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| RF CH2 20:1 | (896 B.C.) The Moabites and Allies assail Judea.
It occurred after this that the Beni-Moab, and Beni-Amon, with some of the Mennim, came to war against Jhoshafat. |
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| RF CH2 20:2 | And messengers came and reported it to Jhoshafat, saying; "A great multitude from Aram-beyond-the-Lake is advancing, and are at Hazeron-Thamar, that is Engedi." |
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| RF CH2 20:3 | Jhoshafat consequently was afraid and turned himself to enquire of the EVER-LIVING, and proclaimed a fast to all Judea. |
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| RF CH2 20:4 | Judea therefore collected, to entreat from the EVER-LIVING, and came from all the cities of Judea to entreat the LORD. |
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| RF CH2 20:5 | When Jhoshafat stood up in the Parliament of Judea and Jerusalem, in the House of the EVER-LIVING, in front of the New Court, |
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| RF CH2 20:6 | He Addresses the Parliament.
and said:—"EVER-LIVING GOD of our fathers, are You not GOD in the Heavens? and You rule in all the Kingdoms of the Heathen, and power and might are in Your hands, and none can resist You. |
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| RF CH2 20:7 | Are not You our GOD, who drove out the inhabitants of this country before Your people of Israel, and gave it to the race of Abraham, Your friend for ever? |
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| RF CH2 20:8 | And they have dwelt in it, and have built a Sanctuary to Your Name in it, reflecting, |
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| RF CH2 20:9 | 'If trouble comes upon us, the punishing sword or plague, or famine, we can stand before this Temple, and before You, for Your NAME is in this Temple,—and cry to You in our distresses, You will listen and hear.' |
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| RF CH2 20:10 | So now see, the Beni-Amon, and Moab, and Mount Sair that it was not granted to Israel to assail, when they came from the land of the Mitzeraim, so they turned from them and did not ravage them;— |
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| RF CH2 20:11 | Yet look at them! how they reward us, by coming to expel us from Your inheritance, which You allowed us to possess! |
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| RF CH2 20:12 | "Our GOD! Is there no punishment for them? For we have no power before this great host that is coming against us; so we know not what to do; but our eyes are on You!" |
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| RF CH2 20:13 | Zekerihu addresses Parliament.
And the Representatives of Judea stood before the LORD with their infants, and wives, and sons; |
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| RF CH2 20:14 | And Ikhazial,-ben-Zekerihu,-ben-Baniah,-ben-Jazal,-ben-Mathaniah, the Levite, of the Beni Asaph, had the Spirit of the EVER-LIVING come upon him in the middle of the Assembly, |
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| RF CH2 20:15 | and exclaimed:—'"Listen Representatives of Judea, and Inhabitants of Jerusalem, with King Jhoshafat,—Thus says the EVER-LIVING to you: "Fear not for yourselves, nor be dejected in the presence of this great host! for the battle is not with you, but with GOD! |
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| RF CH2 20:16 | Descend against them to-morrow. You will see them ascending by the ascent of Ziz; and you will find them at the end of the stream opposite the pastures of Jerual.— |
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| RF CH2 20:17 | You need not fight with them. Station yourselves! Stand! and see the victory of the EVER-LIVING for you!—Fear not, and be not depressed, Judah and Jerusalem!—Go out to-morrow to meet them, and the EVER-LIVING will be with you!" |
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| RF CH2 20:18 | Then Jehoshaphat bent his face earth-ward, and the Representatives of Judea, and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the EVER-LIVING, and bowed to the LORD. |
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| RF CH2 20:19 | But the Levites, of the Beni Kahth and the Beni Korakh, arose, and praised the EVER-LIVING GOD of Israel with a loud and high voice. |
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| RF CH2 20:20 | Jhoshafat Marches to Battle.
Early in the morning, they aroused and marched out to the pastures of Thekoa, but before their march Jhoshafat stood up and said;
"Listen to me, Judah, and the inhabitants. of Jerusalem! Trust upon your EVER-LIVING God and trust yourselves;—trust on His Preachers, and you will succeed!" |
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| RF CH2 20:21 | And having arranged the army, he appointed Singers to the EVER-LIVING, and they went with sacred splendour, marching before the troops, and exclaiming, "Praise the LORD, for His Mercy endures for ever!" |
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| RF CH2 20:22 | And at the moment they began to cheer, and praise, the EVER-LIVING acted unexpectedly against the Beni Amon, Moab, and Mount Sair, who were advancing against Judah, and routed them; |
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| RF CH2 20:23 | for the Beni Amon, and Moab, assailed the people of Mount Sair with slaughter and destruction, and when they had destroyed the People of Mount Sair, each helped to ruin the other! |
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| RF CH2 20:24 | So when Judah came to the Watchtower in the Pastures, and advanced towards the host, they saw their carcasses fallen on the earth, without fugitives. |
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| RF CH2 20:25 | Then Jhoshafat, and his army went to seize the plunder, and found amongst it property, and clothing, and beautiful jewels, which they stripped for themselves, more than they could carry; and they were three days collecting the spoil, for it was great. |
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| RF CH2 20:26 | On the fourth day they assembled in the Vale of Thanks, where they thanked the EVER-LIVING. Therefore they called the name of the place "The Vale Thanks" to this day. |
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| RF CH2 20:27 | Then all the men of Judah, and Jerusalem returned with Jhoshafat at their head, and came to Jerusalem with delight, for the EVER-LIVING had delighted them upon their enemies. |
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| RF CH2 20:28 | So they came to Jerusalem, with lutes and harps and trumpets, and to the Temple of the EVER-LIVING. |
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| RF CH2 20:29 | A terror of the EVER-LIVING afterwards came upon all the Kingdoms of the Heathen, when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. |
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| RF CH2 20:30 | Consequently the Empire of Jhoshafat had rest, and the EVER-LIVING gave him comfort all around. |
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| RF CH2 20:31 | Character of Jehoshaphat.
Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judea. He was thirty-five years old at his coronation, and was King in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilkhi. |
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| RF CH2 20:32 | He walked in the path of his father Asa, and never turned from it, but did right in the eyes of the EVER-LIVING. |
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| RF CH2 20:33 | However, he did not overthrow the Mounds; and the people did not yet fix their hearts on the GOD of their ancestors. |
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| RF CH2 20:34 | But the remainder of the affairs of Jehoshaphat,—the first and the last,—can be seen recorded in the history of Jellua,-ben-Khanani; who was Superintendent of the Records of the Kings of Israel.'
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1 NOTE.—This 34th verse has apparently been misplaced by some ancient transcriber, for by the sense it should be read after the 37th verse of this chapter, of which as placed in the common texts, it breaks the sense.—F.F. |
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| RF CH2 20:35 | Jehoshaphat tries to restore Trade with Tharshish and South Africa.
After this Jehoshaphat King of Judea united himself with Akhaziah, King of Israel, (which was a wrong act). |
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| RF CH2 20:36 | He, however, united with him to build ships to go to Tharshish. They also built ships at Ezion-gaber. |
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| RF CH2 20:37 | Consequently Aliazar,-ben-Dodavhu, of Maresheth, preached against Jehoshaphat, and said, "Because you have united with Ahaziah, the EVER-LIVING will break your efforts, and the ships will be wrecked, and not be able to go to Tharshish." |
