Study Desk

Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the ^[a](a)Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.

Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of ^[b]Aram and behold, they are in ^(b)Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi)."

Jehoshaphat was afraid and ^[c](c)turned his attention to seek the Lord , and ^(d)proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

So Judah gathered together to ^(e)seek help from the Lord ; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord .

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court,

and he said, "O Lord , the God of our fathers, ^(f)are You not God in the heavens? And ^(g)are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.

Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and ^(h)give it to the descendants of ⁽ⁱ⁾Abraham Your friend forever?

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

‘^(j)Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for ^(k)Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.'

Now behold, ^(l)the sons of Ammon and Moab and ^[d]Mount Seir, ^(m)whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them),

see how they are rewarding us by ⁽ⁿ⁾coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.

O our God, ^(o)will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but ^(p)our eyes are on You."

All Judah was standing before the Lord , with their infants, their wives and their children.

Then in the midst of the assembly ^(q)the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;

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

Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.

You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, ^(t)stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, ^(u)for the Lord is with you."

Jehoshaphat ^(v)bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord , worshiping the Lord .

The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, ^(w)put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed."

When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who ^(x)praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "^(y)Give thanks to the Lord , for His lovingkindness is everlasting."