וַיְהִ֣י אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֡ן בָּ֣אוּ בְנֵי־מוֹאָב֩ וּבְנֵ֨י עַמּ֜וֹן וְעִמָּהֶ֧ם ׀ מֵהָעַמּוֹנִ֛ים עַל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ After that, Moabites, Ammonites, together with some Ammonim,aProbably for m‘nym “Meunites” (1 Chron. 4.41); cf. Kimhi. came against Jehoshaphat to wage war.
וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לִיהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֣א עָלֶ֜יךָ הָמ֥וֹן רָ֛ב מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיָּ֖ם מֵאֲרָ֑ם וְהִנָּם֙ בְּחַֽצְצ֣וֹן תָּמָ֔ר הִ֖יא עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃ The report was brought to Jehoshaphat: “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram, and is now in Hazazon-tamar”—that is, Ein-gedi.
וַיִּרָ֕א וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו לִדְר֣וֹשׁ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָא־צ֖וֹם עַל־כׇּל־יְהוּדָֽה׃ Jehoshaphat was afraid; he decided to resort to the LORD and proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ יְהוּדָ֔ה לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ מֵיְהֹוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם מִכׇּל־עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה בָּ֖אוּ לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Judah assembled to beseech the LORD. They also came from all the towns of Judah to seek the LORD.
וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד יְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֗ט בִּקְהַ֧ל יְהוּדָ֛ה וִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה לִפְנֵ֖י הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַחֲדָשָֽׁה׃ Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the House of the LORD at the front of the new court.
וַיֹּאמַ֗ר יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ הֲלֹ֨א אַתָּה־ה֤וּא אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְאַתָּ֣ה מוֹשֵׁ֔ל בְּכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּבְיָֽדְךָ֙ כֹּ֣חַ וּגְבוּרָ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין עִמְּךָ֖ לְהִתְיַצֵּֽב׃ He said, “LORD God of our fathers, truly You are the God in heaven and You rule over the kingdoms of the nations; power and strength are Yours; none can oppose You.
הֲלֹ֣א ׀ אַתָּ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ הוֹרַ֙שְׁתָּ֙ אֶת־יֹֽשְׁבֵי֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את מִלִּפְנֵ֖י עַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽתִּתְּנָ֗הּ לְזֶ֛רַע אַבְרָהָ֥ם אֹהַבְךָ֖ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ O our God, you dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and You gave it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever.
וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ־בָ֑הּ וַיִּבְנ֨וּ לְךָ֧ ׀ בָּ֛הּ מִקְדָּ֖שׁ לְשִׁמְךָ֥ לֵאמֹֽר׃ They settled in it and in it built for You a House for Your name. They said,
אִם־תָּב֨וֹא עָלֵ֜ינוּ רָעָ֗ה חֶ֘רֶב֮ שְׁפוֹט֮ וְדֶ֣בֶר וְרָעָב֒ נַעַמְדָ֞ה לִפְנֵ֨י הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ וּלְפָנֶ֔יךָ כִּ֥י שִׁמְךָ֖ בַּבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֑ה וְנִזְעַ֥ק אֵלֶ֛יךָ מִצָּרָתֵ֖נוּ וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע וְתוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ ‘Should misfortune befall us—the punishing sword, pestilence, or famine, we shall stand before this House and before You—for Your name is in this House—and we shall cry out to You in our distress, and You will listen and deliver us.’
וְעַתָּ֡ה הִנֵּה֩ בְנֵי־עַמּ֨וֹן וּמוֹאָ֜ב וְהַר־שֵׂעִ֗יר אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹֽא־נָתַ֤תָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לָב֣וֹא בָהֶ֔ם בְּבֹאָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּ֛י סָ֥רוּ מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א הִשְׁמִידֽוּם׃ Now the people of Ammon, Moab, and the hill country of Seir, into whose [land] You did not let Israel come when they came from Egypt, but they turned aside from them and did not wipe them out,
וְהִ֨נֵּה־הֵ֔ם גֹּמְלִ֖ים עָלֵ֑ינוּ לָבוֹא֙ לְגָ֣רְשֵׁ֔נוּ מִיְּרֻשָּׁתְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹרַשְׁתָּֽנוּ׃ these now repay us by coming to expel us from Your possession which You gave us as ours.
אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ הֲלֹ֣א תִשְׁפׇּט־בָּ֔ם כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין בָּ֙נוּ֙ כֹּ֔חַ לִ֠פְנֵ֠י הֶהָמ֥וֹן הָרָ֛ב הַזֶּ֖ה הַבָּ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ לֹ֤א נֵדַע֙ מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כִּ֥י עָלֶ֖יךָ עֵינֵֽינוּ׃ O our God, surely You will punish them, for we are powerless before this great multitude that has come against us, and do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
וְכׇ֨ל־יְהוּדָ֔ה עֹמְדִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה גַּם־טַפָּ֖ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֥ם וּבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס} All Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, their womenfolk, and their children.
וְיַחֲזִיאֵ֡ל בֶּן־זְכַרְיָ֡הוּ בֶּן־בְּ֠נָיָ֠ה בֶּן־יְעִיאֵ֧ל בֶּן־מַתַּנְיָ֛ה הַלֵּוִ֖י מִן־בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֑ף הָיְתָ֤ה עָלָיו֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל׃ Then in the midst of the congregation the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah the Levite, of the sons of Asaph,
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ כׇל־יְהוּדָה֙ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה לָכֶ֗ם אַ֠תֶּ֠ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ וְאַל־תֵּחַ֙תּוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֨י הֶהָמ֤וֹן הָרָב֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָכֶ֛ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כִּ֥י לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ and he said, “Give heed, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat; thus said the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed by this great multitude, for the battle is God’s, not yours.
מָחָר֙ רְד֣וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם הִנָּ֥ם עֹלִ֖ים בְּמַעֲלֵ֣ה הַצִּ֑יץ וּמְצָאתֶ֤ם אֹתָם֙ בְּס֣וֹף הַנַּ֔חַל פְּנֵ֖י מִדְבַּ֥ר יְרוּאֵֽל׃ March down against them tomorrow as they come up by the Ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the wadi in the direction of the wilderness of Jeruel.
לֹ֥א לָכֶ֖ם לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם בָּזֹ֑את הִתְיַצְּב֣וּ עִמְד֡וּ וּרְא֣וּ אֶת־יְשׁוּעַת֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה עִמָּכֶ֜ם יְהוּדָ֣ה וִירוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙ וְאַל־תֵּחַ֔תּוּ מָחָר֙ צְא֣וּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיהֹוָ֖ה עִמָּכֶֽם׃ It is not for you to fight this battle; stand by, wait, and witness your deliverance by the LORD, O Judah and Jerusalem; do not fear or be dismayed; go forth to meet them tomorrow and the LORD will be with you.’”
וַיִּקֹּ֧ד יְהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט אַפַּ֖יִם אָ֑רְצָה וְכׇל־יְהוּדָ֞ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם נָֽפְלוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת לַיהֹוָֽה׃ Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem threw themselves down before the LORD to worship the LORD.
וַיָּקֻ֧מוּ הַלְוִיִּ֛ם מִן־בְּנֵ֥י הַקְּהָתִ֖ים וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י הַקׇּרְחִ֑ים לְהַלֵּ֗ל לַֽיהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּק֥וֹל גָּד֖וֹל לְמָֽעְלָה׃ Levites of the sons of Kohath and of the sons of Korah got up to extol the LORD God of Israel at the top of their voices.
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֵּצְא֖וּ לְמִדְבַּ֣ר תְּק֑וֹעַ וּבְצֵאתָ֞ם עָמַ֣ד יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שְׁמָע֗וּנִי יְהוּדָה֙ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם הַאֲמִ֜ינוּ בַּֽיהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ וְתֵ֣אָמֵ֔נוּ הַאֲמִ֥ינוּ בִנְבִיאָ֖יו וְהַצְלִֽיחוּ׃ Early the next morning they arose and went forth to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Trust firmly in the LORD your God and you will stand firm; trust firmly in His prophets and you will succeed.”
וַיִּוָּעַץ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם וַיַּעֲמֵ֤ד מְשֹֽׁרְרִים֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה וּֽמְהַלְלִ֖ים לְהַדְרַת־קֹ֑דֶשׁ בְּצֵאת֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הֶחָל֔וּץ וְאֹמְרִים֙ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ After taking counsel with the people, he stationed singers to the LORD extolling the One majestic in holiness as they went forth ahead of the vanguard, saying, “Praise the LORD, for His steadfast love is eternal.”
וּבְעֵת֩ הֵחֵ֨לּוּ בְרִנָּ֜ה וּתְהִלָּ֗ה נָתַ֣ן יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ מְ֠אָֽרְבִ֠ים עַל־בְּנֵ֨י עַמּ֜וֹן מוֹאָ֧ב וְהַר־שֵׂעִ֛יר הַבָּאִ֥ים לִֽיהוּדָ֖ה וַיִּנָּגֵֽפוּ׃ As they began their joyous shouts and hymns, the LORD set ambushes for the men of Ammon, Moab, and the hill country of Seir, who were marching against Judah, and they were routed.
וַ֠יַּעַמְד֠וּ בְּנֵ֨י עַמּ֧וֹן וּמוֹאָ֛ב עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הַר־שֵׂעִ֖יר לְהַחֲרִ֣ים וּלְהַשְׁמִ֑יד וּכְכַלּוֹתָם֙ בְּיוֹשְׁבֵ֣י שֵׂעִ֔יר עָזְר֥וּ אִישׁ־בְּרֵעֵ֖הוּ לְמַשְׁחִֽית׃ The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the men of the hill country of Seir to exterminate and annihilate them. When they had made an end of the men of Seir, each helped to destroy his fellow.
וִיהוּדָ֛ה בָּ֥א עַל־הַמִּצְפֶּ֖ה לַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיִּפְנוּ֙ אֶל־הֶ֣הָמ֔וֹן וְהִנָּ֧ם פְּגָרִ֛ים נֹפְלִ֥ים אַ֖רְצָה וְאֵ֥ין פְּלֵיטָֽה׃ When Judah reached the lookout in the wilderness and looked for the multitude, they saw them lying on the ground as corpses; not one had survived.
וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט וְעַמּוֹ֮ לָבֹ֣ז אֶת־שְׁלָלָם֒ וַיִּמְצְאוּ֩ בָהֶ֨ם לָרֹ֜ב וּרְכ֤וּשׁ וּפְגָרִים֙ וּכְלֵ֣י חֲמֻד֔וֹת וַיְנַצְּל֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לְאֵ֣ין מַשָּׂ֑א וַיִּהְי֞וּ יָמִ֧ים שְׁלוֹשָׁ֛ה בֹּזְזִ֥ים אֶת־הַשָּׁלָ֖ל כִּ֥י רַב־הֽוּא׃ Jehoshaphat and his army came to take the booty, and found an abundance of goods, corpses, and precious objects, which they pillaged, more than they could carry off. For three days they were taking booty, there was so much of it.
וּבַיּ֣וֹם הָרְבִעִ֗י נִקְהֲלוּ֙ לְעֵ֣מֶק בְּרָכָ֔ה כִּי־שָׁ֖ם בֵּרְכ֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֡ן קָרְא֞וּ אֶת־שֵׁ֨ם הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֛וּא עֵ֥מֶק בְּרָכָ֖ה עַד־הַיּֽוֹם׃ On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Blessing—for there they blessed the LORD; that is why that place is called the Valley of Blessing to this day.
וַ֠יָּשֻׁב֠וּ כׇּל־אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֤ה וִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט בְּרֹאשָׁ֔ם לָשׁ֥וּב אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה כִּֽי־שִׂמְּחָ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה מֵאוֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃ All the men of Judah and Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat at their head returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause for rejoicing over their enemies.
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם בִּנְבָלִ֥ים וּבְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּבַחֲצֹֽצְר֑וֹת אֶל־בֵּ֖ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ They came to Jerusalem to the House of the LORD, to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and trumpets.
וַֽיְהִי֙ פַּ֣חַד אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַ֖ל כׇּל־מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת בְּשׇׁמְעָ֕ם כִּ֚י נִלְחַ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה עִ֖ם אוֹיְבֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ The terror of God seized all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought the enemies of Israel.
וַתִּשְׁקֹ֖ט מַלְכ֣וּת יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט וַיָּ֧נַֽח ל֦וֹ אֱלֹהָ֖יו מִסָּבִֽיב׃ {פ}
The kingdom of Jehoshaphat was untroubled, and his God granted him respite on all sides.
וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט עַל־יְהוּדָ֑ה בֶּן־שְׁלֹשִׁים֩ וְחָמֵ֨שׁ שָׁנָ֜ה בְּמׇלְכ֗וֹ וְעֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֤שׁ שָׁנָה֙ מָלַ֣ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ עֲזוּבָ֖ה בַּת־שִׁלְחִֽי׃ bWith vv. 31–37, cf. 1 Kings 22.41–49.Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ בְּדֶ֛רֶךְ אָבִ֥יו אָסָ֖א וְלֹא־סָ֣ר מִמֶּ֑נָּה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ He followed the course of his father Asa and did not deviate from it, doing what was pleasing to the LORD.
אַ֥ךְ הַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־סָ֑רוּ וְע֤וֹד הָעָם֙ לֹא־הֵכִ֣ינוּ לְבָבָ֔ם לֵאלֹהֵ֖י אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ However, the shrines did not cease; the people still did not direct their heart toward the God of their fathers.
וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י יְהוֹשָׁפָ֔ט הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים בְּדִבְרֵי֙ יֵה֣וּא בֶן־חֲנָ֔נִי אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֹֽעֲלָ֔ה עַל־סֵ֖פֶר מַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, early and late, they are recorded in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which were included in the book of the kings of Israel.
וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֶתְחַבַּר֙ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֔ה עִ֖ם אֲחַזְיָ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ה֖וּא הִרְשִׁ֥יעַ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ Afterward, King Jehoshaphat of Judah entered into a partnership with King Ahaziah of Israel, thereby acting wickedly.
וַיְחַבְּרֵ֣הוּ עִמּ֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֳנִיּ֖וֹת לָלֶ֣כֶת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֳנִיּ֖וֹת בְּעֶצְי֥וֹן גָּֽבֶר׃ He joined with him in constructing ships to go to Tarshish; the ships were constructed in Ezion-geber.
וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֞א אֱלִיעֶ֤זֶר בֶּן־דֹּדָוָ֙הוּ֙ מִמָּ֣רֵשָׁ֔ה עַל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּהִֽתְחַבֶּרְךָ֣ עִם־אֲחַזְיָ֗הוּ פָּרַ֤ץ יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽת־מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וַיִּשָּׁבְר֣וּ אֳנִיּ֔וֹת וְלֹ֥א עָצְר֖וּ לָלֶ֥כֶת אֶל־תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃ Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, “As you have made a partnership with Ahaziah, the LORD will break up your work.” The ships were wrecked and were unable to go to Tarshish.