Jehoshaphat Wins the Battle Over Moab and Ammon
1After that, the Moabites, Ammonites and some Meunites went to war against Jehoshaphat.
2Some people came and told him, “A huge army is coming from Edom to fight against you. They have come across the Dead Sea. They are already in Hazezon Tamar.” Hazezon Tamar is also called En Gedi. 3Jehoshaphat was alarmed. So he decided to ask the Lord for advice. He told all the people of Judah to go without eating. 4The people came together to ask the Lord for help. In fact, they came from every town in Judah to pray to him.
5Then Jehoshaphat stood up among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He was in front of the new courtyard at the Lord’s temple. 6He said,
“Lord, you are the God of our people who lived long ago. You are the God who is in heaven. You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. You are strong and powerful. No one can fight against you and win. 7Our God, you drove out the people who lived in this land. You drove them out to make room for your people Israel. You gave this land forever to those who belong to the family line of your friend Abraham. 8They have lived in this land. They’ve built a temple here for your Name. They have said, 9‘Suppose trouble comes on us. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a punishing sword, or plague or hunger. We’ll serve you. We’ll stand in front of this temple where your Name is. We’ll cry out to you when we’re in trouble. Then you will hear us. You will save us.’
10“But here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. You wouldn’t allow Israel to march in and attack their territory when the Israelites came from Egypt. So Israel turned away from them. They didn’t destroy them. 11See how they are paying us back. They are coming to drive us out. They want to take over the land you gave us as our share. 12Our God, won’t you please judge them? We don’t have the power to face this huge army that’s attacking us. We don’t know what to do. But we’re looking to you to help us.”
13All the men of Judah stood there in front of the Lord. Their wives, children and little ones were with them.
14Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel. He was standing among the people of Israel. He was the son of Zechariah. Zechariah was the son of Benaiah. Benaiah was the son of Jeiel. Jeiel was the son of Mattaniah. Jahaziel was a Levite. He was from the family line of Asaph.
15Jahaziel said, “King Jehoshaphat, listen! All you who live in Judah and Jerusalem, listen! The Lord says to you, ‘Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope because of this huge army. The battle is not yours. It is God’s. 16Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley in the Desert of Jeruel. 17You will not have to fight this battle. Take your positions. Stand firm. You will see how the Lord will save you. Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. Go out and face them tomorrow. The Lord will be with you.’ ”
18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem also bowed down. They worshiped the Lord. 19Then some Levites from the families of Kohath and Korah stood up. They praised the Lord, the God of Israel. They praised him with very loud voices.
20Early in the morning all the people left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they started out, Jehoshaphat stood up. He said, “Judah, listen to me! People of Jerusalem, listen to me! Have faith in the Lord your God. He’ll take good care of you. Have faith in his prophets. Then you will have success.” 21Jehoshaphat asked the people for advice. Then he appointed men to sing to the Lord. He wanted them to praise the Lord because of his glory and holiness. They marched out in front of the army. They said,
“Give thanks to the Lord.
His faithful love continues forever.”
22They began to sing and praise him. Then the Lord hid some men and told them to wait. He wanted them to attack the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. They had gone into Judah and attacked it. But they lost the battle. 23The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir. They destroyed them. They put an end to them. When they finished killing the men from Seir, they destroyed one another.
24The men of Judah came to the place that looks out over the desert. They turned to look down at the huge army. But all they saw was dead bodies lying there on the ground. No one had escaped. 25So Jehoshaphat and his men went down there to carry off anything of value. Among the dead bodies they found a large amount of supplies, clothes and other things of value. There was more than they could take away. There was so much it took three days to collect all of it. 26On the fourth day they gathered together in the Valley of Berakah. There they praised the Lord. That’s why it’s called the Valley of Berakah to this day.
27Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They were filled with joy. Jehoshaphat led them. The Lord had made them happy because all their enemies were dead. 28They entered Jerusalem and went to the Lord’s temple. They were playing harps, lyres and trumpets.
29All the surrounding kingdoms began to have respect for God. They had heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies. 30The kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace. His God had given him peace and rest on every side.
Jehoshaphat’s Rule Comes to an End
31So Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah. He was 35 years old when he became Judah’s king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother’s name was Azubah. She was the daughter of Shilhi. 32Jehoshaphat followed the ways of his father Asa. He didn’t wander away from them. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 33But the high places weren’t removed. The people still hadn’t worshiped the God of Israel with all their hearts.
34The other events of Jehoshaphat’s rule from beginning to end are written down. They are written in the official records of Jehu, the son of Hanani. They are written in the records of the kings of Israel.
35Jehoshaphat king of Judah and Ahaziah king of Israel agreed to be friends. Ahaziah did what was evil. 36Jehoshaphat agreed with him to build a lot of ships. They were built at Ezion Geber. They carried goods that were traded for other goods. 37Eliezer was the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah. Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “You have joined forces with Ahaziah. So the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked. They were never able to sail or trade goods.
Yekosafaati Awangula Abamowaabu n’Abamoni
120:1 1By 4:41Bwe wayitawo ebbanga, Abamowaabu n’Abamoni nga bali wamu n’abamu ku Bamoni ne balumba Yekosafaati okumulwanyisa.
220:2 Lub 14:7Abasajja abamu ne bagenda ne bategeeza Yekosafaati nti, “Eggye ddene eriva e Busuuli okuva emitala w’Ennyanja ey’Omunnyo, likulumbye, era lituuse mu Kazazonutamali, ye Engedi,” 320:3 1Sa 7:6; 2By 19:3; Ezr 8:21; Yer 36:9; Yon 3:5, 7Yekosafaati n’atya nnyo n’amalirira okwebuuza ku Mukama, era n’alangirira okusiiba mu Yuda yonna. 4Yuda yonna n’ekuŋŋaana okunoonya okubeerwa okuva eri Mukama okuva mu bibuga byonna ebya Yuda.
5Awo Yekosafaati n’ayimirira mu maaso g’ekkuŋŋaaniro lya Yuda ne Yerusaalemi, mu yeekaalu ya Mukama mu maaso g’oluggya olupya, 620:6 a Mat 6:9 b Ma 4:39 c 1By 29:11-12n’ayogera nti,
“Ayi Mukama, Katonda wa bajjajjaffe, si ggwe Katonda ow’omu ggulu? Si ggwe ofuga obwakabaka bwonna mu nsi? Obuyinza n’amaanyi biri mu mukono gwo, n’okubaawo ne watabaawo n’omu ayinza okuyimirira mu maaso go. 720:7 Is 41:8; Yak 2:23Ayi Katonda waffe, si ggwe wagobamu abatuuze abaali mu nsi eno mu maaso g’abantu bo Isirayiri, n’ogiwa ezzadde lya Ibulayimu mukwano gwo okugibeerangamu emirembe gyonna? 820:8 2By 6:20Era bagibaddemu ne bazimbamu ekifo ow’okusinziza erinnya lyo, nga boogera nti, 920:9 2By 6:28‘Bwe tulituukibwako akabi konna, oba ekitala eky’okusala omusango, oba lumbe, oba njala, tunaayimiriranga mu maaso go, ne mu maaso ga yeekaalu eno okuli erinnya lyo, ne tukukaabiriranga mu kulumwa kwaffe n’otuwulira era n’otulokola.’
1020:10 Kbl 20:14-21; Ma 2:4-6, 9, 18-19“Naye kaakano laba, abasajja ba Amoni ne Mowaabu n’ab’oku Lusozi Seyiri, ab’omu kibangirizi kye wagaana Isirayiri okulumba bwe baava mu nsi y’e Misiri, era babeewala ne batagenda kubazikiriza, 1120:11 Zab 83:1-12laba bwe baagala okutusasula nga batugobaganya mu kifo kye watuwa ng’omugabo gwaffe. 1220:12 a Bal 11:27 b Zab 25:15; 121:1-2Ayi Katonda waffe, toobasalire musango? Kubanga tetulina maanyi ga kulwana na ggye lino eddene eritulumbye. Tetumanyi kya kukola, wabula amaaso gaffe gatunuulidde ggwe.”
13Abasajja bonna aba Yuda, wamu ne bakyala baabwe, n’abaana baabwe, n’abaana abasemberayo ddala obuto, ne bayimirira mu maaso ga Mukama.
1420:14 2By 15:1Awo Omwoyo wa Mukama n’akka ku Yakaziyeeri mutabani wa Zekkaliya, muzzukulu wa Benaya muzzukulu wa Yeyeri, muzzukulu wa Mattaniya, Omuleevi ow’ezzadde lya Asafu ng’ayimiridde wakati mu lukuŋŋaana.
1520:15 a 2By 32:7 b Kuv 14:13-14; 1Sa 17:47N’ayogera nti, “Kabaka Yekosafaati, ne Yuda yenna, n’abatuuze ba Yerusaalemi, kino Mukama ky’abagamba nti, ‘Temutya era temuggwaamu mwoyo olw’eggye eryo eddene, kubanga olutalo si lwammwe, naye lwa Katonda. 16Enkya muserengete mubasisinkane; laba bajja kwambukira awalinnyirwa e Zizi, era munaabasisinkana ekiwonvu we kikoma mu ddungu lya Yerweri. 1720:17 Kuv 14:13; 2By 15:2Tekijja kubeetagisa kulwana lutalo luno. Mubeere mu bifo byammwe, mube bagumu mulabe obuwanguzi Mukama bw’anaabawa mmwe Yuda ne Yerusaalemi. Temutya wadde okuggwaamu omwoyo; enkya mugende mubasisinkane, Mukama anaabeera nammwe.’ ”
1820:18 Kuv 4:31Awo Yekosafaati n’avuunama amaaso ge ku ttaka, era ne Yuda yenna n’abatuuze bonna ab’e Yerusaalemi ne bavuunama wansi mu maaso ga Mukama ne bamusinza. 19Abamu ku Baleevi, Abakokasi n’abalala nga Bakoola ne bayimirira okutendereza Mukama, Katonda wa Isirayiri, n’eddoboozi ery’omwanguka.
2020:20 a Is 7:9 b Lub 39:3; Nge 16:3Ne bakeera mu makya ne bagenda mu ddungu lya Tekowa. Bwe baali nga bagenda Yekosafaati n’ayimirira n’abagamba nti, “Mumpulirize, Yuda n’abantu ab’e Yerusaalemi! Mube n’okukkiriza mu Mukama Katonda wammwe munaanywezebwa; mukkirize bannabbi be, munaalaba omukisa.” 2120:21 a 1By 16:29; Zab 29:2 b 2By 5:13; Zab 136:1Awo bwe yamala okwebuuza ku bantu, n’alonda abasajja ab’okuyimbira Mukama, n’okumutendereza olw’ekitiibwa ky’obutuukirivu bwe, abakulemberamu eggye, nga boogera nti,
“Mwebaze Mukama
kubanga okwagala kwe kubeerera emirembe gyonna.”
2220:22 Bal 7:22; 2By 13:13Awo bwe batandika okuyimba n’okutendereza, Mukama n’ataayiza abasajja ba Amoni, n’aba Mowaabu, n’ab’oku Lusozi Seyiri, abaali balumbye Yuda, ne bawangulwa. 2320:23 a Lub 19:38 b 2By 21:8 c Bal 7:22; 1Sa 14:20; Ez 38:21Abasajja ba Amoni n’aba Mowaabu ne bagolokokera ku basajja ab’oku Lusozi Seyiri ne babazikiriza, era bwe baamala okubazikiriza, ne bakyukiragana ne battiŋŋana.
24Awo abasajja aba Yuda bwe baatuuka ku munaala ogw’eddungu, ne batunuulira eggye eddene, laba nga bonna mirambo egigudde, nga tewaliwo n’omu eyawonyeewo. 25Yekosafaati n’abantu be bwe bajja okutwala omunyago, basangawo ebintu bingi n’engoye nnyingi, n’eby’obugagga bingi, okusinga n’ebyo bye baali basobola okwetikka. Baamala ennaku ssatu nga babisomba, olw’obungi bwabyo. 26Ku lunaku olwokuna ne bakuŋŋaanira mu kiwonvu ekya Beraka, okutendereza Mukama, kyekyava kituumibwa Ekiwonvu kya Beraka, ne leero.
27Oluvannyuma, buli musajja wa Yuda n’owa Yerusaalemi, nga bakulemberwamu Yekosafaati, ne baddayo e Yerusaalemi nga basanyuse, kubanga Mukama yali abawadde essanyu olw’okuwangula abalabe baabwe. 28Ne bayingira Yerusaalemi, ne bagenda mu yeekaalu ya Mukama nga bakutte entongooli, n’ennanga, n’amakondeere.
2920:29 a Lub 35:5; Ma 2:25; 2By 14:14; 17:10 b Kuv 14:14Entiisa ya Mukama n’ejja ku bwakabaka bwonna obw’omu mawanga, bwe baawulira nga Mukama yalwana n’abalabe ba Isirayiri20:29 Isirayiri, ssoma Yuda, kubanga Yekosafaati yafuganga Yuda. 3020:30 1By 22:9; 2By 14:6-7; 15:15Era obwakabaka bwa Yekosafaati ne buba n’emirembe, kubanga Katonda we yamuwa emirembe enjuuyi zonna.
Enkomerero ey’Obufuzi bwa Yekosafaati
31Yekosafaati n’afuga Yuda. Yalina emyaka amakumi asatu mu etaano we yafuukira kabaka wa Yuda, era n’afugira emyaka amakumi abiri mu etaano mu Yerusaalemi, ne nnyina erinnya lye nga ye Azuba muwala wa Siruki. 32N’atambulira mu kkubo lya Asa kitaawe, n’atalivaamu, era n’akola ebyali ebirungi mu maaso ga Mukama. 3320:33 2By 17:6; 19:3Naye ebifo ebigulumivu teyabiggyaawo, so n’abantu ne bataweerayo ddala mitima gyabwe eri Katonda wa bajjajjaabwe.
3420:34 1Bk 16:1Ebyafaayo ebirala ebyaliwo mu mulembe gwa Yekosafaati, okuva ku ntandikwa ye okutuusa ku nkomerero ye, byawandiikibwa mu bitabo bya Yeeku mutabani wa Kanani, era biri ne mu kitabo ekya bassekabaka ba Isirayiri.
3520:35 a 2By 16:3 b 2By 19:1-3Bwe waayitawo ebbanga, Yekosafaati kabaka wa Yuda n’akola endagaano ne Akaziya kabaka wa Isirayiri, omukozi w’ebibi. 36N’ateesa naye okuzimba ebyombo ebyamaguzi biseeyeeyenga okugenda e Talusiisi, era ne babizimbira mu Eziyonigeba. 3720:37 1Bk 9:26; 2By 9:21Mu kiseera ekyo Eryeza mutabani wa Dodavaku ow’e Malesa n’ayogera ebyobunnabbi eri Yekosafaati ng’agamba nti, “Kubanga okoze endagaano ne Akaziya, n’omwegattako, Mukama alizikiriza by’okoze.” Era ebyombo ne bimenyekamenyeka, ne bitasobola kugenda Talusiisi.
