2 Chronicles 20 – NIVUK & AKCB

New International Version – UK

2 Chronicles 20:1-37

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 enquire 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 for ever 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 splendour of his20:21 Or him with the splendour of holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

‘Give thanks to the Lord,

for his love endures for ever.’

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 towards 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 for 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

Akuapem Twi Contemporary Bible

2 Beresosɛm 20:1-37

Yehosafat Nkonimdi

1Eyi akyi no, Moabfo, Amonfo ne Maonfo asraafo bi tuu Yehosafat so sa. 2Abɔfo bɛka kyerɛɛ Yehosafat se, “Asraafo bebree fi Nkyene Po no akyi wɔ Edom rebɛko atia wo. Wɔadu Hasason-Tamar” (En-Gedi din baako ne no). 3Yehosafat tee saa asɛm no, ne ho yeraw no nti, obisaa Awurade hɔ akwankyerɛ. Ɔhyɛɛ sɛ obiara a ɔwɔ Yuda no nni abuada. 4Na nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda nkurow nyinaa so baa Yerusalem, bɛhwehwɛɛ Awurade.

5Na Yehosafat sɔre gyinaa Yudafo ne Yerusalemfo anim wɔ Awurade Asɔredan no adiwo foforo hɔ. 6Ɔbɔɔ mpae se,

Awurade, yɛn agyanom Nyankopɔn, wo nko ne Onyankopɔn a wote ɔsoro. Wo na wudi ahenni a ɛwɔ asase nyinaa so. Woyɛ otumfo ne ɔkɛse a obiara ntumi ne wo nni asi. 7Yɛn Nyankopɔn, bere a wo nkurɔfo bedui no, woampam wɔn a na wɔte asase yi so no ana? Na woamfa saa asase yi amma wʼadamfo Abraham asefo afebɔɔ ana? 8Wo nkurɔfo tenaa ha sii saa Asɔredan yi maa wo. 9Wɔkaa se, ‘Sɛ ɔhaw bi te sɛ ɔko, ɔyare anaa ɔkɔm bi to yɛn a, yebetumi aba wʼanim wɔ saa Asɔredan yi mu, baabi a wɔahyɛ wo din anuonyam no. Yebetumi asu afrɛ wo sɛ, gye yɛn nkwa, na wubetie yɛn, agye yɛn.’

10“Na afei, hwɛ nea Amonfo, Moabfo ne Seir asraafodɔm reyɛ. Woamma yɛn agyanom anni saa aman no so nkonim bere a Israel fii Misraim no, na mmom, wɔfaa wɔn ho a wɔansɛe wɔn. 11Afei, hwɛ sɛnea wɔretua yɛn so ka. Wɔaba sɛ, wɔrebetu yɛn afi wʼasase a wode maa yɛn sɛ agyapade no so. 12Yɛn Nyankopɔn, worensiw wɔn ano? Yenni ahoɔden sɛ asraafodɔm kɛse yi a wɔpɛ sɛ wɔbɛtow hyɛ yɛn so yi. Yenhu nea yɛnyɛ, na yɛhwɛ kwan sɛ wobɛboa yɛn.”

13Bere a Yuda mmarima nyinaa ne wɔn nkokoaa, wɔn yerenom ne wɔn mma gyina Awurade anim no.

14Awurade Honhom baa mmarima a wogyinagyina 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.

15Ɔkae se, “Ɔhene Yehosafat, tie! Mo Yudafo ne Yerusalemfo nyinaa, muntie! Sɛnea Awurade se ni: Munnsuro. Mommma asraafodɔm kɛse ntu mo koma, efisɛ ɔko no nyɛ mo dea, na ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn dea. 16Ɔkyena, muntu nten nkɔ wɔn so. Mubehu sɛ wofi Sis atrapoe a ɛwɔ obon no fa a epue Yeruel sare no so hɔ reba. 17Na ɛho nhia mpo sɛ mobɛko. Munnyinagyina mo afa, monyɛ dinn na monhwɛ Awurade nkonimdi. Ɔka mo ho, Yuda ne Yerusalem manfo. Munnsuro, na mommma mo koma ntu. Ɔkyena, monkɔ hɔ, na Awurade ka mo ho.”

18Na ɔhene Yehosafat sii ne ti ase, na Yuda ne Yerusalem manfo no nyinaa nso yɛɛ saa, de som Awurade. 19Na Lewifo a wofi Kohat ne Kora mmusua mu sɔre gyina teɛɛ mu dennen sɔree Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn.

20Ade kyee nʼanɔpahema no, Yuda asraafo no kɔɔ Tekoa sare so. Bere a wɔrekɔ no, Yehosafat gyina kae se, “Muntie me, mo Yudafo ne Yerusalemfo nyinaa. Munnye Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn, nni na mubetumi agyina pintinn. Munnye nʼadiyifo no nni, na mubedi nkonim.” 21Ɔhene no ne nnipa no ntuanofo dii nkitaho wiei no, oyii nnwontofo bi sɛ wonni asraafo no anim, nto dwom mma Awurade, nkamfo no wɔ nʼanuonyam kronkron no nti. Dwom no mu nsɛm ni:

“Monna Awurade ase

na nʼadɔe wɔ hɔ daa!”

22Bere a wɔpagyaw ayeyi dwom no, Awurade maa Amon, Moab ne bepɔw Seir asraafo no twaa wɔn ho koe. 23Moab ne Amon asraafo no dan wɔn ani kyerɛɛ mmarima a wofi bepɔw Seir so no, kunkum wɔn nyinaa. Wowiee Seir asraafo no, wotwaa wɔn ho koe.

24Na Yuda asraafo no duu baabi a wogyina a wuhu sare no so no, wohuu sɛ afunu gugu fam kɔ akyiri. Atamfo no mu baako mpo antumi anguan. 25Ɔhene Yehosafat ne nʼakofo no kɔtasee asade. Wonyaa adwumayɛ nneɛma, ntade ne nneɛma a ɛsom bo a wontumi nsoa. Na asade no dɔɔso enti wɔde nnansa na ɛtase ne nyinaa. 26Nnaanan so no, wɔboaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Nhyira Bon mu. Wɔtoo obon no din saa da no, efisɛ ɛhɔ na nnipa no kamfoo Awurade, daa no ase. Wɔda so frɛ no Nhyira Bon nnɛ yi.

27Afei, Yehosafat dii wɔn anim ne wɔn san kɔɔ Yerusalem anigye so sɛ, Awurade ama wɔadi wɔn atamfo so nkonim. 28Wɔbɔɔ mmɛnta, asankuten ne ntorobɛnto tuu nten kɔhyɛn Yerusalem na wɔkɔɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu.

29Bere a ahenni a atwa hɔ ahyia no tee sɛ Awurade no ankasa ako atia Israel atamfo no, Awurade ho suro baa wɔn so. 30Na ɛmaa asomdwoe baa Yehosafat ahenni mu, efisɛ ne Nyankopɔn maa no ahomegye wɔ afanan nyinaa.

Yehosafat Ahenni Awiei

31Na Yehosafat dii hene wɔ Yuda asase so. Bere a odii hene no, na wadi mfe aduasa anum. Ɔtenaa Yerusalem dii hene mfe aduonu anum. Na ne na din de Asuba a ɔyɛ Silhi babea. 32Na Yehosafat yɛ ɔhene a oye. Ɔyɛɛ nea nʼagya Asa yɛe. Ɔyɛɛ nea ɛsɔ Awurade ani. 33Nanso nʼahenni mu no, wammubu abosonsomfo nsɔree so no, na ɔmanfo no nso amfa wɔn koma nyinaa amma wɔn agyanom Nyankopɔn no.

34Yehosafat ahenni ho nsɛm nkae, fi mfiase kosi awiei no, wɔakyerɛw agu Hanani babarima Yehu nhoma a wɔde aka Israel Ahemfo nhoma no ho.

35Nanso ɛrekɔ nʼasetena awiei no, ɔhene Yehosafat ne Israelhene Ahasia a ne tirim yɛ den no kaa wɔn ho bɔɔ mu. 36Wɔyɛɛ Po so aguadi ahyɛn bebree wɔ Esion-Geber hyɛngyinabea. 37Na Dodafahu babarima Elieser a ofi Maresa hyɛɛ nkɔm, de tiaa Yehosafat. Ɔkae se, “Esiane sɛ wo ne ɔhene Ahasia ayɛ baako nti, Awurade bɛsɛe wʼadwuma.” Enti ahyɛn no bobɔe a wɔantumi amfa ankodi gua.