43. He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn't turn aside from it, doing that which was right in The LORD's eyes. However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

44. JEHOSHAPHAT made peace with the king of Israel.

45. Now the rest of the acts of JEHOSHAPHAT, and his might that he showed, and how he fought, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

46. The remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land.

1. JEHOSHAPHAT his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.

2. 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.

3. The LORD was with JEHOSHAPHAT, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn't seek the Baals,

4. but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel.

5. Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to JEHOSHAPHAT, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

6. His heart was lifted up in the ways of The LORD. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.

7. Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

8. and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

9. They taught in Judah, having the book of The LORD's law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

1. JEHOSHAPHAT the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

2. 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 The LORD? Because of this, wrath is on you from before The LORD.

3. 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."

4. 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 The LORD, the God of their fathers.

5. He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

6. and said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you don't judge for man, but for The LORD; and he is with you in the judgment.

7. Now therefore let the fear of the LORD be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes."

8. Moreover in Jerusalem JEHOSHAPHAT appointed Levites and priests, and of the heads of the fathers' households of Israel, for the judgment of The LORD, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.

9. He commanded them, saying, "You shall do this in the fear of The LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

10. Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty towards The LORD, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

11. 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, in all the king's matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good."

1. After this, the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against JEHOSHAPHAT to battle.

2. Then some came who told JEHOSHAPHAT, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea from Syria. Behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).

3. JEHOSHAPHAT was alarmed, and set himself to seek to The LORD. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4. Judah gathered themselves together to seek help from The LORD. They came out of all the cities of Judah to seek The LORD.

5. JEHOSHAPHAT stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in The LORD's house, before the new court;

6. and he said, "The LORD, the God of our fathers, aren't you God in heaven? Aren't you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so that no one is able to withstand you.

7. Didn't you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the offspring of Abraham your friend forever?

8. They lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying,

9. 'If evil comes on us-the sword, judgment, 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.'

10. 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;

11. behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.

12. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

13. All Judah stood before The LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

14. Then The LORD's Spirit came 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, in the middle of the assembly;

15. and he said, "Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, king JEHOSHAPHAT. the LORD says to you, 'Don't be afraid, and don't be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16. Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17. You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.'"

18. JEHOSHAPHAT 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.

19. The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise The LORD, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.

20. They rose early in the morning, and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, JEHOSHAPHAT stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper."

21. When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to The LORD, and give praise in holy array, as they go out before the army, and say, "Give thanks to The LORD; for his loving kindness endures forever."

22. When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck.

23. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them: and when they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.

24. 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.

25. When JEHOSHAPHAT and his people came to take their plunder, 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. They took plunder for three days, it was so much.

26. On the fourth day, they assembled themselves in Beracah Valley, for there they blessed The LORD. Therefore the name of that place was called "Beracah Valley" to this day.

27. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with JEHOSHAPHAT in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

28. They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments, harps, and trumpets to The LORD's house.

29. The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries, when they heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.

30. So the realm of JEHOSHAPHAT was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

31. JEHOSHAPHAT reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

32. He walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn't turn aside from it, doing that which was right in The LORD's eyes.

He sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and killed him; and they buried him, for they said, "He is the son of JEHOSHAPHAT, who sought the LORD with all his heart." The house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom.