War against Jehoshaphat
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, 1 came to make war against Jehoshaphat. 2Ch 19:112Ch 32:1Isa 16:6Isa 8:9-10Psa 83:5-8Rev 3:191Ch 4:412Ch 19:2 Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, 2 from beyond the Sea; 3 they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). Gen 14:71Sa 23:29Gen 14:3Jos 15:62Jos 3:16Num 34:12Sng 1:14
Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. Dan 9:31Sa 7:62Ch 19:3Est 4:16Jer 36:9Jol 1:14Jol 2:12-18Jon 3:5-9 So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. Psa 50:15Psa 60:10-12Psa 34:5-6Psa 69:352Ch 19:5
Jehoshaphat’s Prayer
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard 2Ch 34:312Ch 6:12-132Ki 19:15-19 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. 1Ch 29:11-12Deu 4:39Dan 4:17Psa 47:81Ki 8:23Act 11:17Dan 4:25Isa 57:15-16
Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? Isa 41:8Jas 2:23Gen 12:7Psa 44:2Gen 13:15Jos 24:3Neh 9:81Ch 17:21-24 They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, 2Ch 2:42Ch 6:10 ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, 4 plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ 2Ch 6:28-301Ki 8:332Ch 6:20Exo 20:241Ki 8:37Mat 18:20Exo 23:21
And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. Deu 2:19Deu 2:4-5Deu 2:92Ch 20:1Jdg 11:15-18Num 20:17-212Ch 20:22 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance. Psa 83:3-12Gen 44:4Jdg 11:23-24Jer 18:20Pro 17:13Psa 35:12Psa 7:4
Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” Psa 121:1-2Psa 25:15Psa 141:8Psa 123:1-2Deu 32:362Co 1:8-9Psa 9:19Psa 43:1
Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD. Ezr 10:1Act 21:5Deu 29:10Jon 3:5
The Prophecy of Jahaziel
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly. 2Ch 15:12Ch 24:20Act 10:31Act 10:4Dan 9:20-21Isa 58:9Isa 65:24Num 11:25-26 And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. 2Ch 32:7-8Deu 31:6Exo 14:13-141Sa 17:47Deu 1:29-30Deu 31:8Isa 41:10-16Deu 20:4 Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’” Exo 14:13-142Ch 15:2Isa 41:10Psa 46:10-11Mat 28:202Ch 32:8Lam 3:26Num 14:9
Then Jehoshaphat bowed facedown, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him. Exo 4:312Ch 7:3Gen 24:26Job 1:20Psa 95:6 And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice. 1Ch 15:16-221Ch 16:421Ch 16:51Ch 23:51Ch 25:1-72Ch 5:13Ezr 3:12-13Neh 12:42-43
The Enemies Destroy Themselves
Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.” Rom 8:31Jhn 11:40Jhn 14:1Heb 11:6Luk 16:31Isa 26:3Jhn 13:20Jhn 5:46-47
Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: Psa 107:1Psa 106:12Ch 5:131Ch 16:341Ch 16:29Ezr 3:10-11Psa 29:2Jer 33:11
“Give thanks to the LORD,
for His loving devotion endures forever.”
The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. 1Sa 14:20Ezk 38:212Ki 6:17Isa 19:2Jdg 7:22Psa 35:5-62Ch 13:132Ch 20:10 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. 5 And when they had made an end to the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. Jdg 7:221Sa 14:20Ezk 35:2-3Gen 36:8-9Jos 24:4Deu 2:5Gen 14:6
When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. Isa 37:361Ch 5:22Exo 14:30Ezr 9:14Jer 33:5Psa 110:6 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables 6—more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much. 1Sa 30:19-202Ki 7:9-16Num 31:15Ezk 39:8-9Pro 3:15Psa 68:12Exo 12:35-36Exo 3:22
The Joyful Return
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, 7 where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day. Exo 17:152Ch 5:9Gen 32:20Isa 62:4Luk 1:68Psa 107:21-221Sa 7:122Sa 22:1
Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. Neh 12:431Sa 2:12Sa 6:14-15Heb 6:20Isa 35:10Isa 51:11Mic 2:13Psa 20:5 So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets. Rev 14:2-31Ch 13:81Ch 23:51Ch 25:62Sa 6:5Psa 149:3Psa 150:3-5Psa 57:8
And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 2Ch 17:102Ki 7:6Exo 23:272Ch 14:14Gen 35:5Exo 15:14-16Jos 2:9-11Jos 5:1 Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. 2Ch 15:152Ch 14:6-72Sa 7:1Jhn 14:27Job 34:29Jos 23:1Pro 16:7
Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
(1 Kings 22:41–50)
So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 1Ki 22:41-44
And Jehoshaphat walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. 1Ki 15:112Ch 14:11-132Ch 14:2-52Ch 16:7-122Ch 17:3-6Psa 18:21Psa 36:3
The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers. 2Ch 17:62Ch 19:32Ch 12:141Sa 7:32Ch 14:32Ch 30:19Deu 29:4
As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel. 1Ki 16:12Ch 19:21Ki 16:72Ch 12:152Ch 13:222Ch 16:11
Jehoshaphat’s Fleet Is Wrecked
Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. 8 1Ki 22:48-492Ki 1:2-16 They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, 9 and these were built in Ezion-geber. 1Ki 10:221Ki 9:262Ch 9:21
Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” Pro 13:202Ch 19:22Ch 9:21Jos 7:11-121Ki 22:482Ch 16:9Heb 12:6Pro 9:6
So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish. 10