2Chronicles:17-20

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* And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead , and strengthened himself against Israel . * And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah , and set garrisons in the land of Judah , and in the cities of Ephraim , which Asa his father had taken . * And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat , because he walked in the first ways of his father David , and sought not unto Baalim ; * But sought to the LORD God of his father , and walked in his commandments , and not after the doings of Israel . * Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand ; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents ; and he had riches and honour in abundance . * And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD : moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah . * Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes , even to Benhail , and to Obadiah , and to Zechariah , and to Nethaneel , and to Michaiah , to teach in the cities of Judah . * And with them he sent Levites , even Shemaiah , and Nethaniah , and Zebadiah , and Asahel , and Shemiramoth , and Jehonathan , and Adonijah , and Tobijah , and Tobadonijah , Levites ; and with them Elishama and Jehoram , priests . * And they taught in Judah , and had the book of the law of the LORD with them , and went about throughout all the cities of Judah , and taught the people . * And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah , so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat . * Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents , and tribute silver ; and the Arabians brought him flocks , seven thousand and seven hundred rams , and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats . * And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly ; and he built in Judah castles , and cities of store . * And he had much business in the cities of Judah : and the men of war , mighty men of valour , were in Jerusalem . * And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers : Of Judah , the captains of thousands ; Adnah the chief , and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand . * And next to him was Jehohanan the captain , and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand . * And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri , who willingly offered himself unto the LORD ; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour . * And of Benjamin ; Eliada a mighty man of valour , and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand . * And next him was Jehozabad , and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war . * These waited on the king , beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah . * Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance , and joined affinity with Ahab . * And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria . And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance , and for the people that he had with him , and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead . * And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah , Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead ? And he answered him , I am as thou art , and my people as thy people ; and we will be with thee in the war . * And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel , Enquire , I pray thee , at the word of the LORD to day . * Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men , and said unto them , Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle , or shall I forbear ? And they said , Go up ; for God will deliver it into the king 's hand . * But Jehoshaphat said , Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides , that we might enquire of him ? * And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat , There is yet one man , by whom we may enquire of the LORD : but I hate him ; for he never prophesied good unto me , but always evil : the same is Micaiah the son of Imla . And Jehoshaphat said , Let not the king say so . * And the king of Israel called for one of his officers , and said , Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla . * And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne , clothed in their robes , and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria ; and all the prophets prophesied before them . * And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron , and said , Thus saith the LORD , With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed . * And all the prophets prophesied so , saying , Go up to Ramothgilead , and prosper : for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king . * And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him , saying , Behold , the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent ; let thy word therefore , I pray thee , be like one of theirs , and speak thou good . * And Micaiah said , As the LORD liveth , even what my God saith , that will I speak . * And when he was come to the king , the king said unto him , Micaiah , shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle , or shall I forbear ? And he said , Go ye up , and prosper , and they shall be delivered into your hand . * And the king said to him , How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD ? * Then he said , I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains , as sheep that have no shepherd : and the LORD said , These have no master ; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace . * And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me , but evil ? * Again he said , Therefore hear the word of the LORD ; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne , and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left . * And the LORD said , Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel , that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead ? And one spake saying after this manner , and another saying after that manner . * Then there came out a spirit , and stood before the LORD , and said , I will entice him . And the LORD said unto him , Wherewith ? * And he said , I will go out , and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets . And the LORD said , Thou shalt entice him , and thou shalt also prevail : go out , and do even so . * Now therefore , behold , the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets , and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee . * Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near , and smote Micaiah upon the cheek , and said , Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee ? * And Micaiah said , Behold , thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself . * Then the king of Israel said , Take ye Micaiah , and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city , and to Joash the king 's son ; * And say , Thus saith the king , Put this fellow in the prison , and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction , until I return in peace . * And Micaiah said , If thou certainly return in peace , then hath not the LORD spoken by me . And he said , Hearken , all ye people . * So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead . * And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat , I will disguise myself , and will go to the battle ; but put thou on thy robes . So the king of Israel disguised himself ; and they went to the battle . * Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him , saying , Fight ye not with small or great , save only with the king of Israel . * And it came to pass , when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat , that they said , It is the king of Israel . Therefore they compassed about him to fight : but Jehoshaphat cried out , and the LORD helped him ; and God moved them to depart from him . * For it came to pass , that , when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel , they turned back again from pursuing him . * And a certain man drew a bow at a venture , and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness : therefore he said to his chariot man , Turn thine hand , that thou mayest carry me out of the host ; for I am wounded . * And the battle increased that day : howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even : and about the time of the sun going down he died . * And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem . * And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him , and said to king Jehoshaphat , Shouldest thou help the ungodly , and love them that hate the LORD ? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD . * Nevertheless there are good things found in thee , in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land , and hast prepared thine heart to seek God . * And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem : and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim , and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers . * And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah , city by city , * And said to the judges , Take heed what ye do : for ye judge not for man , but for the LORD , who is with you in the judgment . * Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you ; take heed and do it : for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God , nor respect of persons , nor taking of gifts . * Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites , and of the priests , and of the chief of the fathers of Israel , for the judgment of the LORD , and for controversies , when they returned to Jerusalem . * And he charged them , saying , Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD , faithfully , and with a perfect heart . * And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities , between blood and blood , between law and commandment , statutes and judgments , ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD , and so wrath come upon you , and upon your brethren : this do , and ye shall not trespass . * And , behold , Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD ; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael , the ruler of the house of Judah , for all the king 's matters : also the Levites shall be officers before you . Deal courageously , and the LORD shall be with the good . * It came to pass after this also , that the children of Moab , and the children of Ammon , and with them other beside the Ammonites , came against Jehoshaphat to battle . * Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat , saying , There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria ; and , behold , they be in Hazazontamar , which is Engedi . * And Jehoshaphat feared , and set himself to seek the LORD , and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah . * And Judah gathered themselves together , to ask help of the LORD : even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD . * And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem , in the house of the LORD , before the new court , * And said , O LORD God of our fathers , art not thou God in heaven ? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen ? and in thine hand is there not power and might , so that none is able to withstand thee ? * Art not thou our God , who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel , and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever ? * And they dwelt therein , and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name , saying , * If , when evil cometh upon us , as the sword , judgment , or pestilence , or famine , we stand before this house , and in thy presence , (for thy name is in this house ,) and cry unto thee in our affliction , then thou wilt hear and help . * And now , behold , the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir , whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade , when they came out of the land of Egypt , but they turned from them , and destroyed them not ; * Behold , I say , how they reward us , to come to cast us out of thy possession , which thou hast given us to inherit . * O our God , wilt thou not judge them ? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us ; neither know we what to do : but our eyes are upon thee . * And all Judah stood before the LORD , with their little ones , their wives , and their children . * Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah , the son of Benaiah , the son of Jeiel , the son of Mattaniah , a Levite of the sons of Asaph , came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation ; * And he said , Hearken ye , all Judah , and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem , and thou king Jehoshaphat , Thus saith the LORD unto you , Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude ; for the battle is not yours , but God 's . * To morrow go ye down against them : behold , they come up by the cliff of Ziz ; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook , before the wilderness of Jeruel . * Ye shall not need to fight in this battle : set yourselves , stand ye still , and see the salvation of the LORD with you , O Judah and Jerusalem : fear not , nor be dismayed ; to morrow go out against them : for the LORD will be with you . * And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground : and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD , worshipping the LORD . * And the Levites , of the children of the Kohathites , and of the children of the Korhites , stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high . * And they rose early in the morning , and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa : and as they went forth , Jehoshaphat stood and said , Hear me , O Judah , and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem ; Believe in the LORD your God , so shall ye be established ; believe his prophets , so shall ye prosper . * And when he had consulted with the people , he appointed singers unto the LORD , and that should praise the beauty of holiness , as they went out before the army , and to say , Praise the LORD ; for his mercy endureth for ever . * And when they began to sing and to praise , the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon , Moab , and mount Seir , which were come against Judah ; and they were smitten . * For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir , utterly to slay and destroy them : and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir , every one helped to destroy another . * And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness , they looked unto the multitude , and , behold , they were dead bodies fallen to the earth , and none escaped . * And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them , they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies , and precious jewels , which they stripped off for themselves , more than they could carry away : and they were three days in gathering of the spoil , it was so much . * And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah ; for there they blessed the LORD : therefore the name of the same place was called , The valley of Berachah , unto this day . * Then they returned , every man of Judah and Jerusalem , and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them , to go again to Jerusalem with joy ; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies . * And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD . * And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries , when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel . * So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet : for his God gave him rest round about . * And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah : he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign , and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem . And his mother 's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi . * And he walked in the way of Asa his father , and departed not from it , doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD . * Howbeit the high places were not taken away : for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers . * Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat , first and last , behold , they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani , who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel . * And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel , who did very wickedly : * And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish : and they made the ships in Eziongeber . * Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat , saying , Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah , the LORD hath broken thy works . And the ships were broken , that they were not able to go to Tarshish . * Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers , and was buried with his fathers in the city of David . And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead .

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