2 Chronicles 20 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites — along with some of the Meunites — came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A massive army is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Edom. They're already at Hazazon-tamar" — that is, En-gedi.

Jehoshaphat was terrified. He resolved to seek Yahweh, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah.

The people of Judah gathered together to seek Yahweh. They came from every city in Judah to seek him.

Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Yahweh, in front of the new courtyard,

and he said: "Yahweh, God of our ancestors — aren't you the God who is in the heavens? Don't you rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand there is power and might, and no one can stand against you.

Aren't you our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it to the descendants of Abraham, your friend, forever?

They settled in it and built a place set apart for your name in it, saying,

'If disaster comes on us — whether the sword of judgment, or plague, or famine — we will stand before this house and before you (for your name is in this house), and we will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear and rescue us.'

"Now look — the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whose territory you did not let Israel invade when they came out of Egypt — they turned away from them and did not destroy them —

look how they're repaying us! They're coming to drive us out of the land you gave us as an inheritance.

"Our God, won't you execute judgment on them? Because we have no power against this massive army that is coming against us. We don't know what to do — but our eyes are on you."

All of Judah was standing before Yahweh — even their little ones, their wives, and their children.

Then the Breath of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah — a Levite from the descendants of Asaph — right there in the middle of the assembly.

He said, "Listen, all of Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what Yahweh says to you: 'Don't be afraid. Don't be overwhelmed by this massive army. This battle is not yours — it's God's.

Tomorrow, go down against them. They'll be coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you'll find them at the end of the valley, facing the Wilderness of Jeruel.

You won't need to fight this battle. Take your positions, stand still, and watch the rescue that Yahweh will accomplish for you, Judah and Jerusalem. Don't be afraid. Don't be overwhelmed. Go out to face them tomorrow, and Yahweh will be with you.'"

Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell on their faces before Yahweh, worshipping Yahweh.

Then the Levites — from the Kohathites and the Korahites — stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel, with an enormously loud voice.

They got up early in the morning and went out toward the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Trust in Yahweh your God and you'll stand firm. Trust in his prophets and you'll succeed."

After consulting with the people, he appointed singers to Yahweh who would praise him in the splendor of his set-apartness as they went out ahead of the army, saying: "Give thanks to Yahweh, because his loyal love endures forever."

At the moment they began singing and praising, Yahweh set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had invaded Judah, and they were defeated.

The Ammonites and Moabites turned on the people of Mount Seir, completely destroying them. And when they had finished with the people of Seir, they turned on each other and destroyed themselves.

When Judah arrived at the lookout point over the wilderness and turned to face the massive army — there was nothing but dead bodies fallen on the ground. Not a single one had escaped.

When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the plunder, they found among the bodies an enormous amount of goods, clothing, and valuable items. They stripped off more than they could carry. It took three days to haul away the plunder — that's how much there was.

On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah — and that's what they called it, because there they praised Yahweh. That is why that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.

Then every man of Judah and Jerusalem turned back, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy — because Yahweh had given them joy over their enemies.

They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets, and went to the house of Yahweh.

The dread of God fell on all the kingdoms of the surrounding lands when they heard that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel.

Jehoshaphat's kingdom was at peace. His God gave him rest on every side.

Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it, doing what was right in the eyes of Yahweh.

However, the high places were not removed — the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.

The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from beginning to end — they are written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani, which are included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted corruptly.

He partnered with him to build ships to go to Tarshish. They built the ships at Ezion-geber.

Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat: "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh will tear apart what you've made." And the ships were wrecked and were unable to go to Tarshish.