2 Chronicles 20

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Some time later, the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them the Meunites, advanced to war againstJehoshaphat.	1 After this the Moabites, the Ammonites, and with them some Meunites came to fight against Jehoshaphat.
2 Jehoshaphat received the following intel igence, 'A vast horde is advancing on you from the other sideof the Sea, from Edom; they are already at Hazazon-Tamar, that is, En-Gedi.'	2 The message was brought to Jehoshaphat: "A great multitude is coming against you from across the sea, from Edom; they are already in Hazazon-tamar" (which is En-gedi).
3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed and resolved to have recourse to Yahweh; he proclaimed a fast throughoutal Judah.	3 Jehoshaphat was frightened, and he hastened to consult the LORD. He proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
4 So Judah assembled to seek help from Yahweh; to seek Yahweh they came from every town inJudah.	4 Then Judah gathered to seek help from the LORD; from every one of the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5 Then, standing in the Temple of Yahweh in front of the new court among the assembled people ofJudah and Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat	5 Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD before the new court,
6 said, 'Yahweh, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven, and do you not rule al the kingdomsof the nations? Your power and might are such that no one can resist you.	6 and he said: "LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand is power and might, and no one can withstand you.
7 Did not you, our God, dispossess the inhabitants of this country for your people Israel and give it tothe descendants of Abraham, your friend, for ever?	7 Was it not you, our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend?
8 They have lived in it and built you a sanctuary there for your name,	8 They have dwelt in it and they built in it a sanctuary to your honor, saying,
9 saying, "If disaster, war, flood, pestilence or famine befal us, and we stand in front of this Temple,before you -- for your name is in this Temple -- and cry to you in our distress, then you wil listen and rescue us."	9 'When evil comes upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house, and we will cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save!'
10 'Now see, the Ammonites and Moabites and the people of Mount Seir, whom you would not al owIsrael to invade when they came out of Egypt -- on the contrary, Israel avoided them, and did not destroy them-	10 And now, see the Ammonites, Moabites, and those of Mount Seir whom you did not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt, but instead they passed them by and did not destroy them.
11 see how they reward us, by coming to drive us out of your possession which you allotted to us!	11 See how they are now repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you have given us.
12 Our God, will you not pass sentence on them, since we are helpless against this vast horde about toattack us? Because we do not know what to do, we look to you.'	12 O our God, will you not pass judgment on them? We are powerless before this vast multitude that comes against us. We are at a loss what to do, hence our eyes are turned toward you."
13 Al Judah, including their families, wives and children, were standing before Yahweh,	13 All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their young sons.
14 when, in the middle of the assembly, the spirit of Yahweh came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son ofBenaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah the Levite, a member of the clan of Asaph,	14 And the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the clan of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly,
15 who then cried, 'Listen, al Judah and you citizens of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat!Yahweh says this to you, "Do not be afraid, do not be daunted by this vast horde, for the war is not your affair butGod's.	15 and he said: "Listen, all of Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! The LORD says to you: 'Do not fear or lose heart at the sight of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.
16 Go down against them tomorrow; they are coming up by the Slope of Ziz and you wil encounterthem at the end of the ravine near the desert of Jeruel.	16 Go down against them tomorrow. You will see them coming up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will come upon them at the end of the wadi which opens on the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 You wil not need to fight in this battle. Take up your position, stand firm, and see what salvationYahweh has in store for you. Judah and Jerusalem, be fearless, be dauntless; march out against them tomorrowand Yahweh will be with you." '	17 You will not have to fight in this encounter. Take your places, stand firm, and see how the LORD will be with you to deliver you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or lose heart. Tomorrow go out to meet them, and the LORD will be with you.'"
18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head, his face to the ground, and al Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem feldown before Yahweh to worship Yahweh.	18 Then Jehoshaphat knelt down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD in worship.
19 Then the Levites -- both the Kohathites and Korahites -- stood up to praise Yahweh, God of Israel, atthe top of their voices.	19 Levites from among the Kohathites and Korahites rose to sing the praises of the LORD, the God of Israel, in a resounding chorus.
20 Early next morning they prepared to set out for the desert of Tekoa. As they were setting out,Jehoshaphat stood up and said, 'Listen to me, Judah and you citizens of Jerusalem! Believe in Yahweh yourGod and you wil be secure; believe in his prophets and you wil be successful.'	20 In the early morning they hastened out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were going out, Jehoshaphat halted and said: "Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Trust in the LORD, your God, and you will be found firm. Trust in his prophets and you will succeed."
21 Then, having conferred with the people, he appointed singers who were to praise Yahweh and go outahead of the army in sacred vestments, singing Praise Yahweh, for his faithful love endures for ever!	21 After consulting with the people, he appointed some to sing to the LORD and some to praise the holy Appearance as it went forth at the head of the army. They sang: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his mercy endures forever."
22 The moment they began their shouts of praise, Yahweh sprang an ambush on the Ammonites,Moabites and the people of Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and that was the end of them,	22 At the moment they began their jubilant hymn, the LORD laid an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and those of Mount Seir who were coming against Judah, so that they were vanquished.
23 for the Ammonites and Moabites turned on the people of Mount Seir, and put them under the curseof destruction and then, having finished off the people of Seir, set to work slaughtering one another.	23 For the Ammonites and Moabites set upon the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely exterminated them. And when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they began to destroy each other.
24 When Judah reached the point overlooking the desert and looked towards the horde, there werenothing but corpses lying on the ground; no one escaped.	24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the desert and looked toward the throng, they saw only corpses fallen on the ground, with no survivors.
25 When Jehoshaphat arrived to take the booty, they found quantities of cattle and innumerablepossessions, clothes and valuables, which they seized for themselves; it was impossible to carry it, and it tookthem three days to collect it.	25 Jehoshaphat and his people came to take plunder, and they found an abundance of cattle and personal property, garments and precious vessels. They took so much that they were unable to carry it all; they were three days taking the spoil, so great was it.
26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed Yahweh -- hence theplace was given the name Val ey of Beracah, which it stil has today.	26 On the fourth day they held an assembly in the Valley of Beracah--for there they blessed the LORD; therefore that place has ever since been called the Valley of Beracah.
27 Then al the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat at theirhead as Yahweh had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies.	27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, turned back toward Jerusalem celebrating the joyful victory the LORD had given them over their enemies.
28 To the sound of lyre, harp and trumpet they came to Jerusalem, to the Temple of Yahweh,	28 They came to Jerusalem, to the house of the LORD, with harps, lyres and trumpets.
29 and a panic from Yahweh seized al the neighbouring kings when they heard how Yahweh hadfought against the enemies of Israel.	29 And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the surrounding lands when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 And henceforth Jehoshaphat's reign was undisturbed, for his God gave him peace all round.	30 Thereafter Jehoshaphat's kingdom enjoyed peace, for his God gave him rest on every side.
31 So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he came to the throne and hereigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.	31 Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.
32 He fol owed the example of his father Asa undeviatingly, doing what Yahweh regards as right.	32 He followed the path of his father Asa unswervingly, doing what was right in the LORD'S sight.
33 The high places, however, were not abolished; the people had still not set their hearts on the God oftheir ancestors.	33 But the high places were not removed, nor as yet had the people fixed their hearts on the God of their fathers.
34 The rest of the history of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, is written down in the records of Jehu son ofHanani, which are quoted in the Book of the Kings of Israel.	34 The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, can be found written in the chronicle of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 Afterwards, Jehoshaphat formed a partnership with Ahaziah king of Israel, which was very wrong ofhim.	35 After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil.
36 He joined him in building some ships to go to Tarshish; they built them at Ezion-Geber.	36 He joined with him in building ships to sail to Tarshish; the fleet was built at Ezion-geber.
37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah then prophesied against Jehoshaphat as fol ows, 'Becauseyou have become Ahaziah's partner, Yahweh has wrecked your efforts.' The ships were wrecked and werenever fit to sail for Tarshish.	37 But Eliezer, son of Dodavahu from Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will shatter your work." And the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.