Study Desk

Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the stocks, in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties on some of the people at the same time.

They buried him in the tomb that he had hewn out for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer's art; and they made a very great fire in his honor.

Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; and the Arabs also brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

and next to him Amasiah son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the Lord , with two hundred thousand mighty warriors.

and next to him Jehozabad with one hundred eighty thousand armed for war.

After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the Lord ."

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred of them, and said to them, "Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" They said, "Go up; for God will give it into the hand of the king."

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one other by whom we may inquire of the Lord , Micaiah son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything favorable about me, but only disaster." Jehoshaphat said, "Let the king not say such a thing."

Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron, and he said, "Thus says the Lord : With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are destroyed."

So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; the Lord has decreed disaster for you."

for when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

But a certain man drew his bow and unknowingly struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; so he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded."

Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the sacred poles out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God."

and said to the judges, "Consider what you are doing, for you judge not on behalf of human beings but on the Lord 's behalf; he is with you in giving judgment.

Now, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care what you do, for there is no perversion of justice with the Lord our God, or partiality, or taking of bribes."

Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem.

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle.

They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying,

‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or 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 save.'