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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Chronicles 20 ESV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_chronicles/20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_chronicles/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ESV</a> > 2 Chronicles 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_chronicles/19.htm" title="2 Chronicles 19">◄</a> 2 Chronicles 20 <a href="../2_chronicles/21.htm" title="2 Chronicles 21">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/2_chronicles/20.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Jehoshaphat’s Prayer</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Compare 26:7; Hebrew Ammonites">a</a></sup></span> came against Jehoshaphat for battle. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts Aram (Syria)">b</a></sup></span> from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>And Judah assembled to seek help from the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, before the new court, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>and said, “O <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or the sword of judgment">c</a></sup></span> or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Meanwhile all Judah stood before the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>And the Spirit of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> came<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or was">d</a></sup></span> upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> will be with you.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, worshiping the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,</p><span class="block-indent"><p class="line-group"><span class="ln-group">“Give thanks to the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>,</span><br /><span class="indent">for his steadfast love endures forever.”</span></p> <p class="same-paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>And when they began to sing and praise, the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.</p> <p class="heading">The <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> Delivers Judah</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew they">e</a></sup></span> were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Beracah means blessing">f</a></sup></span> for there they blessed the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> had made them rejoice over their enemies. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> had fought against the enemies of Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.</p> <p class="heading">The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">1</span> Compare 26:7; Hebrew <i>Ammonites</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">2</span> One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts <i>Aram</i> (Syria)<br /><span class="footnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">9</span> Or <i><span class="catch-word">the sword</span> of judgment</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">14</span> Or <i>was</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">24</span> Hebrew <i>they</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">f</span> <span class="fnverse">26</span> <i class="catch-word">Beracah</i> means <i>blessing</i><br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="http://www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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