Beginning
Prophecy of the Deceiving Spirit
18 Now Jehoshaphat had wealth and honor in abundance but he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. 2 Some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and bulls for him and the people with him, and urged him to march with him against Ramoth-gilead.
3 King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?”
He replied, “I am as you are and my people as your people, and we will be with you in battle.”
4 Jehoshaphat then said to the king of Israel, “Please, let us seek, today, the word of Adonai.”
5 So the king of Israel assembled the prophets—400 men—and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold off?”
They answered, “Go up, for God will give it into the king’s hand!”
6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there another prophet of Adonai here of whom we should inquire?”
7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of Adonai—but I hate him, because he has never prophesied anything good about me but always evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king never say such a thing.”
8 So the king of Israel called an official and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah quickly!”
9 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, wearing their robes, were sitting on their thrones on the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria with all the prophets prophesying before them. 10 Zedekiah son of Henaanah made for himself iron horns and declared, “Thus says Adonai, ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are exterminated!’”
11 All the other prophets were prophesying similarly, saying “March against Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for Adonai will give it into the hand of the king.”
12 Now the messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”
13 But Micaiah replied, “As Adonai lives, what my God says that is what I will say.”
14 When he came to the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold off?”
He replied, “March and be victorious! They will be given into your hand!”
15 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the Name of Adonai?”
16 So he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd,[a] and Adonai said, ‘These have no master—let each man return home in shalom.”
17 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies good about me, only evil?”
18 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of Adonai. I saw Adonai sitting on His throne with the whole host of heaven standing on His right and on His left. 19 And Adonai said: ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’
Then one said this and another said that, 20 until a spirit came forward and stood before Adonai and said, ‘I will entice him.’
So Adonai said to him, ‘How?’
21 He answered, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’
Then He said, ‘You will entice him and you will also succeed. Go and do so.’
22 So now, behold, Adonai has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours and Adonai has decreed disaster against you.”
23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah approached Micaiah, slapped him on the cheek and said, “How did the spirit of Adonai pass over me to speak to you?”
24 Micaiah replied, “Behold, you will see on the day that you go to hide in an inner room.”
25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and turn him over to Amon, governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son, 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and make him eat the bread and water of affliction—until I return in shalom.”’”
27 Then Micaiah said, “If you ever return in shalom, Adonai has not spoken through me.” He added: “Listen, all you people!”
Ahab Dies in Battle
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah marched against Ramoth-gilead. 29 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and they went into the battle.
30 Now the king of Aram had already ordered his chariot commanders saying: “Don’t attack anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel alone.”
31 So when the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat they thought, “This is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him but Jehoshaphat cried out. Adonai helped him and God diverted them from him. 32 When the chariot commanders realized that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
33 But a man drew his bow aimlessly and struck the king of Israel between the lower armor and the breastplate. The king said to the charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”
34 The battle raged that day and the king of Israel remained propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans until dusk. Then at sunset he died.
Jehoshaphat’s Judicial Reforms
19 Then King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem. 2 Jehu 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 Adonai? Because of this, wrath from before Adonai is against you. 3 Nevertheless, good things are found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles out of the land and have set your heart to seek God.”
4 Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem and he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba over to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Adonai, the God of their fathers. 5 He also appointed judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6 He said to the judges. “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for Adonai who is with you when you pass judgment. 7 Now then, let the fear of Adonai be upon you. Be very careful what you do, for there is no injustice or favoritism or bribe-taking with Adonai Eloheinu.”
8 In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, kohanim and the leading patriarchs of Israel to render the judgment of Adonai and to settle disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
9 He charged them saying, “This is how you shall act: in the fear of Adonai, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 10 When any dispute comes to you from your kinsmen who live in their cities, whether bloodshed, or concerning Torah, mitzvot, statutes or ordinances, you must warn them so that they will not be guilty before Adonai. Otherwise wrath will come upon you and your kinsmen. Act accordingly and you will not be guilty.
11 “Behold, Amariah the chief kohen will be over you in all matters pertaining to Adonai, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the House of Judah, in all the matters pertaining to the king. Also the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act courageously and may Adonai be with the good.”
Jehoshaphat’s Prayer and the Valley of Bracha
20 Now it happened after this that the Moabites and the Ammonites together with other Ammonites came to make war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some came and reported to Jehoshaphat saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram, and are already in Hazazon-Tamar” (that is En-Gedi).
3 Jehoshaphat was afraid so he resolved to seek Adonai, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 Judah assembled to seek help from Adonai; indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Adonai.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the House of Adonai in front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
“Adonai, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. 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 and gave it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever? 8 They settled in it and built You a Temple there for Your Name saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us—the sword of judgment, pestilence or famine—we will stand before this House and before You—for Your Name is in this House—and cry to You in our distress and You will hear and deliver us.’
10 “Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir—whose land You did not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt, instead they turned aside from them and did not destroy them— 11 now behold, 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 execute judgment on them? For we have no power to face this great multitude that is attacking us. We do not know what to do—but our eyes are on You.”
13 All Judah was standing before Adonai with their infants, their wives and their children.
14 Then in the midst of the congregation, the Ruach Adonai came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, 15 and he said:
“Listen all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat. Thus Adonai says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them as they come up the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand and see the salvation of Adonai with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or be dismayed. Tomorrow go out to face them, for Adonai is with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Adonai to worship Adonai. 19 Levites, from the sons of Kohath and the sons of Korah, stood up to praise Adonai, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they arose and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in Adonai your God and you will be confirmed. Trust in His prophets and you will succeed.” 21 After consulting with the people, he appointed singers to Adonai praising the splendor of His holiness, as they went out before the army saying,
“Praise Adonai,
`for His mercy endures forever.”
22 As they began singing and praising, Adonai set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. 23 For the Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to exterminate and annihilate them. When they had exterminated the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When Judah came to the lookout in the wilderness and looked for the multitude, behold, only corpses were lying on the ground—no one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people went to take the plunder, they found an abundance of goods, clothing and precious articles, which they pillaged, more than they could carry away. For three days they were taking the plunder because there was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Bracha[b] where they blessed Adonai. That is why the name of that place is called the Valley of Bracha to this day.
27 Then every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem for Adonai had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem to the House of Adonai with harps, lyres and trumpets. 29 So the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the region because they heard that Adonai had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was untroubled for his God gave him rest all around.
Jehoshaphat’s Last Days
31 Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was 35 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shlihi. 32 He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not stray from it, doing what was right in the eyes of Adonai. 33 However, the high places were not removed, nor did the people direct their hearts to the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from beginning to end, behold, they are written in the annals of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is included in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 Afterward, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, thereby acting wickedly. 36 He joined with him to construct ships to go to Tarshish, and they constructed the ships in Ezion-geber.
37 Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, Adonai will break up your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.