Jehoshaphat

28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

29The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will dress so no one knows me. But you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel hid who he was, and they went into the battle.

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

NoteRoyal robes were fancy clothes that only a king wore. Anyone could spot a king from far away in them. Ahab dressed like a plain soldier instead.

30The king of Syria had given an order to his chariot leaders. "Do not fight anyone, big or small. Fight only the king of Israel."

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.

NoteA chariot is a small cart with wheels, pulled by fast horses. Soldiers rode in them during a battle. The chariot leaders were the men in charge of them.

31When the chariot leaders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "That is the king of Israel!" So they circled around him to fight him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God made them turn away from him.

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.

32When the chariot leaders saw he was not the king of Israel, they stopped chasing him.

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.

33A man shot an arrow without aiming at anyone. It hit the king of Israel where two pieces of his armor joined. So Ahab told his chariot driver, "Turn around. Get me out of the battle. I am badly hurt."

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.

NoteThe man was just shooting arrows toward the enemy. He was not aiming at the king at all. Armor is metal clothing that soldiers wore to keep from getting hurt. It came in pieces, and there was a small gap where two pieces met. The arrow went right into that gap.

34The fighting grew worse all that day. The king of Israel held himself up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. As the sun went down, he died.

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.

1Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, got home safely. He went back to his house in Jerusalem.

And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

NoteJudah was a small country where God's people lived. Jerusalem was its main city, and the king lived there. Just before this, the king had gone away to fight in a battle.

2Jehu, the son of Hanani, was a seer. That means God showed him things and he told people. Jehu went out to meet the king. He said, "Should you help wicked people? Should you love people who hate the LORD? Because you did, the LORD is angry with you.

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.

NoteIn the King James Bible, LORD in big letters stands for God's own special name. A seer was a kind of prophet. God showed him things, and he told people what he saw. The wicked people here were King Ahab and his army. Jehoshaphat had gone to help them fight.

3Still, there is some good in you. You took the Asherah poles out of the land. Those poles were used to worship false gods. And you have made up your mind to look for God."

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.

NoteThe King James calls these poles "groves." They were tall wooden poles people set up in the ground. People bowed to them to honor a pretend goddess named Asherah.

4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. He went out among the people again. He traveled from Beersheba all the way to the hills of Ephraim. He brought the people back to the LORD, the God of their families long ago.

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.

NoteBeersheba was a town far down in the south. The hills of Ephraim were far up in the north. Going from one to the other means he visited the whole country.

5He chose judges for the land. He put judges in every walled city of Judah.

And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

NoteA judge listened to people's arguments and decided who was right. A walled city had a high, thick wall all around it. The wall kept enemies from getting in.

6He said to the judges, "Be careful what you do. You are not judging for people. You are judging for the LORD. He is with you when you decide.

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.

7So respect the LORD in all you do. Be careful and do your work well. The LORD our God is never unfair. He does not treat one person better than another. He never takes money to change his mind."

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.

Note"The fear of the LORD" does not mean being scared of God. It means great respect. That kind of respect makes a person careful to do right.

8In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat also chose some Levites and priests. Levites were men who helped with worship. He chose leaders of families too. Their job was to judge for the LORD and settle arguments. They came back to Jerusalem.

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.

NoteThe Levites all came from one big family in Israel. Their job was helping at God's house. Priests led the worship there and taught people God's rules. The King James word "controversies" simply means arguments.

9He told them what to do. He said, "Do your work with respect for the LORD. Be honest, and give it your whole heart.

And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

Note"A perfect heart" does not mean being a perfect person. It means putting your whole heart into the work.

10Your fellow Israelites live in other towns. They will bring you arguments to settle. Some may be about killing. Some may be about other rules and laws God gave. When they come, warn them not to sin against the LORD. If you do not, God will be angry with you and with them. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their 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.

NoteThe King James says "between blood and blood." That means cases where someone had been killed. To "trespass" means to break God's rules.

11Listen. Amariah is the chief priest. He is over you in everything about the LORD. Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael, leads the family of Judah. He is over you in everything about the king. The Levites will serve as officers to help you. Be brave and do your work. May the LORD be with those who do right."

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.

NoteThe chief priest was the leader of all the other priests. Officers were helpers who kept things fair and orderly. "Deal courageously" means be brave and do your job well.

1After this, three groups came to fight King Jehoshaphat. They were the Moabites, the Ammonites, and some Meunites.

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.

NoteMoab, Ammon, and Meunites were peoples who lived near Israel. They were neighbors, and often enemies too.

2Some men came and told Jehoshaphat the news. They said, "A huge army is coming against you from Syria. They have crossed the Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar, the place called En-gedi."

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.

NoteThe Sea here is the Dead Sea, a big salty lake. En-gedi was a green spot with water beside it. Syria was a land to the north; the old words call it Aram.

3Jehoshaphat was afraid. He decided to ask the LORD for help. He told everyone in Judah to fast. That means going without food while praying.

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

NoteWhen LORD is written in big letters, it is God's own name. It was the special name God gave his people.

4So the people of Judah came together to ask the LORD for help. They came from every town in Judah to seek him.

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.

5Jehoshaphat stood up in front of the crowd. They were in the LORD's house in Jerusalem, by the new courtyard.

And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

NoteThe LORD's house was the temple, God's special building in Jerusalem. The courtyard was the open yard around it.

6He said, "LORD, God of our fathers, you are the God in heaven. You rule over every kingdom on earth. You hold all power and strength. No one can stand against you."

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?

7"You are our God. You pushed out the people who lived in this land. You gave the land to your people Israel. You gave it forever to the family of Abraham, your friend."

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?

NoteAbraham lived a very long time before this. God promised him that his family would have this land.

8"They have lived here ever since. They built a holy house here for your name. And they said this:"

And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

NoteHoly means kept apart just for God. A house built "for your name" belonged to God alone.

9"If trouble comes to us, we will stand at this house, right in front of you. The trouble might be war, or punishment, or sickness, or hunger. Your name is in this house. We will cry out to you, and you will hear us and save us."

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.

NoteSaying God's name was in the house meant God promised to be there. So people came there to pray.

10"Now look at the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. Long ago you would not let Israel attack them. That was when Israel came out of Egypt. Israel turned away and did not destroy them."

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;

NoteMount Seir was the hilly land where the people of Edom lived. Long before, God's people had been slaves in Egypt. God brought them out and led them to this land.

11"See how they pay us back for that. They are coming to push us out of the land you gave us."

Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

12"Our God, will you not judge them? We are not strong enough to fight this huge army. We do not know what to do. But our eyes are on you."

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.

13All the men of Judah stood there before the LORD. Their wives, their children, and their babies stood with them.

And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

14Then the Spirit of the LORD came on a man named Jahaziel. He was standing in the middle of the crowd. He was a Levite, one of the men who served in God's house. He came from Asaph's family. He was the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah.

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;

NoteThe Spirit of the LORD coming on someone meant God gave that person a message. Asaph's family were the singers who led music at God's house.

15He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem. Listen, King Jehoshaphat. Here is what the LORD says. Do not be afraid. Do not lose heart because this army is so big. This battle is not yours. It is God's."

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.

16"Tomorrow, march down to meet them. They will come up the road called the Pass of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, near the empty land of Jeruel."

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.

NoteA pass is a narrow road that climbs up between hills. The empty land was dry ground with no towns and few people.

17"You will not need to fight this battle. Take your places and stand still. Watch the LORD save you, people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid. Do not lose heart. Go out to meet them tomorrow. The LORD will be with you."

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.

18Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem bowed down too. They worshiped the LORD.

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.

19Then some of the Levites stood up. They were from the families of Kohath and Korah. They praised the LORD, the God of Israel, in a very loud voice.

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.

NoteKohath and Korah were two family groups among the Levites. Each family had its own job at God's house.

20Early the next morning they set out for the empty land of Tekoa. As they left, Jehoshaphat stood up and spoke. He said, "Listen to me, people of Judah and Jerusalem. Trust the LORD your God, and he will hold you up. Trust his prophets, the men who tell you what God says, and things will go well for you."

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.

21Jehoshaphat talked it over with the people. Then he chose singers to sing to the LORD. They sang about how good and holy he is. They walked out in front of the army, singing, "Thank the LORD. His love lasts forever."

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.

NoteUsually soldiers walked in front of an army. Here the singers walked first instead.

22The moment they began to sing and shout praise, the LORD set traps for the enemy. The men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir were beaten.

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.

NoteA trap in a battle meant men hiding and then attacking by surprise.

23The men of Ammon and Moab turned on the men of Mount Seir. They killed all of them. Then they turned on each other and killed one another too.

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.

24The men of Judah came to a place that looked out over the empty land. They looked for the huge army. All they saw were dead bodies on the ground. No one had escaped.

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.

25Jehoshaphat and his people came to take what the army had left. Among the bodies they found lots of goods and fine jewels. There was more than they could carry. It took them three days to gather it all.

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.

NoteAfter a battle, the winners kept what the other army left behind. That was the normal thing to do back then.

26On the fourth day they met in the valley of Beracah. There they thanked the LORD. That is why the place is still called the valley of Beracah today.

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.

NoteBeracah was their word for blessing or thanks. The valley was named for what happened there.

27Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem went back home. Jehoshaphat led the way. They returned to Jerusalem full of joy. The LORD had given them a reason to be glad about their enemies.

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.

28They came into Jerusalem and went to the LORD's house. They played harps, lyres, and trumpets.

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.

NoteHarps and lyres were wooden instruments with strings you plucked. People played them to praise God.

29All the kingdoms nearby heard what had happened. They heard that the LORD had fought against Israel's enemies. And they were afraid of God.

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.

30So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was peaceful. His God gave him rest on every side.

So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.

31Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

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.

NoteKings' mothers are named in these records because they were important. The king's mother often helped him rule.

32He lived the way his father Asa had lived. He did not turn away from it. He did what was right in the LORD's eyes.

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.

33But the high places were not taken away. The people had not yet given their whole hearts to the God of their fathers.

Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

NoteHigh places were spots on hilltops where people gave gifts to God. God had told his people to bring their gifts to the temple instead.

34The other things Jehoshaphat did, from start to finish, are written down. They are in the records of Jehu son of Hanani. Those records are part of the Book of the Kings of Israel.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

NoteThis was an old record book that kept lists of what kings did. We do not have that book anymore.

35Later, King Jehoshaphat of Judah made a deal with King Ahaziah of Israel. Ahaziah did very wicked things.

And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:

NoteBy now God's people had split into two kingdoms. Judah was in the south, and Israel was in the north.

36They agreed to build ships to sail to Tarshish. The ships were built at Ezion-geber.

And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber.

NoteTarshish was a rich land far away across the sea. Ezion-geber was a town by the water where ships were built.

37Then Eliezer son of Dodavah, from Mareshah, spoke against Jehoshaphat as a prophet. He said, "You joined yourself to Ahaziah, so the LORD has wrecked your work." The ships were broken up and never sailed to Tarshish.

Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

1Jehoshaphat died, as his fathers had died before him. He was buried with them in the City of David. His son Jehoram became king in his place.

Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

NoteThe City of David was a part of Jerusalem. King David captured it long ago. Kings from his family were buried there.

2Jehoram had brothers, the other sons of Jehoshaphat. They were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, another Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of them were sons of Jehoshaphat, the king.

And he had brethren 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.

3Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold, and other costly things. He also gave them strong walled cities in Judah. But he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because Jehoram was the oldest son.

And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.

NoteA walled city had a high wall all around it. People went inside the walls when enemies came. Also, the oldest son usually took his father's place as king.