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by placing forces in all the fortified cities of Y'hudah, and by garrisoning troops in the territory of Y'hudah and in the cities of Efrayim that Asa his father had captured.

Adonai was with Y'hoshafat, because he lived according to the first ways of his ancestor David, not seeking the ba‘alim,

but seeking the God of his father and living by his mitzvot, not by what Isra'el did.

Therefore Adonai consolidated his rulership; all Y'hudah brought presents to Y'hoshafat, so that he had wealth and honor in abundance.

In his heart he highly regarded Adonai 's ways; moreover, he removed the high places and sacred poles from Y'hudah.

In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men Ben-Chayil, ‘Ovadyah, Z'kharyah, N'tan'el and Mikhayahu to teach in the cities of Y'hudah;

Now the king of Isra'el and Y'hoshafat the king of Y'hudah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their royal robes; they were sitting in a threshing-floor at the entrance to the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were there, prophesying in their presence.

Mikhay'hu continued: "Therefore, hear the word of Adonai . I saw Adonai sitting on his throne with the whole army of heaven standing on his right and on his left.

Adonai asked, ‘Who will entice Ach'av king of Isra'el to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil‘ad?' One of them said, ‘Do it this way,' and another, ‘Do it that way.'

He answered, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' Adonai said, ‘You will succeed in enticing him. Go, and do it.'

Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, "Don't attack anyone of either high or low rank, only the king of Isra'el."

So when the chariot commanders saw Y'hoshafat they said, "This is the king of Isra'el," and turned to attack him. But Y'hoshafat called out, and Adonai came to his aid — God moved them to leave him alone,

However, one soldier shot an arrow at random and struck the king of Isra'el between his lower armor and the breastplate. The king said to his chariot-driver, "Turn the reins and take me out of the fighting; I'm collapsing from my wounds."

But the fighting grew fiercer that day; and although the king of Isra'el propped himself upright in his chariot facing Aram until evening, around sunset he died.

Y'hoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground; while all Y'hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down before Adonai , worshipping Adonai ;

The next morning, they rose early and went out into the T'koa Desert. As they left, Y'hoshafat stood and said, "Listen to me, Y'hudah and you inhabitants of Yerushalayim! "Trust in Adonai your God, and you will be safe. Trust in his prophets, and you will succeed."

After consulting with the people, he appointed those who would sing to Adonai and praise the splendor of his holiness as they went out ahead of the army, saying, "Give thanks to Adonai , for his grace continues forever."

Y'hoshafat and his army came to take the spoil from them and found among them personal property in abundance and corpses with precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves until they couldn't carry any more. They took three days just to collect the spoil, there was so much.

So Y'hoshafat's rule was a quiet one, because his God gave him rest all around.

Y'hoshafat ruled over Y'hudah; he was thirty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled twenty-five years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was ‘Azuvah the daughter of Shilchi.