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.
Tinalo ni Jehoshafat ang Moab at Ammon
1Pagkatapos, nakipaglaban ang mga Moabita at mga Ammonita, kasama ng ibang mga Meuneo,20:1 Meuneo: Ito ay sa ibang teksto sa Griego. Sa Hebreo, Ammonita. kay Jehoshafat. 2May mga taong pumunta kay Jehoshafat at nagsabi, “Napakarami pong sundalo ang papalapit upang lusubin kayo. Silaʼy galing sa Edom,20:2 Edom: Ito ay makikita sa isa sa mga tekstong Hebreo. Karamihan, Aram. sa kabilang bahagi ng Dagat na Patay. Naroon sila sa Hazazon Tamar” (na tinatawag ding En Gedi). 3Natakot si Jehoshafat at dumulog siya sa Panginoon. At nag-utos siya na mag-ayuno ang lahat ng taga-Juda. 4Kaya nagtipon ang mga tao mula sa lahat ng bayan ng Juda upang humingi ng tulong sa Panginoon. 5Tumayo si Jehoshafat sa harapan ng mamamayan ng Juda at ng Jerusalem doon sa harap ng templo ng Panginoon, sa harapan ng bagong bakuran nito, 6at nagsabi, “O Panginoon, Dios ng aming mga ninuno, kayo po ang Dios na nasa langit. Kayo ang namamahala sa lahat ng kaharian sa mundo. Makapangyarihan po kayo dahil walang makakalaban sa inyo. 7O Dios namin, hindi baʼt itinaboy nʼyo po ang mga nakatira sa lupaing ito sa pamamagitan ng inyong mga mamamayan? At hindi ba ibinigay nʼyo po ito sa kanila na mga lahi ni Abraham na inyong kaibigan, para maging kanila magpakailanman? 8Nakatira po sila rito at pinatayuan ng templo para sa karangalan ng inyong pangalan. Sinabi nila, 9‘Kung may sakunang darating sa amin gaya ng labanan, kasamaan, o taggutom, tatayo kami sa inyong presensya sa harap ng templong ito kung saan pinararangalan kayo. Hihingi kami ng tulong sa inyo sa aming kahirapan, at pakikinggan nʼyo kami at ililigtas.’
10“Ngayon, nilulusob kami ng mga tao mula sa Ammon, Moab at Bundok ng Seir. Noon, ang mga teritoryo nila ay hindi nʼyo pinapayagang sakupin ng mga Israelita nang lumabas sila sa Egipto. Kaya umiwas ang mga Israelita sa kanila at hindi sila nilipol. 11Pero ngayon, masdan nʼyo po ang iginanti nila sa amin. Nilulusob nila kami para itaboy kami sa lupain na inyo pong ibinigay sa amin bilang mana. 12O Dios namin, hindi nʼyo po ba sila parurusahan? Sapagkat wala kaming kakayahang humarap sa napakaraming sundalo na lumulusob sa amin. Hindi po namin alam kung ano ang gagawin namin, pero nagtitiwala po kami sa inyo.”
13Habang nakatayo roon ang lahat ng lalaking taga-Juda, kasama ang kanilang mga asawaʼt anak, at kanilang mga sanggol, 14pinatnubayan ng Espiritu ng Panginoon si Jahaziel na nakatayo roon kasama nila. Si Jahaziel ay anak ni Zacarias. Si Zacarias ay anak ni Benaya. Si Benaya ay anak ni Jeyel. At si Jeyel ay anak ni Matania na Levita at mula sa angkan ni Asaf.
15Sinabi ni Jahaziel, “Makinig po kayo, Haring Jehoshafat, at lahat kayong nakatira sa Juda at Jerusalem! Ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon sa inyo, ‘Huwag kayong matakot o manlupaypay dahil sa napakaraming sundalong ito, dahil ang pakikipaglaban ay hindi sa inyo kundi sa Dios. 16Bukas, puntahan nʼyo sila. Makikita nʼyo sila na aahon sa ahunan ng Ziz, sa dulo ng kapatagan na papuntang disyerto ng Jeruel. 17Hindi na kailangan na makipaglaban pa kayo. Maghanda lang kayo at magpakatatag, at masdan nʼyo ang katagumpayan na gagawin ng Panginoon para sa inyo. Kayong mga taga-Juda at taga-Jerusalem, huwag kayong matakot o manghina. Harapin nʼyo sila bukas at ang Panginoon ay sasama sa inyo.’ ” 18Lumuhod si Jehoshafat at ang lahat ng taga-Juda at taga-Jerusalem sa pagsamba sa Panginoon. 19Pagkatapos, tumayo ang ibang mga Levita mula sa mga pamilya nina Kohat at Kora at nagpuri sa Panginoon, ang Dios ng Israel, sa napakalakas na tinig.
20Kinabukasan nang maagang-maaga pa, pumunta sina Jehoshafat sa disyerto ng Tekoa. Habang naglalakad sila, huminto si Jehoshafat at nagsabi, “Pakinggan nʼyo ako, kayong taga-Juda at taga-Jerusalem! Maniwala kayo sa Panginoon na inyong Dios, at maging matatag kayo. Maniwala kayo sa kanyang propeta, at magtatagumpay kayo.” 21Pagkatapos niyang makipag-usap sa mga tao, pumili siya ng mga mang-aawit para mauna sa kanila at umawit sa Panginoon upang papurihan siya sa kanyang banal na presensya. Ito ang kanilang inaawit: “Pasalamatan ang Panginoon dahil ang kanyang pag-ibig ay walang hanggan.” 22At nang nagsimula silang umawit ng mga papuri, pinaglaban-laban ng Panginoon ang mga Moabita, Ammonita at mga taga-Bundok ng Seir. 23Nilusob ng mga Ammonita at Moabita ang mga sundalo ng mga taga-Bundok ng Seir at nilipol silang lahat. Pagkatapos nilang pumatay, sila naman ang nagpatayan. 24Pagdating ng mga sundalo ng Juda sa mataas na bahagi ng disyerto, nakita nila ang mga bangkay ng mga kalaban nila na nakahandusay sa lupa. Wala kahit isang buhay. 25Kaya pinuntahan ito ni Jehoshafat at ng mga tauhan niya, at sinamsam ang kanilang mga ari-arian. Marami ang kanilang nasamsam na mga gamit, mga damit,20:25 mga damit: Ito ay sa ibang tekstong Hebreo. Pero karamihan sa ibang kopya, bangkay. at iba pang mahahalagang bagay na halos hindi na nila madala. Inabot sila ng tatlong araw sa pagsamsam dahil sa sobrang dami ng mga ari-arian. 26Nang ikaapat na araw, nagtipon sila sa Lambak ng Beraca kung saan nagpuri sila sa Panginoon. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit tinawag itong Lambak ng Beraca20:26 Beraca: Ang ibig sabihin, pagpuri. hanggang ngayon.
27Pagkatapos, bumalik sila sa Jerusalem na pinangunahan ni Jehoshafat. Masaya sila dahil pinagtagumpay sila ng Panginoon sa kanilang mga kalaban. 28Pagdating nila sa Jerusalem, dumiretso sila sa templo ng Panginoon, na tumutugtog ng mga alpa, lira at mga trumpeta.
29Nang marinig ng lahat ng kaharian kung paano nakipaglaban ang Panginoon sa mga kalaban ng Israel, natakot sila. 30Kaya may kapayapaan ang kaharian ni Jehoshafat dahil binigyan siya ng kanyang Dios ng kapayapaan sa kanyang paligid.
Ang Katapusan ng Paghahari ni Jehoshafat
(1 Hari 22:41-50)
31Iyon ang paghahari ni Jehoshafat sa Juda. Siyaʼy 35 taong gulang nang maging hari. Sa Jerusalem siya tumira, at naghari siya roon sa loob ng 25 taon. Ang ina niya ay si Azuba na anak ni Silhi. 32Sinunod niya ang pamumuhay ng ama niyang si Asa. Matuwid ang kanyang ginawa sa paningin ng Panginoon. 33Pero hindi niya inalis ang mga sambahan sa matataas na lugar,20:33 sambahan sa matataas na lugar: Tingnan sa Talaan ng mga Salita sa likod. at ang mga tao ay hindi pa rin naging tapat sa pagsunod sa Dios ng kanilang ninuno.
34Ang iba pang salaysay sa paghahari ni Jehoshafat, mula simula hanggang sa katapusan ay nakasulat sa Mga Aklat ni Jehu na anak ni Hanani, na kasama sa Aklat ng Kasaysayan ng mga hari ng Juda.
35Pero sa mga huling bahagi ng paghahari ni Jehoshafat sa Juda, nakipag-alyansa siya kay Haring Ahazia ng Israel, na isang masamang tao. 36Nagkasundo sila na magpagawa ng mga barko na pang-negosyo.20:36 mga barko na pang-negosyo: sa Hebreo, mga barko na papuntang Tarshish. Ipinagawa nila ito sa piyer ng Ezion Geber. 37Sinabi ni Eliezer na anak ni Dodavahu na taga-Maresha kay Jehoshafat, “Dahil kumampi ka kay Ahazia, gigibain ko ang ipinagawa ninyo.” Kaya nagiba ang barko at hindi ito nakapaglakbay.
