Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
1After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites20:1 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew Ammonites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
2Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,20:2 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6and said:
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7Our 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? 8They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
14Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”
18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his20:21 Or him with the splendor of holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
22As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing20:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts corpses and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah20:26 Berakah means praise. to this day.
27Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
29The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
31So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 33The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.
34The other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.
35Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. 36He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships.20:36 Hebrew of ships that could go to Tarshish After these were built at Ezion Geber, 37Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.20:37 Hebrew sail for Tarshish
Yehosafat Nkonimdie
1Yei akyi no, Moabfoɔ, Amonfoɔ ne Maonfoɔ asraafoɔ bi tuu Yehosafat so sa. 2Abɔfoɔ bɛka kyerɛɛ Yehosafat sɛ, “Akodɔm bebree firi Nkyene Po no akyi wɔ Edom rebɛko atia wo. Wɔaduru Hasason-Tamar” (En-Gedi din baako ne no). 3Yehosafat tee saa asɛm yi, ne ho yeraa no enti, ɔbisaa Awurade akwankyerɛ. Ɔhyɛɛ sɛ obiara a ɔwɔ Yuda no nni abuada. 4Na nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda nkuro nyinaa so baa Yerusalem, bɛhwehwɛɛ Awurade.
5Na Yehosafat sɔre gyinaa Yudafoɔ ne Yerusalemfoɔ anim wɔ Awurade Asɔredan no adihɔ foforɔ hɔ. 6Ɔbɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ,
“Ao Awurade, yɛn agyanom Onyankopɔn, wo nko ne Onyankopɔn a wote soro. Wo na wodi ahennie a ɛwɔ asase nyinaa so. Woyɛ otumfoɔ ne ɔkɛseɛ a obiara ntumi ne wo nni asie. 7Ao yɛn Onyankopɔn, ɛberɛ a wo nkurɔfoɔ bɛduruiɛ no, woampam wɔn a na wɔte asase yi so no anaa? Na woamfa saa asase yi amma wʼadamfo Abraham asefoɔ afebɔɔ anaa? 8Wo nkurɔfoɔ tenaa ha sii saa Asɔredan yi maa wo. 9Wɔkaa sɛ, ‘Sɛ ɔhaw bi te sɛ ɔko, yadeɛ anaa ɛkɔm bi to yɛn a, yɛbɛtumi aba wʼanim wɔ saa Asɔredan yi mu, baabi a wɔahyɛ wo din animuonyam no. Yɛbɛtumi asu afrɛ wo sɛ, gye yɛn nkwa, na wobɛtie yɛn, agye yɛn.’
10“Na afei, hwɛ deɛ Amonfoɔ, Moabfoɔ ne Seir akodɔm reyɛ. Woamma yɛn agyanom anni saa aman no so nkonim wɔ ɛberɛ a Israel firii Misraim no, na mmom, wɔfaa wɔn ho a wɔansɛe wɔn. 11Afei, hwɛ sɛdeɛ wɔretua yɛn so ka. Wɔaba sɛ, wɔrebɛtu yɛn afiri wʼasase a wode maa yɛn sɛ agyapadeɛ no so. 12Ao yɛn Onyankopɔn, worensi wɔn ano? Yɛnni ahoɔden sɛ akodɔm kɛseɛ yi a wɔpɛ sɛ wɔbɛto hyɛ yɛn so yi. Yɛnhunu deɛ yɛnyɛ, na yɛhwɛ ɛkwan sɛ wobɛboa yɛn.”
13Ɛberɛ a Yuda mmarima nyinaa ne wɔn nkɔkoaa, wɔn yerenom ne wɔn mma gyina Awurade anim no,
14Awurade Honhom baa mmarima a wɔgyinagyina hɔ no mu baako so. Na ne din de Yahasiel a ɔyɛ Sakaria babarima a ɔno nso yɛ Benaia babarima, na ɔno nso yɛ Yeiel babarima, na ɔno nso yɛ Lewini Matania, a ɔyɛ Asaf aseni no babarima.
15Ɔkaa sɛ, “Ɔhene Yehosafat, tie! Mo Yudafoɔ ne Yerusalemfoɔ nyinaa, montie! Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie: Monnsuro. Mommma akodɔm kɛseɛ nntu mo akoma, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔko no nnyɛ mo dea, na ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn dea. 16Ɔkyena, montu ntene nkɔ wɔn so. Mobɛhunu sɛ wɔfiri Sis aforoeɛ a ɛwɔ bɔnhwa no fa a ɛpue Yeruel ɛserɛ no so hɔ reba. 17Na ɛho nhia mpo sɛ mobɛko. Monnyinagyina mo afa, monyɛ dinn na monhwɛ Awurade nkonimdie. Ɔka mo ho, Yuda ne Yerusalem manfoɔ. Monnsuro, na mommma mo akoma nntu. Ɔkyena, monkɔ hɔ, na Awurade ka mo ho.”
18Na ɔhene Yehosafat sii ne tiri ase, na Yuda ne Yerusalem manfoɔ no nyinaa nso yɛɛ saa, de somm Awurade. 19Na Lewifoɔ a wɔfiri Kohat ne Kora mmusua mu sɔre gyinaeɛ teaam denden sɔree Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn.
20Adeɛ kyee nʼanɔpahema no, Yuda akodɔm no kɔɔ Tekoa ɛserɛ so. Ɛberɛ a wɔrekɔ no, Yehosafat gyina kaa sɛ, “Montie me, mo Yudafoɔ ne Yerusalemfoɔ nyinaa. Monnye Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn, nni na mobɛtumi agyina pintinn. Monnye nʼadiyifoɔ no nni, na mobɛdi nkonim.” 21Ɔhene no ne nnipa no ntuanofoɔ dii nkutaho wieeɛ no, ɔyii nnwomtofoɔ bi sɛ wɔnni akodɔm no anim, nto dwom mma Awurade, nkamfo no wɔ nʼanimuonyam kronkron no enti. Ɛdwom no mu nsɛm nie:
“Monna Awurade ase
na nʼadɔeɛ wɔ hɔ daa!”
22Ɛberɛ a wɔpagyaa ayɛyi dwom no, Awurade maa Amon, Moab ne bepɔ Seir asraafoɔ no twaa wɔn ho koeɛ. 23Moab ne Amon asraafoɔ no danee wɔn ani kyerɛɛ wɔn adɔmfoɔ a wɔfiri bepɔ Seir so no, kunkumm wɔn nyinaa. Wɔwiee Seir asraafoɔ no, wɔtwaa wɔn ho koeɛ.
24Na Yuda akodɔm no duruu baabi a wɔgyina a wɔhunu ɛserɛ no so no, wɔhunuu sɛ afunu gugu fam kɔ akyiri. Atamfoɔ no mu baako mpo antumi annwane. 25Ɔhene Yehosafat ne nʼakodɔm kɔtasee asadeɛ. Wɔnyaa adwumayɛ nneɛma, ntadeɛ ne nneɛma a ɛsom bo a wɔntumi nsoa. Na asadeɛ no dɔɔso enti wɔde nnansa na ɛtasee ne nyinaa. 26Nnanan so no, wɔboaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Nhyira Bɔnhwa mu. Wɔtoo bɔnhwa no din saa da no, ɛfiri sɛ, ɛhɔ na nnipa no kamfoo Awurade, daa no ase. Wɔda so frɛ no Nhyira Bɔnhwa ɛnnɛ yi.
27Afei, Yehosafat dii wɔn anim ne wɔn sane kɔɔ Yerusalem anigyeɛ so sɛ, Awurade ama wɔadi wɔn atamfoɔ so nkonim. 28Wɔbɔɔ mmɛnta, asankuten ne ntotorobɛnto tuu nten kɔhyɛnee Yerusalem na wɔkɔɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu.
29Ɛberɛ a ahennie a atwa hɔ ahyia no tee sɛ Awurade no ankasa ako atia Israel atamfoɔ no, Awurade ho suro baa wɔn so. 30Na ɛmaa asomdwoeɛ baa Yehosafat ahennie mu, ɛfiri sɛ, ne Onyankopɔn maa no ahomegyeɛ wɔ afanan nyinaa.
Yehosafat Ahennie Tiawatwa
31Na Yehosafat dii ɔhene wɔ Yuda asase so. Ɛberɛ a ɔdii ɔhene no, na wadi mfeɛ aduasa enum. Ɔtenaa Yerusalem dii ɔhene mfeɛ aduonu enum. Na ne maame din de Asuba a ɔyɛ Silhi babaa. 32Na Yehosafat yɛ ɔhene a ɔyɛ. Ɔyɛɛ deɛ nʼagya Asa yɛeɛ. Ɔyɛɛ deɛ ɛsɔ Awurade ani. 33Nanso, nʼahennie mu no, wammubu abosonsomfoɔ asɔreeɛ no, na ɔmanfoɔ no nso amfa wɔn akoma nyinaa amma wɔn agyanom Onyankopɔn no.
34Yehosafat ahennie ho nsɛm nkaeɛ, firi ahyɛaseɛ kɔsi awieeɛ no, wɔatwerɛ agu Hanani babarima Yehu nwoma a wɔde aka Israel Ahemfo nwoma no ho.
35Nanso, ɛrekɔ nʼasetena awieeɛ no, ɔhene Yehosafat ne Israelhene Ahasia a ne tirim yɛ den no kaa wɔn ho bɔɔ mu. 36Wɔyɛɛ ɛpo so adwadie ahyɛn bebree wɔ Esion-Geber hyɛngyinabea. 37Na Dodafahu babarima Elieser a ɔfiri Maresa hyɛɛ nkɔm, de tiaa Yehosafat. Ɔkaa sɛ, “Esiane sɛ wo ne ɔhene Ahasia ayɛ baako enti, Awurade bɛsɛe wʼadwuma.” Enti, ahyɛn no bobɔeɛ a wɔantumi amfa ankɔdi dwa.
