015:002 and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear you me, Asa,
and all Judah and Benjamin: Yahweh is with you, while you
are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you;
but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
015:003 Now for a long season Israel was without the true God,
and without a teaching priest, and without law:
015:004 But when in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God
of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
015:005 In those times there was no peace to him who went out,
nor to him who came in; but great vexations were on all
the inhabitants of the lands.
015:006 They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city
against city; for God did vex them with all adversity.
015:007 But be you strong, and don't let your hands be slack;
for your work shall be rewarded.
015:008 When Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet,
he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all
the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which
he had taken from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed
the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh.
015:009 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who sojourned
with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon:
for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they
saw that Yahweh his God was with him.
015:010 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month,
in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
015:011 They sacrificed to Yahweh in that day, of the spoil which they
had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
015:012 They entered into the covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of
their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;
015:013 and that whoever would not seek Yahweh, the God of Israel,
should be put to death, whether small or great,
whether man or woman.
015:014 They swore to Yahweh with a loud voice, and with shouting,
and with trumpets, and with cornets.
015:015 All Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with
all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire;
and he was found of them: and Yahweh gave them rest round about.
015:016 Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen,
because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah;
and Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt
it at the brook Kidron.
015:017 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel:
nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
015:018 He brought into the house of God the things that his father
had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver,
and gold, and vessels.
015:019 There was no more war to the five and thirtieth year of
the reign of Asa.
016:001 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king
of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might
not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
016:002 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures
of the house of Yahweh and of the king's house, and sent
to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,
016:003 [There is] a league between me and you, as [there was] between
my father and your father: behold, I have sent you silver
and gold; go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel,
that he may depart from me.
016:004 Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his
armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon,
and Dan, and Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
016:005 It happened, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off
building Ramah, and let his work cease.
016:006 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones
of Ramah, and the timber of it, with which Baasha had built;
and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
016:007 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah,
and said to him, Because you have relied on the king of Syria,
and have not relied on Yahweh your God, therefore is the army
of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand.
016:008 Weren't the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots
and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because you did rely on Yahweh,
he delivered them into your hand.
016:009 For the eyes of Yahweh run back and forth throughout the whole earth,
to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart
is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly;
for from henceforth you shall have wars.
016:010 Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison;
for he was in a rage with him because of this thing.
Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.
016:011 Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are
written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
016:012 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet;
his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he didn't
seek Yahweh, but to the physicians.
016:013 Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth
year of his reign.
016:014 They buried him in his own tombs, which he had hewn out
for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed
which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds [of spices]
prepared by the perfumers' art: and they made a very great
burning for him.
017:001 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened
himself against Israel.
017:002 He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set
garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim,
which Asa his father had taken.
017:003 Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first
ways of his father David, and didn't seek the Baals,
017:004 but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments,
and not after the doings of Israel.
017:005 Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand;
and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches
and honor in abundance.
017:006 His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh: and furthermore
he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
017:007 Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes,
even Ben Hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel,
and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
017:008 and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah,
and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan,
and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites;
and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
017:009 They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Yahweh with them;
and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah,
and taught among the people.
017:010 The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were
round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
017:011 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents,
and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks,
seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand
and seven hundred male goats.
017:012 Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built in Judah
castles and cities of store.
017:013 He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war,
mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
017:014 This was the numbering of them according to their fathers' houses:
Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain,
and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand;
017:015 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two
hundred eighty thousand;
017:016 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered
himself to Yahweh; and with him two hundred thousand mighty
men of valor.
017:017 Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two
hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
017:018 and next to him Jehozabad and with him one hundred eighty
thousand ready prepared for war.
017:019 These were those who waited on the king, besides those whom
the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
018:001 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined
affinity with Ahab.
018:002 After certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria.
Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for
the people who were with him, and moved him to go up [with
him] to Ramoth Gilead.
018:003 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you
go with me to Ramoth Gilead? He answered him, I am as you are,
and my people as your people; and [we will be] with you
in the war.
018:004 Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire first
for the word of Yahweh.
018:005 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together,
four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead
to battle, or shall I forbear? They said, Go up; for God
will deliver it into the hand of the king.
018:006 But Jehoshaphat said, Isn't there here a prophet of Yahweh besides,
that we may inquire of him?
018:007 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one
man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh: but I hate him;
for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil:
the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. Jehoshaphat said,
Don't let the king say so.
018:008 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Get quickly
Micaiah the son of Imla.
018:009 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat
each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were
sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria;
and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
018:010 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said,
Thus says Yahweh, With these shall you push the Syrians,
until they be consumed.
018:011 All the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead,
and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand
of the king.
018:012 The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold,
the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one mouth:
let your word therefore, Please be like one of theirs,
and speak you good.
018:013 Micaiah said, As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will I speak.
018:014 When he was come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah,
shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?
He said, Go up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered
into your hand.
018:015 The king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you
speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?
018:016 He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep
that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master;
let them return every man to his house in peace.
018:017 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Didn't I tell you
that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?
018:018 [Micaiah] said, "Therefore hear you the word of Yahweh: I saw
Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven
standing on his right hand and on his left.
018:019 Yahweh said, 'Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may
go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One spoke saying after
this manner, and another saying after that manner.
018:020 There came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said,
'I will entice him.' Yahweh said to him, 'How?'
018:021 He said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth
of all his prophets.' He said, 'You shall entice him,
and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.'
018:022 Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit
in the mouth of these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken
evil concerning you."
018:023 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah
on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Yahweh
from me to speak to you?
018:024 Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day, when you
shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.
018:025 The king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back
to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
018:026 and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison,
and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction,
until I return in peace.
018:027 Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not
spoken by me. He said, Hear, you peoples, all of you.
018:028 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went
up to Ramoth Gilead.
018:029 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself,
and go into the battle; but put you on your robes.
So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went
into the battle.
018:030 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of
his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great,
save only with the king of Israel.
018:031 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat,
that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they
turned about to fight against him: but Jehoshaphat cried out,
and Yahweh helped him; and God moved them [to depart] from him.
018:032 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was
not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
018:033 A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck
the king of Israel between the joints of the armor.
Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, Turn your hand,
and carry me out of the army; for I am sore wounded.
018:034 The battle increased that day: however the king of Israel stayed
himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even;
and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.
019:001 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in
peace to Jerusalem.
019:002 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him,
and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked,
and love those who hate Yahweh? for this thing wrath is on you
from before Yahweh.
019:003 Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you
have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set
your heart to seek God.
019:004 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem: and he went out again among
the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim,
and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
019:005 He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities
of Judah, city by city,
019:006 and said to the judges, Consider what you do: for you
don't judge for man, but for Yahweh; and [he is] with you
in the judgment.
019:007 Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you; take heed and do it:
for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect
of persons, nor taking of bribes.
019:008 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and
the priests, and of the heads of the fathers' [houses] of Israel,
for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies.
They returned to Jerusalem.
019:009 He charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear
of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
019:010 Whenever any controversy shall come to you from your brothers
who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood,
between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances,
you shall warn them, that they not be guilty towards Yahweh,
and so wrath come on you and on your brothers: this do,
and you shall not be guilty.
019:011 Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all
matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael,
the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters:
also the Levites shall be officers before you.
Deal courageously, and Yahweh be with the good.
020:001 It happened after this, that the children of Moab,
and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites,
came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
020:002 Then there came some who told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes
a great multitude against you from beyond the sea from Syria;
and behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar (the same is En Gedi).
020:003 Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek to Yahweh;
and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
020:004 Judah gathered themselves together, to seek [help] of Yahweh:
even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Yahweh.
020:005 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem,
in the house of Yahweh, before the new court;
020:006 and he said, Yahweh, the God of our fathers, aren't you
God in heaven? and aren't you ruler over all the kingdoms
of the nations? and in your hand is power and might,
so that none is able to withstand you.
020:007 Did not you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land
before your people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham
your friend forever?
020:008 They lived therein, and have built you a sanctuary therein
for your name, saying,
020:009 If evil come on 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 affliction,
and you will hear and save.
020:010 Now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir,
whom you would not let Israel invade, when they came out
of the land of Egypt, but they turned aside from them,
and didn't destroy them;
020:011 behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession,
which you have given us to inherit.
020:012 Our God, will you not judge them? for we have no might against this
great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do:
but our eyes are on you.
020:013 All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones,
their wives, and their children.
020:014 Then on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah,
the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite,
of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Yahweh in the midst
of the assembly;
020:015 and he said, Listen you, all Judah, and you inhabitants
of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat: Thus says Yahweh to you,
Don't be afraid you, neither be dismayed by reason of this
great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
020:016 Tomorrow go you down against them: behold, they come up
by the ascent of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end
of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
020:017 You shall not need to fight in this [battle]: set yourselves,
stand you still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you,
O Judah and Jerusalem; don't be afraid, nor be dismayed:
tomorrow go out against them: for Yahweh is with you.
020:018 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground;
and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down
before Yahweh, worshipping Yahweh.
020:019 The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children
of the Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel,
with an exceeding loud voice.
020:020 They rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness
of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said,
Hear me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem:
believe in Yahweh your God, so shall you be established;
believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.
020:021 When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those
who should sing to Yahweh, and give praise in holy array,
as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks to Yahweh;
for his loving kindness endures forever.
020:022 When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushers
against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir,
who had come against Judah; and they were struck.
020:023 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the
inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to kill and destroy them:
and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir,
everyone helped to destroy another.
020:024 When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness,
they looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead
bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none who escaped.
020:025 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil of them,
they found among them in abundance both riches and dead bodies,
and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves,
more than they could carry away: and they were three days
in taking the spoil, it was so much.
020:026 On the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley
of Beracah; for there they blessed Yahweh: therefore the name
of that place was called The valley of Beracah to this day.
020:027 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat
in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy;
for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
020:028 They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments and harps
and trumpets to the house of Yahweh.
020:029 The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries,
when they heard that Yahweh fought against the enemies of Israel.
020:030 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him
rest round about.
020:031 Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty-five years old when
he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem:
and his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
020:032 He walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn't turn aside
from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh.
020:033 However the high places were not taken away; neither as yet
had the people set their hearts to the God of their fathers.
020:034 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold,
they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani,
which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.
020:035 After this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with
Ahaziah king of Israel; the same did very wickedly:
020:036 and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish;
and they made the ships in Ezion Geber.
020:037 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied
against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined
yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works.
The ships were broken, so that they were not able to
go to Tarshish.
021:001 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned
in his place.
021:002 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, and Jehiel,
and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah;
all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
021:003 Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold,
and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah:
but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
021:004 Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father,
and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers
with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel.
021:005 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
021:006 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house
of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife:
and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
021:007 However Yahweh would not destroy the house of David, because of
the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised
to give a lamp to him and to his children always.
021:008 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah,
and made a king over themselves.
021:009 Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots
with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites
who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots.
021:010 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day:
then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand,
because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.
021:011 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah,
and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute,
and led Judah astray.
021:012 There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,
Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, Because you
have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father,
nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
021:013 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute,
like as the house of Ahab did, and also have slain your brothers
of your father's house, who were better than yourself:
021:014 behold, Yahweh will strike with a great plague your people,
and your children, and your wives, and all your substance;
021:015 and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels,
until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness,
day by day.
021:016 Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines,
and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians:
021:017 and they came up against Judah, and broke into it, and carried
away all the substance that was found in the king's house,