Jehoshaphat Leads Judah

1 Kings 22

⁴¹ Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

⁴² Jehoshaphat 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.

⁴³ He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

⁴⁴ Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

⁴⁵ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he fought, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

⁴⁶ The remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land.

⁴⁷ There was no king in Edom. A deputy ruled.

⁴⁸ Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they didn’t go, for the ships wrecked at Ezion Geber.

⁴⁹ Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not.

⁵⁰ Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city. Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 17

¹ Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.

² He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

³ Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,

⁴ but sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel.

⁵ Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

⁶ His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.

⁷ Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

⁸ and with them Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

⁹ They taught in Judah, having the book of Yahweh’s law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

¹⁰ The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

¹¹ Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

¹² Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.

¹³ He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

¹⁴ This was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: From Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;

¹⁵ and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;

¹⁶ and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

¹⁷ From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;

¹⁸ and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready and prepared for war.

¹⁹ These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

2 Chronicles 19

¹ Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

² Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? Because of this, wrath is on you from before Yahweh.

³ Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

⁴ Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

⁵ He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

⁶ and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh; and he is with you in the judgment.

⁷ Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”

⁸ Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites, priests, and heads of the fathers’ households of Israel to give judgment for Yahweh and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.

⁹ He commanded them, saying, “You shall do this in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

¹⁰ Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty toward Yahweh, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

¹¹ Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may Yahweh be with the good.”

2 Chronicles 20

³¹ So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign. He reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

³² He walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes.

³³ However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

³⁴ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is included in the book of the kings of Israel.

³⁵ After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. The same did very wickedly.

³⁶ He joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber.

³⁷ Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works.” The ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.