Jehoshaphat’s Reforms

⁴ Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.^{(A) 5} He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city.^{(B) 6} Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.^{(C) 7} And now, may the terror of the Lord be on you. Watch what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with the Lord our God.”^(D)

⁸ Jehoshaphat also appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites and priests and some of the Israelite family heads for deciding the Lord’s will and for settling disputes of the residents of^[a] Jerusalem. ⁹ He commanded them, saying, “In the fear of the Lord, with integrity, and wholeheartedly, you are to do the following: ¹⁰ For every dispute that comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities—whether it regards differences of bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, or judgments^(E)—you are to warn them, so they will not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath will not come on you and your brothers.^(F) Do this, and you will not incur guilt.

War against Eastern Enemies

20 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites,^[a](A) came to fight against Jehoshaphat. ² People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom^[b] has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar”^(B) (that is, En-gedi). ³ Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved^(C) to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast^(D) for all Judah, ⁴ who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

⁵ Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before the new courtyard. ⁶ He said:

Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven,^(E) and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations?^(F) Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you. ⁷ Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel^(G) and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham^(H) your friend? ⁸ They have lived in the land and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name and have said, ⁹ “If disaster comes on us—sword or judgment, pestilence or famine^(I)—we will stand before this temple and before you, for your name is in this temple.^(J) We will cry out to you because of our distress, and you will hear and deliver.”

¹⁰ Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir.^(K) You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.^{(L) 11} Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you gave us as an inheritance. ¹² Our God, will you not judge them?^(M) For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.^[c](N)

God’s Answer

¹³ All Judah was standing before the Lord with their dependents, their wives, and their children. ¹⁴ In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on^(O) Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants), ¹⁵ and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number,^(P) for the battle is not yours, but God’s.^{(Q) 16} Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.^(R) He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged.^(S) Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’”^(T)

¹⁸ Then Jehoshaphat knelt low with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord to worship him.^{(U) 19} Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites^(V) stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel shouting loudly.

Victory and Plunder

²⁰ In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established;^(W) believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.” ²¹ Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of his holiness.^(X) When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing:^[d]

²² The moment they began their shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush^(Z) against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated. ²³ The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them.^(AA) When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.^(AB)

²⁴ When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the large army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; nobody had escaped. ²⁵ Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder. They found among them^[e] an abundance of goods on the bodies^[f] and valuable items. So they stripped them until nobody could carry any more. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much. ²⁶ They assembled in the Valley of Beracah^[g] on the fourth day, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore, that place is still called the Valley of Beracah today.

²⁷ Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem turned back with Jehoshaphat their leader, returning joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord enabled them to rejoice over their enemies. ²⁸ So they came into Jerusalem to the Lord’s temple with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

²⁹ The terror of God^(AC) was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. ³⁰ Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him rest on every side.^(AD)

Psalm 16

Confidence in the Lord

A Miktam of David.^(A)

¹⁶ Rejoice^(A) always, ¹⁷ pray constantly, ¹⁸ give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will^(B) for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Don’t stifle the Spirit. ²⁰ Don’t despise prophecies, ²¹ but test all things.^(C) Hold on to what is good. ²² Stay away^(D) from every kind of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace^(E) himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit,^(F) soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming^(G) of our Lord^(H) Jesus Christ.^{(I) 24} He who calls^(J) you^(K) is faithful; he will do it.