Old/New Testament
King Jehoshaphat’s Religious Reforms
19 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his home in Jerusalem. 2 Jehu, son of the seer[a] Hanani, asked King Jehoshaphat, “Why do you help wicked people and love those who hate Yahweh? Yahweh’s anger is directed toward you because you have done this. 3 However, you’ve done some good things: You’ve burned the Asherah poles in this country, and you’ve wholeheartedly dedicated your life to serving Elohim.”
4 While Jehoshaphat was living in Jerusalem, he regularly went to the people between Beersheba and the mountains of Ephraim. He brought the people back to Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges in the country, in each fortified city of Judah. 6 He told the judges, “Pay attention to what you’re doing. When you judge, you aren’t doing it for a human but for Yahweh. He will be with you when you hear a case. 7 May you have the fear of Yahweh in you. Be careful about what you do. Yahweh our Elohim is never unjust. He is impartial and never takes bribes.”
8 In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, priests, and family heads from Israel to administer Yahweh’s laws and decide cases. They lived in Jerusalem. 9 He ordered them, “Do this wholeheartedly—with the fear of Yahweh and with faithfulness. 10 Warn your relatives living in other cities about every case they bring to you, even if the case involves bloodshed or commands, rules, or regulations derived from Moses’ Teachings. Then your relatives will not become guilty in front of Yahweh. Otherwise, he will become angry with you and your relatives. Do this, and you won’t be guilty of anything. 11 Now, the chief priest Amariah will be in charge of you in every matter involving Yahweh. Zebadiah, who is the son of Ishmael and the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be in charge of every matter involving the king. The Levites will serve as officers of the court. Be strong, and do your job. May Yahweh be with those who do right.”
King Jehoshaphat Defeats Judah’s Enemies
20 Later the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[b] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some men reported to Jehoshaphat, “A large crowd is coming against you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from Edom.[c] The crowd is already in Hazazon Tamar” (also called En Gedi).
3 Frightened, Jehoshaphat decided to ask for Yahweh’s help. He announced a fast throughout Judah. 4 The people of Judah gathered to seek Yahweh’s help. They came from every city in Judah.
5 In the new courtyard at Yahweh’s temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the people. 6 He said, “Yahweh Elohim of our ancestors, aren’t you the Elohim in heaven? You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess power and might, and no one can oppose you. 7 Didn’t you, our Elohim, force those who were living in this country out of Israel’s way? Didn’t you give this country to the descendants of your friend Abraham to have permanently? 8 His descendants have lived in it and built a holy temple for your name in it. They said, 9 ‘If evil comes in the form of war, flood,[d] plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple and in front of you because your name is in this temple. We will cry out to you in our troubles, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “The Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir have come here. However, you didn’t let Israel invade them when they came out of Egypt. The Israelites turned away from them and didn’t destroy them. 11 They are now paying us back by coming to force us out of your land that you gave to us. 12 You’re our Elohim. Won’t you judge them? We don’t have the strength to face this large crowd that is attacking us. We don’t know what to do, so we’re looking to you.”
13 All the people from Judah, their infants, wives, and children were standing in front of Yahweh. 14 Then the Ruach Yahweh came to Jahaziel. (He was the son of Zechariah, grandson of Benaiah, great-grandson of Jeiel, whose father was Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph.) 15 Jahaziel said, “Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Yahweh says to you: Don’t be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle isn’t yours. It’s Elohim’s. 16 Tomorrow go into battle against them. They will be coming up the Ziz Pass. You will find them at the end of the valley in front of the Jeruel Desert. 17 You won’t fight this battle. Instead, take your position, stand still, and see the victory of Yahweh for you, Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be frightened or terrified. Tomorrow go out to face them. Yahweh is with you.”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face touching the ground. Everyone from Judah and the people who lived in Jerusalem immediately bowed down in front of Yahweh. 19 The Levites, descendants of Kohath and Korah, stood up to praise Yahweh Elohim of Israel with very loud songs.
20 They got up early in the morning and went to the desert of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. Trust Yahweh your Elohim, and believe. Believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”
21 After he had advised the people, he appointed people to sing to Yahweh and praise him for the beauty of his holiness. As they went in front of the troops, they sang, “Thank Yahweh because his mercy endures forever!” 22 As they started to sing praises, Yahweh set ambushes against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir who had come into Judah. They were defeated. 23 Then the Ammonites and Moabites attacked the people from Mount Seir and annihilated them. After they had finished off the people of Seir, they helped destroy one another.
24 The people of Judah went to the watchtower in the desert and looked for the crowd. Corpses were lying on the ground. No one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his troops came to take the loot, they found among them a lot of goods, clothes,[e] and valuables. They found more than they could carry. They spent three days collecting the loot. 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the valley of Beracah. Because they thanked Yahweh there, that place is still called the valley of Beracah [Thanks] today.
27 All the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They rejoiced while Jehoshaphat led them. Yahweh gave them a reason to rejoice about what had happened to their enemies. 28 So they brought harps, lyres, and trumpets to Yahweh’s temple in Jerusalem.
29 The fear of Elohim came over the kingdoms in that area when they heard how Yahweh waged war against Israel’s enemies. 30 Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was peaceful, since his Elohim surrounded him with peace.
Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign(A)
31 Jehoshaphat ruled as king of Judah. He was 35 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. 32 Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what Yahweh considered right. 33 But the illegal worship sites on the hills were not torn down. The people still didn’t have their hearts set on the Elohim of their ancestors.
34 Everything else about Jehoshaphat from first to last is written in the records of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
35 After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who led him to do evil. 36 Jehoshaphat joined him in making ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 Then Eliezer, son of Dodavahu from Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Yahweh will destroy your work because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah.” So the ships were wrecked and couldn’t go to Tarshish.
Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him(A)
21 After saying this, Yeshua was deeply troubled. He declared, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me!”
22 The disciples began looking at each other and wondering which one of them Yeshua meant.
23 One disciple, the one whom Yeshua loved, was near him at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to that disciple and said, “Ask Yeshua whom he’s talking about!”
25 Leaning close to Yeshua, that disciple asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Yeshua answered, “He’s the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I’ve dipped it in the sauce.” So Yeshua dipped the bread and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
27 Then, after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Yeshua told him, “Hurry! Do what you have to do.” 28 No one at the table knew why Yeshua said this to him. 29 Judas had the moneybag. So some thought that Yeshua was telling him to buy what they needed for the festival or to give something to the poor.
30 Judas took the piece of bread and immediately went outside. It was night.
31 When Judas was gone, Yeshua said, “The Son of Man is now glorified, and because of him God is glorified. 32 If God is glorified because of the Son of Man, God will glorify the Son of Man because of himself, and he will glorify the Son of Man at once.”
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(B)
33 Yeshua said, “Dear children, I will still be with you for a little while. I’m telling you what I told the Jews. You will look for me, but you can’t go where I’m going.
34 “I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. 35 Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other.”
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Yeshua answered him, “You can’t follow me now to the place where I’m going. However, you will follow me later.”
37 Peter said to Yeshua, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I’ll give my life for you.”
38 Yeshua replied, “Will you give your life for me? I can guarantee this truth: No rooster will crow until you say three times that you don’t know me.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.