Asa succeeds him. CHAP. XIV, XV. Asa covenants with God. 16 And the children of Israel fled before 11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his Judah: and God delivered them into their God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with hand. thee to help, whether with many, or with 17 And Abijah and his people slew them that have no power: help us, O LORD them with a great slaughter: so there fell our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy down slain of Israel five hundred thousand name we go against this multitude, chosen men. LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. 18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers. 12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. 19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, 13 And Asa and the people that were and took cities from him, Beth-el with the with him pursued them unto Gerar: and towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they towns thereof, and Ephraim with the could not recover themselves; for they towns thereof. were destroyed before the LORD, and be 20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength fore his host; and they carried away very again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD much spoil. struck him, and he died. 14 And they smote all the cities round 21 But Abijah waxed mighty, and about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came married fourteen wives, and begat twenty upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; and two sons, and sixteen daughters. for there was exceeding much spoil in them. 22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, 15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and his ways, and his sayings, are written and carried away sheep and camels in in the story of the prophet Iddo. abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. CHAP. XV. CHAP. XIV. the son of So Abijah slept with his fathers, and AND the Spirit of God came upon Azathey buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: 3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: 4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5 Also be took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. 5 And in those times there was no peace 6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: to him that went out, nor to him that came for the land had rest, and he had no war in, but great vexations were upon all the in those years; because the LORD had inhabitants of the countries. given him rest. 6 And nation was destroyed of nation, 7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us and city of city: for God did vex them build these cities, and make about them with all adversity. walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while 7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not the land is yet before us; because we have your hands be weak; for your work shall sought the LORD our God, we have sought be rewarded. 8 And when Asa heard these words, and him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built, and prospered. the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took 8 And Asa had an army of men that bare courage, and put away the abominable targets and spears, out of Judah three hun-idols out of all the land of Judah and Bendred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that jamin, and out of the cities which he had bare shields and drew bows, two hundred taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed and fourscore thousand: all these were the altar of the LORD, that was before the mighty men of valour. porch of the LORD. 9 And there came out against them *9 And he gathered all Judah and BenZerah the Ethiopian, with a host of ajamin, and the strangers with them out of thousand thousand, and three hundred cha- Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: riots; and came unto Mareshah. for they fell to him out of Israel in abun10 Then Asa went out against him, and dance, when they saw that the LORD his they set the battle in array in the valley of God was with him. Zephathah at Mareshah. 10 So they gathered themselves together Ramah's building prevented. IT. CHRONICLES. Jehoshaphat's good reign. at Jerusalem in the third month, in the 7 ¶ And at that time Hanani the seer fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto 11 And they offered unto the LORD the him, Because thou hast relied on the king same time, of the spoil which they had of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy brought, seven hundred oxen and seven God, therefore is the host of the king of thousand sheep. Syria escaped out of thine hand. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; 13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew 14 And they sware unto the LORD with himself strong in the behalf of them whose a loud voice, and with shouting, and with heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou trumpets, and with cornets. hast done foolishly: therefore from hence 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: forth thou shalt have wars. for they had sworn with all their heart, 10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and sought him with their whole desire; and put him in a prison-house; for he was and he was found of them: and the LORD in a rage with him because of this thing. gave them rest round about. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. 16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa. CHAP. XVI. IN the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 11 ¶ And behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth yearof his reign. 14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours, and divers kinds of spices prepared by thei apothecaries' art; and they made a very great burning for him. CHAP. XVII. 3 There is a league between me and thee, 3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, as there was between my father and thy because he walked in the first ways of his father: behold, I have sent thee silver and father David, and sought not unto Baalim; gold; go, break thy league with Baasha 4 But sought to the LORD God of his king of Israel, that he may depart from me. father, and walked in his commandments, 4 And Ben-hadad bearkened unto king and not after the doings of Israel. Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim,and all the store-cities of Naphtali. 5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, of the LORD: moreover he took away the and let his work cease. high places and groves out of Judah. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; 7 Also in the third year of his reign he and they carried away the stones of Ra-sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and mah, and the timber thereof, wherewith to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to NeBaasha was building, and he built there-thaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the with Geba and Mizpah. cities of Judah. Jehoshaphat's greatness. CHAP. XVIII. Ahab's false prophets. 8 And with them he sent Levites, even of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, word of the LORD to-day. and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jeho- 5 Therefore the king of Israel gathernathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and ed together of prophets four hundred men, Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them and said unto them, Shall we go to RaElishama and Jehoram, priests. 9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. moth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand. 6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? 10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were 7 And the king of Israel said unto Jeround about Judah, so that they made no hoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom war against Jehoshaphat. we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate 11 Also some of the Philistines brought him; for he never prophesieth good unto Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute-silver; me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, thousand and seven hundred rams, and Let not the king say so. seven thousand and seven hundred he- 8. And the king of Israel called for one goats. of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly 12 T And Jehoshaphat waxed great ex-Micaiah the son of Imla. ceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store. 9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on 13 And he had much business in the his throne, clothed in their robes, and they cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty sat in a void place at the entering in of the men of valour, were in Jerusalem. gate of Samaria: and all the prophets pro14 And these are the numbers of them, phesied before them. according to the house of their fathers: Of 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah Judah, the captains of thousands, Adnah had made him horns of iron, and said, the chief, and with him mighty men of Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt valour three hundred thousand. push Syria until they be consumed. 15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand. 16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour. 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to 17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty the king with one assent; let thy word man of valour, and with him armed men therefore, I pray thee, be like one of with bow and shield two hundred thou- theirs, and speak thou good. sand. 13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD 18 And next him was Jehozabad, and liveth, even what my God saith, that will with him a hundred and fourscore thou-I speak. sand ready prepared for the war. 14 And when he was come to the king, 19 These waited on the king, besides the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we those whom the king put in the fenced go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I cities throughout all Judah. forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into CHAP. XVIII. TOW Jehoshaphat had riches and your hand. honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. 15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? 2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and 16 Then he said, I did see all Israel for the people that he had with him, and scattered upon the mountains, as sheep persuaded him to go up with him to Ra- that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, moth-gilead. These have no master; let them return 3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Je- therefore every man to his house in peace. hoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go 17 And the king of Israel said to Jewith me to Ramoth-gilead? And he an-hoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he swered him, I am as thou art, and my would not prophesy good unto me, but evil? people as thy people; and we will be with 18 Again he said, Therefore hear the thee in the war. word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting 4 ¶ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king upon his throne, and all the host of heaven Micaiah's prophecy. II. CHRONICLES. Jehoshaphat visits his kingdom. standing on his right hand and on his left. he said to his chariot-man, Turn thine hand, 19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice that thou mayest carry me out of the host; Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up for I am wounded. and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake 34 And the battle increased that day: saying after this manner, and another how beit the king of Israel stayed himself saying after that manner. up in his chariot against the Syrians until 20 Then there came out a spirit, and the even: and about the time of the sun stood before the LORD, and said, I will en-going down he died. tice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? CHAP. XIX. returned to his house in peace to Je 21 And he said, I will go out, and be a AND Jehoshaphat the king of Judah lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.rusalem. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out went out to meet him, and said to king Jeand do even so. hoshaphat,Shouldest thou help the ungodly, 22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD and love them that hate the LORD? therehath put a lying spirit in the mouth of fore is wrath upon thee from before the these thy prophets, and the LORD hath LORD. spoken evil against thee. 3 Nevertheless, there are good things 23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaa- found in thee, in that thou hast taken away nah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the groves out of the land, and hast prethe cheek, and said, Which way went the pared thine heart to seek God, Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? 24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. 25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers. 5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city; 6 And said to the judges, Take heed 26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but this fellow in the prison, and feed him for the LORD, who is with you in the judgwith bread of affliction and with water ment. of affliction, until I return in peace. 8 Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jeho 7 Wherefore now let the fear of the 27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly LORD be upon you: take heed and do it: for return in peace, then hath not the LORD there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. all ye people. 28 So the king of Israel and Jehosha- shaphat set of the Levites, and of the phat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth- priests, and of the chief of the fathers of gilead. Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had command- 10 And what cause soever shall come ed the captains of the chariots that were to you of your brethren that dwell in their with him, saying, Fight ye not with small cities, between blood and blood, between or great, save only with the king of Israel. law and commandment, statutes and judg31 And it came to pass, when the cap-ments, ye shall even warn them that they tains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath they said, It is the king of Israel. There- come upon you, and upon your brethren: fore they compassed about him to fight this do, and ye shall not trespass. but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest helped him; and God moved them to de- is over you in all matters of the LORD; and part from him. Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler 32 For it came to pass, that when the of the house of Judah, for all the king's captains of the chariots perceived that it matters: also the Levites shall be officers was not the king of Israel, they turned before you. Deal courageously, and the back again from pursuing him. LORD shall be with the good. CHAP. XX. 33 and a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore camren of Moab, and the children of T came to pass after this also, that the The prayer of Jehoshaphat. CHAP. Ammon, and with them other besides the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 16 To-morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the 2 Then there came some that told Je- brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. hoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this batmultitude against thee from beyond the tle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see sea on this side Syria; and behold, they the salvation of the LORD with you, O Jube in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. dah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dis3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set him- mayed; to-morrow go out against them: self to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a for the LORD will be with you. fast throughout all Judah. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head 4 And Judah gathered themselves to- with his face to the ground: and all Judah gether, to ask help of the LORD; even out and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell beof all the cities of Judah they came to seek fore the LORD, worshipping the LORD. the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the children of 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the con- the Kohathites, and of the children of the gregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God house of the LORD, before the new court, of Israel with a loud voice on high. 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, 20 And they rose early in the morning, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest and went forth into the wilderness of Tenot thou over all the kingdoms of the hea-koa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat then? and in thine hand is there not power stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye and might, so that none is able to with-inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the stand thee? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the 22 T And when they began to sing and sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, to praise, the LORD set ambushments we stand before this house, and in thy against the children of Ammon, Moab, and presence, (for thy name is in this house,) mount Seir, which were come against Juand cry unto thee in our affliction, then dah; and they were smitten. thou wilt hear and help. 23 For the children of Ammon and Mo 10 And now, behold, the children of ab stood up against the inhabitants of Ammon and Moab, and mount Seir, whom mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when them: and when they had made an end of they came out of the land of Egypt, but the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped they turned from them, and destroyed to destroy another. them not; 24 And when Judah came towards the 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, watch-tower in the wilderness, they lookto come to cast us out of thy possession, ed unto the multitude, and behold, they which thou hast given us to inherit. were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his peogreat company that cometh against us; ple came to take away the spoil of them, neither know we what to do: but our eyes they found among them in abundance both are upon thee. riches with the dead bodies, and precious 13 Andall Judah stood before the LORD, jewels, which they stripped off for themwith their little ones, their wives and their selves, more than they could carry away: children. and they were three days in gathering of 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of the spoil, it was so much. Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of 26 T And on the fourth day they asJeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sembled themselves in the valley of Berasons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD chah; for there they blessed the LORD: in the midst of the congregation; therefore the name of the same place was 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all-Judah, called, The valley of Berachah, unto this and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou day. king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD 27 Then they returned, every man of unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat reason of this great multitude; for the bat- in the fore-front of them, to go again to tle is not yours, but God's. Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had |