Open English Translation 2 CHR Chapter 20

20 Sometime after that, the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites[fn], came to battle against King Yehoshafat. 2 Some men came and told Yehoshafat, “A huge army is coming from Aram beyond the Dead sea to attack you, and take note: they’re already in Hatstson-Tamar, also known as Eyn-Gedi.” 3 Yehoshafat was alarmed and decided to request advice from Yahweh, and he ordered that all Yehudah should fast. 4 So Yehudah assembled to request Yahweh’s help—they came to Yerushalem from all of Yehudah’s cities to ask Yahweh for help.

5 Yehoshafat stood in front of all the people from Yerushalem and across Yehudah, in front of the new temple courtyard 6 and prayed, “Yahweh, the god of our ancestors, aren’t you the god who lives in the heavens? And you rule in all the kingdoms around the world, and you have full power and control—no one can stand against you. 7 Weren’t you our god who drove the previous inhabitants of this land out ahead of your Israeli people? Didn’t you give it to the descendants of Abraham—the one you loved forever?[ref] 8 Our ancestors lived in this land and they built a temple to honour you, saying, 9 ‘If disaster like war, judgement, or epidemic, or famine comes on us, we’ll stand in front of this temple, and in front of you, because your name is honoured here. And we will cry to you from our distress, and you will hear and deliver.’

10 You didn’t allow our Israeli ancestors to enter the countries of Ammon, Moab, or Edom when they were travelling from Egypt to Canaan. So our ancestors turned away from those areas and didn’t destroy them, but now they are coming here to attack us.[ref] 11 Look how they’re repaying us for not destroying them—they come here to drive us out from the land that you gave us as an inheritance. 12 So, our god, please punish them, because we’re not strong enough to battle this huge army that’s on its way. We simply don’t know what to do, so we’re looking to you to rescue us.”

13 At that time, all of Yehudah (men, women, and children) were standing in front of Yahweh 14 and Yahweh’s spirit came on Yahaziel. (Yahaziel was the son of Zekaryah, son of Benayah, son of Yeiel, son of Mattanyah the Levite and a descendant of Asaf.) In the middle of the assembly 15 he said, “Pay attention, all Yehudah and inhabitants of Yerushalem and King Yehoshafat. Yahweh has this to say to you all, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed by this huge force, because it’s not your battle but God’s.[ref] 16 Tomorrow, go down against them. Listen, they’re coming uphill near the Ascent of Tsits, and you’ll all find them at the end of the valley, facing the Yeruel wilderness. 17 You all won’t need to fight them—Just take your positions all of you from Yerushalem and wider Yehudah, and watch Yahweh save you. Don’t be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow and Yahweh will be with you all.’ ”[ref]

18 Then King Yehoshafat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people from Yerushalem and across Yehudah fell to their knees in front of Yahweh to worship him. 19 Then some of the Levites who were descendants of Kohat and Korah, stood up to loudly praise Yisrael’s god Yahweh.

20 They rose early the next morning and went out to the Tekoa wilderness, and as they were leaving Yehoshafat stood and called out, “Hear me, inhabitants of Yerushalem and Yehudah. Believe in our god Yahweh, and be confident. Believe his prophets and succeed.” 21 Then he consulted with the people, and he appointed some to sing to Yahweh and some to praise him for his splendour and sinlessness as they went out before the enemy army, and they were saying, “Give thanks to Yahweh, because his loyal commitment endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise Yahweh, he sent ambushers against the Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites who were attacking Yehudah, and they were defeated. 23 Then the Ammonites and Moabites turned on the Edomites and completely annihilated them, and after that they slaughtered each other. 24 When the men of Yehudah arrived at the place overlooking the wilderness, wow, they saw corpses all over the ground. No one had escaped.

25 Then Yehoshafat and his people went to plunder the spoils, and they found lots of goods among them, as well as clothing,[fn] and valuable items. They took that for themselves until there was nothing left to carry away—there was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it all. 26 On the fourth day, they assembled in the Berakah valley and they praised Yahweh there. That’s why it’s called Berakah valley (which means ‘praise/blessing’) to this day. 27 Then all the men from Yerushalem and across Yehudah returned to Yerushalem with King Yehoshafat leading them—celebrating because Yahweh had enabled them to defeat their enemies. 28 When they arrived at Yerushalem, they went to the temple, playing harps, lutes, and trumpets. 29 The nearby kingdoms were all very afraid of God when they heard that Yahweh had fought with Yisrael’s enemies, 30 so Yehoshafat’s kingdom was untroubled and his god gave him peace from all his neighbours.

31 Yehoshafat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned over Yehudah from Yerushalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Shilhi’s daughter, Azuvah. 32 He had similar priorities to his father Asa, doing what pleased Yahweh, and he didn’t deviate from that. 33 However, he never removed the hilltop shrines, and the people were not really serious about obeying the god of their ancestors.

34 Everything else that Yehoshafat did from the beginning to the end of his reign was written down by Hanani’s son Yehu in the scroll about Yisrael’s kings.

35 Later on, Yehudah’s King Yehoshafat made an alliance with Yisrael’s King Ahazyah (which was a wicked thing to do), 36 and they worked together to make ships at Etsyon-Gever to sail to Tarshish. 37 Then Dodavahu’s son Eliezer from Mareshah prophesied against Yehoshafat, saying, “When you allied yourself with Ahazyah, Yahweh broke through your works.” In due course, the ships were damaged and unable to sail to Tarshish.