War against Jehoshaphat 1 UEB It came about after this, that the people of Moab and Ammon, and with them some Meunites came against Jehoshaphat to do battle. BSB BSB: After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.
2 UEB Then some came who told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A large multitude is coming against you from beyond the Dead Sea, from Edom. See, they are in Hazezon Tamar," that is, Engedi. BSB BSB: Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).
3 UEB Jehoshaphat became afraid and set himself to seek Yahweh. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. BSB BSB: Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.
4 UEB Judah gathered together to seek Yahweh; they came to seek Yahweh from all the cities of Judah. BSB BSB: So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.
Jehoshaphat’s Prayer 5 UEB Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, at the house of Yahweh, in front of the new courtyard. BSB BSB: Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard
6 UEB He said, "Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Are you not the ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so no one is able to resist you. BSB BSB: and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.
7 UEB Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham? BSB BSB: Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?
8 UEB They lived in it and built you a holy place in it for your name, saying, BSB BSB: They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying,
9 UEB 'If disaster comes on us—the sword, judgment, or disease, or famine—we will stand before this house, and before you (for your name is in this house), and we will cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear us and save us.' BSB BSB: ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’
10 UEB See now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir whom you would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; instead, Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. BSB BSB: And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt. So Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.
11 UEB See how they are rewarding us; they are coming to drive us out of your land that you have given us to inherit. BSB BSB: See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance.
12 UEB Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power against this great army that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." BSB BSB: Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
13 UEB All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, wives, and children. BSB BSB: Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD.
The Prophecy of Jahaziel 14 UEB Then in the middle of the assembly, the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, the Levite, one of the sons of Asaph. BSB BSB: Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly.
15 UEB Jahaziel said, "Listen, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Yahweh says to you, 'Do not fear; do not be discouraged because of this great army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. BSB BSB: And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.
16 UEB You must go down against them tomorrow. See, they are coming up by way of the pass of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. BSB BSB: Tomorrow you are to march 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 UEB You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand in your positions, stand still, and see the rescue of Yahweh with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear nor be discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for Yahweh is with you.'" BSB BSB: You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”
18 UEB Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshiping him. BSB BSB: Then Jehoshaphat bowed facedown, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him.
19 UEB The Levites, those of the descendants of the Kohathites and Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. BSB BSB: And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice.
The Enemies Destroy Themselves 20 UEB Early in the morning they arose and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Trust in Yahweh your God, and you will be supported. Trust in his prophets, and you will succeed." BSB BSB: Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”
21 UEB After he consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to Yahweh and who praised him for his majestic splendor as they went out before the army, saying, "Give thanks to Yahweh, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever." BSB BSB: Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”
22 UEB When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set men in ambush against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were coming against Judah. They were defeated. BSB BSB: The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.
23 UEB For the people of Ammon and Moab rose to fight the inhabitants of Mount Seir, in order to completely kill them and destroy them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Mount Seir, they all helped to destroy each other. BSB BSB: The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 UEB When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked out on the army. Behold, they were dead, fallen to the ground; none had escaped. BSB BSB: When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped.
25 UEB When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take plunder from them, they found among them abundant goods, clothing, and valuable articles, which they took for themselves, more than they could carry away. It took them three days to carry off the plunder, there was so much of it. BSB BSB: Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables—more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.
The Joyful Return 26 UEB On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah. There they praised Yahweh, so the name of that place is the "Valley of Berakah" to this day. BSB BSB: On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.
27 UEB Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in their lead, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, for Yahweh had made them rejoice over their enemies. BSB BSB: Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.
28 UEB They came to Jerusalem and to the house of Yahweh with lyres, harps, and trumpets. BSB BSB: So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.
29 UEB The terror of God was on all the kingdoms of the nations when they heard that Yahweh had fought against Israel's enemies. BSB BSB: And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 UEB So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him peace all around him. BSB BSB: Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign (1 Kings 22:41–50)
31 UEB Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. BSB BSB: So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
32 UEB He walked in the ways of Asa, his father; he did not turn away from them; he did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh. BSB BSB: And Jehoshaphat walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.
33 UEB However, the high places were not taken away. The people still had not directed their hearts to the God of their ancestors. BSB BSB: The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
34 UEB As for the other matters concerning Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu son of Hanani, which is recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. BSB BSB: As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
Jehoshaphat’s Fleet Is Wrecked 35 UEB After this Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, allied himself with Ahaziah, king of Israel, who committed much wickedness. BSB BSB: Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly.
36 UEB He allied himself with him to build ships to go to Tarshish. They built the ships at Ezion Geber. BSB BSB: They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber.
37 UEB Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat; he said, "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your projects." The ships were wrecked so that they were not able to sail. BSB BSB: Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.
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