekoa. Jehoshaphat stood up and addressed them. “Listen to me, you inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem,” he said. “Have faith in the Lord your God and you’ll be established! Have faith in his prophets and you’ll succeed!” 21 After he had consulted with the people, Jehoshaphat[s] appointed some choir members[t] to sing to the Lord and to praise him in sacred splendor as they marched out in front of the armed forces. They kept saying
“Give thanks to the Lord,
because his gracious love is eternal!”
22 Right on time, as they began to sing and praise, the Lord ambushed[u] the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of[v] Mount Seir[w] who had attacked Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them, and after they had finished with the inhabitants of Mount Seir, they worked on destroying one another![x]
24 When the army of[y] Judah arrived at the remotest watchtower in the wilderness, they looked around at the invasion force, and to their surprise, there were dead bodies lying all around on the ground—not one had escaped! 25 Later on, when Jehoshaphat and his army arrived to collect the spoils of war, they discovered there were far more goods, garments, and other valuable items to collect than they could carry off in a single day.[z] There was so much material that it took three days to finish their collection efforts.
A Victory Celebration in Beracah Valley
26 Three days later, they assembled together in the Beracah Valley, where they blessed the Lord, which is why the name of that place is called Beracah[aa] Valley to this day. 27 Then they all returned with joy to Jerusalem, every soldier from Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at the head of the procession, because the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They proceeded directly to the Lord’s Temple, carrying lyres, harps, and trumpets. 29 Fear of God seized all of the kingdoms in the surrounding territories when they heard that the Lord had battled Israel’s enemies. 30 As a result, Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoyed peace, because his God had provided rest for him all around.
A Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign(A)
31 Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, having become king at the age of 35. He reigned in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 32 He followed the example of his father Asa and never departed from it, practicing what the Lord considered to be right. 33 However, the high places were not removed, since the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their ancestors. 34 The rest of Jehoshaphat’s accomplishments, from first to last, are recorded in the annals of Hanani’s son Jehu, which appears in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
Jehoshaphat’s Evil Alliance with Ahaziah
35 Sometime later, King Jehoshaphat of Judah entered into a military alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, acting wickedly by doing so. 36 He also agreed with King Ahaziah[ab] to build ships to sail toward Tarshish, which they built in Ezion-geber. 37 But Dodavahu’s son Eliezer from Mareshah prophesied in opposition to Jehoshaphat, “Because you have entered into an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your efforts.” So the ships were destroyed and were never able to sail for Tarshish.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 20:1 Or some Meunites; cf. 2Chr 26:7
- 2 Chronicles 20:2 Lit. They
- 2 Chronicles 20:2 I.e., from Edom
- 2 Chronicles 20:2 The Heb. lacks Dead
- 2 Chronicles 20:3 Lit. devoted his face
- 2 Chronicles 20:3 The Heb. lacks a period of
- 2 Chronicles 20:3 The Heb. lacks of the territory of
- 2 Chronicles 20:4 The Heb. lacks the tribe of
- 2 Chronicles 20:4 Lit. They
- 2 Chronicles 20:7 Lit seed (sing.)
- 2 Chronicles 20:9 Lit. us the sword
- 2 Chronicles 20:10 The Heb. lacks inhabitants of
- 2 Chronicles 20:10 This mountain, the modern Jebel esh-sherá, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.
- 2 Chronicles 20:15 Lit. vast multitude
- 2 Chronicles 20:16 I.e. a mountain pass extending from the Dead Sea to the Judean wilderness near Tekoa
- 2 Chronicles 20:18 Lit. nostrils
- 2 Chronicles 20:19 Lit. ascended on high
- 2 Chronicles 20:20 Lit. They
- 2 Chronicles 20:21 Lit. he
- 2 Chronicles 20:21 The Heb. lacks choir members
- 2 Chronicles 20:22 Or surprised; i.e. attacked the invaders from concealment
- 2 Chronicles 20:22 The Heb. lacks inhabitants of
- 2 Chronicles 20:22 This mountain, the modern Jebel esh-sherá, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.
- 2 Chronicles 20:23 Lit. destroying each man his neighbor
- 2 Chronicles 20:24 The Heb. lacks the army of
- 2 Chronicles 20:25 The Heb. lacks in a single day
- 2 Chronicles 20:26 The Heb. name Beracah means blessing
- 2 Chronicles 20:36 Lit. with him
2 Chronicles 20
New International Version
Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
20 After this, the Moabites(A) and Ammonites with some of the Meunites[a](B) came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army(C) is coming against you from Edom,[b] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar(D)” (that is, En Gedi).(E) 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast(F) for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah(G) came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
“Lord, the God of our ancestors,(H) are you not the God who is in heaven?(I) You rule over all the kingdoms(J) of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.(K) 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land(L) before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?(M) 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary(N) for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine,(O) we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt;(P) so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession(Q) you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them?(R) For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.(S)”
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit(T) of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah,(U) a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged(V) because of this vast army. For the battle(W) is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see(X) the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down(Y) with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith(Z) in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.(AA)” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness(AB) as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”(AC)
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes(AD) against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites(AE) and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir(AF) to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.(AG)
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing[d] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah[e] to this day.
27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
29 The fear(AH) of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought(AI) against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest(AJ) on every side.
The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign(AK)
31 So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32 He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 33 The high places,(AL) however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.
34 The other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu(AM) son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance(AN) with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked.(AO) 36 He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships.[f] After these were built at Ezion Geber, 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships(AP) were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.[g]
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 20:1 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew Ammonites
- 2 Chronicles 20:2 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram
- 2 Chronicles 20:21 Or him with the splendor of
- 2 Chronicles 20:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts corpses
- 2 Chronicles 20:26 Berakah means praise.
- 2 Chronicles 20:36 Hebrew of ships that could go to Tarshish
- 2 Chronicles 20:37 Hebrew sail for Tarshish
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