LORD his God:
14:014:003 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high
places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
14:014:004 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and
to do the law and the commandment.
14:014:005 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high
places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
14:014:006 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest,
and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given
him rest.
14:014:007 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and
make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the
land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our
God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every
side. So they built and prospered.
14:014:008 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out
of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that
bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore
thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
14:014:009 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an
host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and
came unto Mareshah.
14:014:010 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in
array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
14:014:011 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is
nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them
that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on
thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD,
thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.
14:014:012 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah;
and the Ethiopians fled.
14:014:013 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto
Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not
recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD,
and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
14:014:014 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear
of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities;
for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
14:014:015 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep
and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
14:015:001 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
14:015:002 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me,
Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while
ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you;
but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
14:015:003 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God,
and without a teaching priest, and without law.
14:015:004 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of
Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
14:015:005 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out,
nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the
inhabitants of the countries.
14:015:006 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God
did vex them with all adversity.
14:015:007 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for
your work shall be rewarded.
14:015:008 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the
prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols
out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the
cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the
altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
14:015:009 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers 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 the
LORD his God was with him.
14:015:010 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third
month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
14:015:011 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil
which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand
sheep.
14:015:012 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their
fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
14:015:013 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be
put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
14:015:014 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with
shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
14:015:015 And 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 the LORD gave them rest round about.
14:015:016 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he
removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in
a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt
it at the brook Kidron.
14:015:017 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel:
nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
14:015:018 And 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.
14:015:019 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of
the reign of Asa.
14:016:001 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king
of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the
intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of
Judah.
14:016:002 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of
the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to
Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
14:016:003 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my
father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and
gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he
may depart from me.
14:016:004 And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of
his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon,
and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
14:016:005 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off
building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
14:016:006 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the
stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was
building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
14:016:007 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah,
and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of
Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the
host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
14:016:008 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very
many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on
the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
14:016:009 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole
earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose
heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly:
therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
14:016:010 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison
house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing.
And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
14:016:011 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are
written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
14:016:012 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased
in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his
disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
14:016:013 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and
fortieth year of his reign.
14:016:014 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made
for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed
which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices
prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great
burning for him.
14:017:001 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened
himself against Israel.
14:017:002 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and
set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of
Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
14:017:003 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the
first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
14:017:004 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his
commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
14:017:005 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all
Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and
honour in abundance.
14:017:006 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover
he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
14:017:007 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes,
even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to
Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
14:017:008 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah,
and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and
Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them
Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
14:017:009 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the
LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of
Judah, and taught the people.
14:017:010 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the
lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war
against Jehoshaphat.
14:017:011 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and
tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven
thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven
hundred he goats.
14:017:012 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah
castles, and cities of store.
14:017:013 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men
of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
14:017:014 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of
their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the
chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred
thousand.
14:017:015 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two
hundred and fourscore thousand.
14:017:016 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly
offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred
thousand mighty men of valour.
14:017:017 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him
armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
14:017:018 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and
fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
14:017:019 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in
the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
14:018:001 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined
affinity with Ahab.
14:018:002 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And
Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the
people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with
him to Ramothgilead.
14:018:003 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I
am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be
with thee in the war.
14:018:004 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray
thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
14:018:005 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets
four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to
Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go
up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.
14:018:006 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD
besides, that we might enquire of him?
14:018:007 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one
man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for
he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is
Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the
king say so.
14:018:008 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and
said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
14:018:009 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat
either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they
sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria;
and all the prophets prophesied before them.
14:018:010 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron,
and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push
Syria until they be consumed.
14:018:011 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to
Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into
the hand of the king.
14:018:012 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him,
saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the
king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be
like one of their's, and speak thou good.
14:018:013 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith,
that will I speak.
14:018:014 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him,
Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I
forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be
delivered into your hand.
14:018:015 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee
that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the
LORD?
14:018:016 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the
mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said,
These have no master; let them return therefore every man to
his house in peace.
14:018:017 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell
thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
14:018:018 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the
LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven
standing on his right hand and on his left.
14:018:019 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that
he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying
after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
14:018:020 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and
said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him,
Wherewith?
14:018:021 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth
of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him,
and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
14:018:022 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the
mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil
against thee.
14:018:023 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote
Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of
the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
14:018:024 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou
shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
14:018:025 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him
back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's
son;
14:018:026 And say, Thus saith 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.
14:018:027 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath
not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye
people.
14:018:028 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went
up to Ramothgilead.
14:018:029 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise
myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy
robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went
to the battle.
14:018:030 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the
chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small
or great, save only with the king of Israel.
14:018:031 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw
Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel.
Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat
cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to
depart from him.
14:018:032 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots
perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back
again from pursuing him.
14:018:033 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king
of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said
to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me
out of the host; for I am wounded.
14:018:034 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel
stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the
even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.
14:019:001 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in
peace to Jerusalem.
14:019:002 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and
said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and
love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee
from before the LORD.
14:019:003 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou
hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared
thine heart to seek God.
14:019:004 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again
through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and
brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
14:019:005 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities
of Judah, city by city,
14:019:006 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not
for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
14:019:007 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed
and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor
respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
14:019:008 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and
of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for
the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they
returned to Jerusalem.
14:019:009 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of
the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
14:019:010 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that
dwell in your cities, between blood and blood, between law and
commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them
that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come
upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not
trespass.
14:019:011 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all
matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the
ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also
the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously,
and the LORD shall be with the good.
14:020:001 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab,
and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the
Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
14:020:002 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There
cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on
this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which
is Engedi.
14:020:003 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and
proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
14:020:004 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the
LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek
the LORD.
14:020:005 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and
Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
14:020:006 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in
heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the
heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so
that none is able to withstand thee?
14:020:007 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of
this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed
of Abraham thy friend for ever?
14:020:008 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary
therein for thy name, saying,
14:020:009 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or
pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy
presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee
in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
14:020:010 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount
Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came
out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and
destroyed them not;
14:020:011 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of
thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
14:020:012 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might
against this great company that cometh against us; neither
know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
14:020:013 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones,
their wives, and their children.
14:020:014 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah,
the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons
of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the
congregation;
14:020:015 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto
you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great
multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
14:020:016 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the
cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook,
before the wilderness of Jeruel.
14:020:017 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves,
stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O
Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go
out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
14:020:018 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground:
and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the
LORD, worshipping the LORD.
14:020:019 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the
children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of
Israel with a loud voice on high.
14:020:020 And 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, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem;
Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established;
believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
14:020:021 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed
singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of
holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise
the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
14:020:022 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set
ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount
Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
14:020:023 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the
inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them:
and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir,
every one helped to destroy another.
14:020:024 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness,
they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead
bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
14:020:025 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the
spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches
with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped
off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they
were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
14:020:026 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley
of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the
name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah,
unto this day.
14:020:027 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and
Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem
with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their
enemies.
14:020:028 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and
trumpets unto the house of the LORD.
14:020:029 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those
countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against
the enemies of Israel.
14:020:030 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him
rest round about.
14:020:031 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five
years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and
five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the
daughter of Shilhi.
14:020:032 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not
from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.
14:020:033 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the
people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their
fathers.