International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Sometime after these events, the Moabites and the Ammonites, accompanied by some other descendants of Ammon, attacked Jehoshaphat and started a war.

1וַיְהִ֣י אַֽחֲרֵיכֵ֡ן בָּ֣אוּ בְנֵי־ מוֹאָב֩ וּבְנֵ֨י עַמּ֜וֹן וְעִמָּהֶ֧ם ׀ מֵֽהָעַמּוֹנִ֛ים עַל־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

2Jehoshaphat's military advisors came and informed him, "We've been attacked by a vast invasion force from Aram, beyond the Dead Sea. Be advised—they've already reached Hazazon-tamar, also known as En-gedi."

2וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָט֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֣א עָלֶ֜יךָ הָמ֥וֹן רָ֛ב מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיָּ֖ם מֵאֲרָ֑ם וְהִנָּם֙ בְּחַֽצְצ֣וֹן תָּמָ֔ר הִ֖יא עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃

3In mounting fear, Jehoshaphat devoted himself to seek the LORD. He proclaimed a period of fasting throughout all of the territory of Judah,

3וַיִּרָ֕א וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט אֶת־ פָּנָ֖יו לִדְר֣וֹשׁ לַיהוָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָא־ צ֖וֹם עַל־ כָּל־ יְהוּדָֽה׃

4and the tribe of Judah assembled together to seek the LORD. People came from all of the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

4וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ יְהוּדָ֔ה לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ מֵֽיְהוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם מִכָּל־ עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה בָּ֖אוּ לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־ יְהוָֽה׃

5Jehoshaphat stood among the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the LORD's Temple in the vicinity of the new court

5וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט בִּקְהַ֧ל יְהוּדָ֛ה וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה לִפְנֵ֖י הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַחֲדָשָֽׁה׃

6and said: "LORD God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven, are you not? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, don't you? In your own hands you grasp both strength and power, don't you? As a result, no one can oppose you, can they?

6וַיֹּאמַ֗ר יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ הֲלֹ֨א אַתָּֽה־ ה֤וּא אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְאַתָּ֣ה מוֹשֵׁ֔ל בְּכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּבְיָדְךָ֙ כֹּ֣חַ וּגְבוּרָ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין עִמְּךָ֖ לְהִתְיַצֵּֽב׃

7You are our God, who expelled the former inhabitants of this land right in front of our people Israel, aren't you? Then you gave it to your friend Abraham's descendant forever, didn't you?

7הֲלֹ֣א ׀ אַתָּ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ הוֹרַ֙שְׁתָּ֙ אֶת־ יֹשְׁבֵי֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את מִלִּפְנֵ֖י עַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽתִּתְּנָ֗הּ לְזֶ֛רַע אַבְרָהָ֥ם אֹֽהַבְךָ֖ לְעוֹלָֽם׃

8They lived in it and have built there a sanctuary for your name, where they said,

8וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ־ בָ֑הּ וַיִּבְנ֨וּ לְךָ֧ ׀ בָּ֛הּ מִקְדָּ֖שׁ לְשִׁמְךָ֥ לֵאמֹֽר׃

9If evil comes upon us, such as war as punishment, disease, or famine and we stand in your presence in this Temple (because your Name is in this Temple) and cry out to you in our distress, then you will hear and deliver.'

9אִם־ תָּב֨וֹא עָלֵ֜ינוּ רָעָ֗ה חֶרֶב֮ שְׁפוֹט֮ וְדֶ֣בֶר וְרָעָב֒ נַֽעַמְדָ֞ה לִפְנֵ֨י הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ וּלְפָנֶ֔יךָ כִּ֥י שִׁמְךָ֖ בַּבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֑ה וְנִזְעַ֥ק אֵלֶ֛יךָ מִצָּרָתֵ֖נוּ וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע וְתוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃

10Now therefore look! The Ammonites, the Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir, whom you would not permit Israel to attack when they arrived from the land of Egypt—since they turned away from them and did not eliminate them—

10וְעַתָּ֡ה הִנֵּה֩ בְנֵֽי־ עַמּ֨וֹן וּמוֹאָ֜ב וְהַר־ שֵׂעִ֗יר אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־ נָתַ֤תָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לָב֣וֹא בָהֶ֔ם בְּבֹאָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּ֛י סָ֥רוּ מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א הִשְׁמִידֽוּם׃

11Look how they're rewarding us! They're coming to drive us from your property that you gave us to be our inheritance.

11וְהִ֨נֵּה־ הֵ֔ם גֹּמְלִ֖ים עָלֵ֑ינוּ לָבוֹא֙ לְגָ֣רְשֵׁ֔נוּ מִיְּרֻשָּׁתְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֽוֹרַשְׁתָּֽנוּ׃

12Our God, you are going to punish them, aren't you? We have no strength to face this vast multitude that has come against us, nor do we know what to do, except that our eyes are on you."

12אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ הֲלֹ֣א תִשְׁפָּט־ בָּ֔ם כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין בָּ֙נוּ֙ כֹּ֔חַ לִ֠פְנֵי הֶהָמ֥וֹן הָרָ֛ב הַזֶּ֖ה הַבָּ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ לֹ֤א נֵדַע֙ מַֽה־ נַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כִּ֥י עָלֶ֖יךָ עֵינֵֽינוּ׃

13All of Judah was standing in the LORD's presence, along with their little babies, their wives, and their children.

13וְכָ֨ל־ יְהוּדָ֔ה עֹמְדִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה גַּם־ טַפָּ֖ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֥ם וּבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ פ

14Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Zechariah's son Jahaziel, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a descendant of Levi from the descendants of Asaph in the middle of the assembly, and he said:

14וְיַחֲזִיאֵ֡ל בֶּן־ זְכַרְיָ֡הוּ בֶּן־ בְּ֠נָיָה בֶּן־ יְעִיאֵ֧ל בֶּן־ מַתַּנְיָ֛ה הַלֵּוִ֖י מִן־ בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֑ף הָיְתָ֤ה עָלָיו֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל׃

15"Pay attention, everyone in Judah, in Jerusalem, and you, too, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Stop being afraid, and stop being discouraged because of this vast invasion force, because the battle doesn't belong to you, but to God.

15וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ כָל־ יְהוּדָה֙ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה לָכֶ֗ם אַ֠תֶּם אַל־ תִּֽירְא֤וּ וְאַל־ תֵּחַ֙תּוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֨י הֶהָמ֤וֹן הָרָב֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָכֶ֛ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כִּ֥י לֵאלֹהִֽים׃

16Tomorrow you are to go down to attack them. Pay attention, now—they'll be coming up near the ascent of Ziz. You'll find them at the end of the valley that looks out over the Jeruel wilderness.

16מָחָר֙ רְד֣וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם הִנָּ֥ם עֹלִ֖ים בְּמַעֲלֵ֣ה הַצִּ֑יץ וּמְצָאתֶ֤ם אֹתָם֙ בְּס֣וֹף הַנַּ֔חַל פְּנֵ֖י מִדְבַּ֥ר יְרוּאֵֽל׃

17You won't be fighting in this battle. Take your stand, but stand still, and watch the LORD's salvation on your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem! Never fear and never be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, since the LORD is with you.'"

17לֹ֥א לָכֶ֖ם לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם בָּזֹ֑את הִתְיַצְּב֣וּ עִמְד֡וּ וּרְא֣וּ אֶת־ יְשׁוּעַת֩ יְהוָ֨ה עִמָּכֶ֜ם יְהוּדָ֣ה וִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֗ם אַל־ תִּֽירְאוּ֙ וְאַל־ תֵּחַ֔תּוּ מָחָר֙ צְא֣וּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיהוָ֖ה עִמָּכֶֽם׃

18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the assembled inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem fell face down in the LORD's presence and worshipped the LORD.

18וַיִּקֹּ֧ד יְהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט אַפַּ֖יִם אָ֑רְצָה וְכָל־ יְהוּדָ֞ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם נָֽפְלוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת לַיהוָֽה׃

19Descendants of Levi from the descendants of Kohath and from the descendants of Korah stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel in a very loud voice that ascended to heaven.

19וַיָּקֻ֧מוּ הַלְוִיִּ֛ם מִן־ בְּנֵ֥י הַקְּהָתִ֖ים וּמִן־ בְּנֵ֣י הַקָּרְחִ֑ים לְהַלֵּ֗ל לַיהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּק֥וֹל גָּד֖וֹל לְמָֽעְלָה׃

20The army got up early the next morning and headed out into the wilderness of Tekoa. Jehoshaphat stood up and addressed them. "Listen to me, you inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem," he said. "Have faith in the LORD your God and you'll be established! Have faith in his prophets and you'll succeed!"

20וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֵּצְא֖וּ לְמִדְבַּ֣ר תְּק֑וֹעַ וּבְצֵאתָ֞ם עָמַ֣ד יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שְׁמָע֗וּנִי יְהוּדָה֙ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם הַאֲמִ֜ינוּ בַּיהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם֙ וְתֵ֣אָמֵ֔נוּ הַאֲמִ֥ינוּ בִנְבִיאָ֖יו וְהַצְלִֽיחוּ׃

21After he had consulted with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed some choir members to sing to the LORD and to praise him in sacred splendor as they marched out in front of the armed forces. They kept saying "Give thanks to the LORD, because his gracious love is eternal!"

21וַיִּוָּעַץ֙ אֶל־ הָעָ֔ם וַיַּעֲמֵ֤ד מְשֹֽׁרֲרִים֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וּֽמְהַֽלְלִ֖ים לְהַדְרַת־ קֹ֑דֶשׁ בְּצֵאת֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הֶֽחָל֔וּץ וְאֹֽמְרִים֙ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃

22Right on time, as they began to sing and praise, the LORD ambushed the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who had attacked Judah, and they were defeated.

22וּבְעֵת֩ הֵחֵ֨לּוּ בְרִנָּ֜ה וּתְהִלָּ֗ה נָתַ֣ן יְהוָ֣ה ׀ מְ֠אָֽרְבִים עַל־ בְּנֵ֨י עַמּ֜וֹן מוֹאָ֧ב וְהַר־ שֵׂעִ֛יר הַבָּאִ֥ים לִֽיהוּדָ֖ה וַיִּנָּגֵֽפוּ׃

23The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them, and after they had finished with the inhabitants of Mount Seir, they worked on destroying one another!

23וַ֠יַּֽעַמְדוּ בְּנֵ֨י עַמּ֧וֹן וּמוֹאָ֛ב עַל־ יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הַר־ שֵׂעִ֖יר לְהַחֲרִ֣ים וּלְהַשְׁמִ֑יד וּכְכַלּוֹתָם֙ בְּיוֹשְׁבֵ֣י שֵׂעִ֔יר עָזְר֥וּ אִישׁ־ בְּרֵעֵ֖הוּ לְמַשְׁחִֽית׃

24When the army of Judah arrived at the remotest watchtower in the wilderness, they looked around at the invasion force, and to their surprise, there were dead bodies lying all around on the ground—not one had escaped!

24וִֽיהוּדָ֛ה בָּ֥א עַל־ הַמִּצְפֶּ֖ה לַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיִּפְנוּ֙ אֶל־ הֶ֣הָמ֔וֹן וְהִנָּ֧ם פְּגָרִ֛ים נֹפְלִ֥ים אַ֖רְצָה וְאֵ֥ין פְּלֵיטָֽה׃

25Later on, when Jehoshaphat and his army arrived to collect the spoils of war, they discovered there were far more goods, garments, and other valuable items to collect than they could carry off in a single day. There was so much material that it took three days to finish their collection efforts.

25וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט וְעַמּוֹ֮ לָבֹ֣ז אֶת־ שְׁלָלָם֒ וַיִּמְצְאוּ֩ בָהֶ֨ם לָרֹ֜ב וּרְכ֤וּשׁ וּפְגָרִים֙ וּכְלֵ֣י חֲמֻד֔וֹת וַיְנַצְּל֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לְאֵ֣ין מַשָּׂ֑א וַיִּֽהְי֞וּ יָמִ֧ים שְׁלוֹשָׁ֛ה בֹּזְזִ֥ים אֶת־ הַשָּׁלָ֖ל כִּ֥י רַב־ הֽוּא׃

26Three days later, they assembled together in the Beracah Valley, where they blessed the LORD, which is why the name of that place is called Beracah Valley to this day.

26וּבַיּ֣וֹם הָרְבִעִ֗י נִקְהֲלוּ֙ לְעֵ֣מֶק בְּרָכָ֔ה כִּי־ שָׁ֖ם בֵּרֲכ֣וּ אֶת־ יְהוָ֑ה עַל־ כֵּ֡ן קָֽרְא֞וּ אֶת־ שֵׁ֨ם הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֛וּא עֵ֥מֶק בְּרָכָ֖ה עַד־ הַיּֽוֹם׃

27Then they all returned with joy to Jerusalem, every soldier from Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at the head of the procession, because the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.

27וַ֠יָּשֻׁבוּ כָּל־ אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֤ה וִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט בְּרֹאשָׁ֔ם לָשׁ֥וּב אֶל־ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה כִּֽי־ שִׂמְּחָ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה מֵֽאוֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃

28They proceeded directly to the LORD's Temple, carrying lyres, harps, and trumpets.

28וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם בִּנְבָלִ֥ים וּבְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּבַחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת אֶל־ בֵּ֖ית יְהוָֽה׃

29Fear of God seized all of the kingdoms in the surrounding territories when they heard that the LORD had battled Israel's enemies.

29וַיְהִי֙ פַּ֣חַד אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַ֖ל כָּל־ מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת בְּשָׁמְעָ֕ם כִּ֚י נִלְחַ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה עִ֖ם אוֹיְבֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

30As a result, Jehoshaphat's kingdom enjoyed peace, because his God had provided rest for him all around.

30וַתִּשְׁקֹ֖ט מַלְכ֣וּת יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט וַיָּ֧נַֽח ל֦וֹ אֱלֹהָ֖יו מִסָּבִֽיב׃ פ

31Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, having become king at the age of 35. He reigned in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

31וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט עַל־ יְהוּדָ֑ה בֶּן־ שְׁלֹשִׁים֩ וְחָמֵ֨שׁ שָׁנָ֜ה בְּמָלְכ֗וֹ וְעֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֤שׁ שָׁנָה֙ מָלַ֣ךְ בִּֽירוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ עֲזוּבָ֖ה בַּת־ שִׁלְחִֽי׃

32He followed the example of his father Asa and never departed from it, practicing what the LORD considered to be right.

32וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ בְּדֶ֛רֶךְ אָבִ֥יו אָסָ֖א וְלֹא־ סָ֣ר מִמֶּ֑נָּה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

33However, the high places were not removed, since the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their ancestors.

33אַ֥ךְ הַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־ סָ֑רוּ וְע֤וֹד הָעָם֙ לֹא־ הֵכִ֣ינוּ לְבָבָ֔ם לֵאלֹהֵ֖י אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

34The rest of Jehoshaphat's accomplishments, from first to last, are recorded in the annals of Hanani's son Jehu, which appears in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

34וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י יְהוֹשָׁפָ֔ט הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים בְּדִבְרֵי֙ יֵה֣וּא בֶן־ חֲנָ֔נִי אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֹֽעֲלָ֔ה עַל־ סֵ֖פֶר מַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

35Sometime later, King Jehoshaphat of Judah entered into a military alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, acting wickedly by doing so.

35וְאַחֲרֵיכֵ֗ן אֶתְחַבַּר֙ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֔ה עִ֖ם אֲחַזְיָ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ה֖וּא הִרְשִׁ֥יעַ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

36He also agreed with King Ahaziah to build ships to sail toward Tarshish, which they built in Ezion-geber.

36וַיְחַבְּרֵ֣הוּ עִמּ֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֳנִיּ֖וֹת לָלֶ֣כֶת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֳנִיּ֖וֹת בְּעֶצְי֥וֹן גָּֽבֶר׃

37But Dodavahu's son Eliezer from Mareshah prophesied in opposition to Jehoshaphat, "Because you have entered into an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your efforts." So the ships were destroyed and were never able to sail for Tarshish.

37וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֞א אֱלִיעֶ֤זֶר בֶּן־ דֹּדָוָ֙הוּ֙ מִמָּ֣רֵשָׁ֔ה עַל־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּהִֽתְחַבֶּרְךָ֣ עִם־ אֲחַזְיָ֗הוּ פָּרַ֤ץ יְהוָה֙ אֶֽת־ מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וַיִּשָּׁבְר֣וּ אֳנִיּ֔וֹת וְלֹ֥א עָצְר֖וּ לָלֶ֥כֶת אֶל־ תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.