Study Desk

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are consumed.'"

Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of the chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight, for I am severely wounded."

But some good has been found in you, for you have purged the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God."

And he said to the judges, "Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for Yahweh who is with you when you render judgment.

In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers' households of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh and to judge disputes. So they returned to Jerusalem.

And Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek Yahweh, and called for a fast throughout all Judah.

And they have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying,

‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or 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 us.'

O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; and we do not know what we should do, but our eyes are on You."

and he said, "Pay attention, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says Yahweh to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.

You need not fight in this battle; take your stand—stand and see the salvation of Yahweh on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you."

When he had taken counsel with the people, he caused those who sang to Yahweh and those who praised Him to stand in holy attire, as they went out before the army, saying, "Give thanks to Yahweh, for His lovingkindness endures forever."

When they began singing for joy and praising, Yahweh set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were defeated.

So Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil and found much among them, including goods, garments, and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.

Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed Yahweh. Therefore they have named that place "The Valley of Beracah" until today.

And every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with gladness, for Yahweh had made them glad over their enemies.

So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for Ahab's daughter was his wife; and he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.

Now it happened in the course of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels came out because of his sickness and he died with this greatly painful disease. And his people made no fire for him like the fire for his fathers.

Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men who came with the Arabs to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah became king.