And in those times there was nopeace tohimthat went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. 6 And nation was deftroyed of nation, and city of city for God did vex them with all adverfity. 7 Be ye ftrong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work fhall be rewarded. 8 And when Afa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, hetook courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Ben jamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD that was before the porch of the LORD. 9 and he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the ftrangers with them out of Bphraim and Manaffeh, and out of Simeon: (for they fell to him out of Ifrael in a. bundance, when they faw that the LORD his God was with him) 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerufalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Afa. And they offered unto the LORD the fame time, of the spoil which they had bround theep. feven hundred oxen, and feven 1 And they entered into a covenant to feek the LORD God of their fathers, with all their beart, and with all their foul; 13 That whosoever would not feek the LORDGod of frael, fhould be put to death, whether mall or great, whether man or woman. 14 And they fware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with fhouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath : for they had worn with all their heart, and fought him with their whole defire, and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them reft round about. 16 And allo concerning Maacha the mother of Afa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Afa cut down her ido!, and ftampedit, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Ifrael: nevertheless, the heart of Afa was perfect all his days. 18 And he brought into the houfe of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, filver, and gold, and veffels. 19 And there was no more war unto the His covenant. to Benhadad king of, Syria that dwelt at Damafcus, faying, 3 There is a league between me andthee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have fent thee Giver and gold; go, break thy league with Baafha kingof Ifrael,that he may depart from me. 4 And Ben-hadad hearkened un to king Afa, and fent the captains of his armies against the cities of Ifrael; and they fmote ljon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the ftore cities of Naphtali. 5 And it came to pafs, when Baafha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work ceafe. 6 Then Afat he king took all Judah, and they carried away the ftones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baaha was a building, and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. 7 And at that time Hanani the feer came to Afa king of Judah, and faid unto him, Becaufe thou haft relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the hoft of the king of Syria efcaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge hoft, with very many chariots and horfemen ? yet becaufe 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 fhew himfelfftrong in the behalf of them whole heart is perfect towards him. Herein thou haft done foolishly; therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. To ThenAla waswroth with the feer,and put him in a prifon-houfe; for he was in a rage whim, becaufe of this thing. AndAfa oppreffed fome of thepeople the fametime. And behold, the acts ofAfa,first and laft, lo,they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Ifrael. 12 And Afa, in the thirty and ninth year of his reign, was difeafed in his feet, until his difeafe was exceeding great: yet in his difeafe he fought not to the LORD, but to the phyficians. 13 And Afa flept w his fathers, and died in the one and fourtieth year of his reign. 14 And they buried him in his own fepulchres, which be had made for himfelf in the city of David, and laidhim in thebed, which was filled with fweet odours, and divers kinds of Spices prepared by the apothecaries art and they made a very great burning for him. CHA P. XVII. five and thirtieth year of the reign of Afa. ANd Jehofaphatgin coed hamfelf 2. XVI. ftrengthened a 2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah,and fet garifons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim which Ala bis father had taken. 3 And the LORD was with Jehofhophat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and fought not unto Baalim; 4 But fought to the LORD God of his father Feboshaphats reign Chap. xviii. Ababs prophets Father, and walked in his commandments, perfuaded him to go up with him to Raand not after the doings of Ifrael: moth-gilead. 5 Therefore the LORD ftablished the kingdom in his hand.and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat prefents, and he had riches, and honour in abundanec. 6 And his heart was lift up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. 711 Alfo in the third year of his reign, he fent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judan. 8 And with them be Jent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Afahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jebonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elifhama, and Jehoram, priests. 9 And they taught in Judah, and bad the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. TO 1 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, fo that they made no war againit Jehoshaphat. It Alfo fome of the Philiftines brought Jehoshaphat prefents, and tribute filver; and the Arabians brought him fideks,feven thousand and teven hundred rams, and feven thousand and feven hundred he goats, 12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly, and he built in Judah caftles, and cities of ftore. 13 And he had much bufinefs in the cities of Judah: and the men of war,mighty men ofvalour, were in Jerufalem. 14 And there are the numbers of them according to the houfe of their fathers: of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour, three hundred thoufand. 15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and four core thousand. 15 And next him was Amaziah the fon of Zichri, who willingly offered himself ante the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour. 17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and fhield, two hundred thoufand. 18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and four core thoufand ready prepared for the war. 19 Thefe waited on the king, befides tbof whom the king put in the fenced cities, throughout all Judah. CHAP. XVIII. 1 Febofbapbat goeth with Abab against Ramoth gilead. 33 Abab flain. Now Jehofaphat had riches, and ho neur in abundance,and joined affinity with Ahab. 2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria: and Ahab killed heep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that be bad with him, and 3 And Ahab king of Ifrael faid unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? and he anfwered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and we will be with thee in the war. 41 And Jehoshaphat faid unto the king of Ifrael, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 5 Therefore the king of Ifrael gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and faid unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or fhall I forbear? And they faid, Go up; for God will deliver it into the kings hand. 6 But Jehoshaphat faid, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD befides, that we might enquire of him? 7 And the king of Ifrael faid unto Jehofhaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him, for he never prophefieth good unto me, but always evil the fame is Micaiah the fon of Imla. And Jehoshaphat faid. Let not the king fay fo. 8 And the king of Ifrael called for one of bis officers, and faid, Fetch quickly Micaiah the fon of Imla. 9 And the king of Ifrael and JehofhaPhat king of Jadah,fat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they fat in a void place, at the entring in of the gate of Samaria,and all the prophets prophefied before them. 10 And Zedekiah the fon of Chenaanah, had made bim hornset iron,and faid, Thus faith the LORD, with thefe thou shalt push Syria, until they be confumed. 1 And all the prophets prophefied fo, faying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and profper: for the LORD fhall deliver 10 into the hand of the king. 12 And the meffenger that went to call Micaiah, fpake to him, faying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one affent: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and fpeak thon good. 13 And Micaiah faid, As the LORD liveth, even what my God faith, that will 1 fpeak. 14 And when he was come to the king, the king faid unto him, Mieaiah, fhall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or fhall & forbear? And he faid, Go ye up,and profper, and they thall be delivered into your band. 15 And the king faid to him, How many times fhall I adjure thee that then fay nothing but the truth to me, in the Name of the LORD? 16 Then he faid,I did fee all Ifrael feat tered upon the mad ht have no fhepherd: and the LORD faid, Thefe have no mafter; let them returm therefore every man to his houfe in peace. 17( And the king of Ifrael faid to Jeho thaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophefy good unto me, but evil?), 18 Again P Micbaiabs propbesy. II Chronicles. 18 Again he faid, Therefore hear word of the LORD, I faw the LORD fitting upon his throne, and all the holt of heaven ftanding on his right hand, and on his left, 19 And the LORD faid, Who fhall entice Abab king of ifrael, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? and one pake, faying after this manner, and another faying after that manner. 20 Then there came out a spirit, and ftood before the LORD, and faid, I will entice him. And the LORD faid unto him, Wherewith? 21 And he faid, I will go out, and be a lying fpirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD faid, Thou fhalt entice bim, and thou shalt alfo prevail go out, and do even fo. 22 Now therefore behold, the LORD hath put a lying fpirit in the mouth of thefe thy prophets, and the LORD hath fpoken evil againit thee. 23 Thenzedekiah the fon efChanaanah, came near, and (mote Micaiah upon the cheek, and faid, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to fpeak unto thee? 24 And Micaiah faid, Behold, thou shalt fee on that day,when thou shalt ge into an inner-chamberto hide thy felf. 25 Then the king of Ifrael faid, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governour of the city, and to Joafh the kings fon : Abab flain. : 34 And the battle increafed that day howbeit the king of Ifrael ftayed bimself np in bis chariot against the Syrians, until the even: and about the time of the fun going down, he died, CHAP. XIX. I Fibofbaphat vifiteth bis kingdom. 5 His inftructions to the judges, &c. ANd Jehoshaphat the king of Judah re turned to his houfe in peace to Jeru falem. 2 And Jehu the fon of Hanani the feer, went out to meet him, and faid to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldelt thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. 3 Nevertheless, there are good things found in thee, in that thou haft taken away the groves out of the land, and halt prepared thine heart to feek God. 4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerufalem: and he went out again through the people, from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers. 5 And he fet judges in the land, throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city. 6 And faid to the judges, Take heed what ye do for ye jadge not for man, but for the LORD, who w with you in the judgment. } 7 Wherefore now, let the fear of the LORD be upon you,take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of perfons, nor taking of gifts. 26 And fay, Thus faith the king, Put this fellow in the prifon, and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. 27 And Micaiah faid, if thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD fpoken by me. And he said, Hearken all ye people. 28 So the king of Ifrael,and Jehofaphat the king of Judah, went up to Ramothgilead. 29 And the king of Ifrael faid unto Jehoshaphat, I will difguife my felf, and will go to the battle, but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Ifrael difguifed himself, and they went to the battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, faying, Fight ye not with fmall or great, fave only with the king of Ifrael. 31And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots faw Jehoshaphat, that they faid, It is the king ofIfrael: therefore they compaffed abouthim to fight: but Jehofhaphat cried out, and the LORDhelped him, and God moved them to depart from him. 32 For it came to pafs, that when the Captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Ifrael, they turned back again from purfuing him. 33 And a certain man drew a bow at la venture, and fmote the king of Ifrael between the joynts of the harnefs: therefore he faid to his chariot-man, Tum thine hand, that thou mayeft carry me out of the helt, for I am wounded. 8 Moreover, in Jerufalem did Jehofhaphat fet of the Levites, and of the prieits, and of the chief of the fathers of Ifrael, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controverfies, when they returned to Jerufalem. 9 And he charged them, faying, Thus fhall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. e To And what caufe foever fhall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their Cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trefpaís not against the LORD, and fo wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trefpafs. It And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the fan of Ifhmael, the ruler of the boufe of Judah, for all the kings matters: alfo the Levites shall be officeis before you. Deal couragiously, and the LORD fhall be with the good. P CHA P. XX. Jebofbapbat proclaimeth a faft. 5 Hi Prayer. 22 The overthrow of bis enemies. Teame to pafs after this allo, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other befide the Ammonites, came againft Jehoshaphat to battle. 22 Then there came fome that told Jehoaphat, Chap. xx. Febofbaphat proclaimith a faft. hofhaphat, faying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond thefea on this fide Syria, and behold, they be in Mazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and fet himfelf to feek the LORD, and proclaimed a falt throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themfelves together, to ask belp of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to feek the LORD. 51 And Jehofhap hat flood in the congregation of Judah and Jerufalem, in the houfe of the LORD before the new court. 6 And faid, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thoa God in heaven? and ruleft not thou ever all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, fo that none is able to withstand thee? 7 Art not thou our God,who didit drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Ifrael, and gavelt it to the feed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and havebuilt thee a fanctuary therein for thy Name,faying, 9 If when evil cometh upon us, as the fword judgment, or peftilence, or famine, we Itand before this houfe, and in thy prefence (for thy name is in this houfe) and cry unto thee in our affi:etion, then thou wilt hear and help. Jehoshaphats prayer. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head. with bis face to the ground: and allJudah and the inhabitants of Jerufalem fell before the LORD; worshipping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, ftood up to praise the LORD God of Ifrael with a loud voice on high. 20 And they rofe early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of lekoah: and as they went forth,Jehoshaphat ftood and faid, Hear me, O Judah,and ye inhabitants of Jerufalem, Believe in the LORD your God,folhall you be established, believe his prophets, fo fhall ye profper. 21 And when he had confulted with the people, he appointed fingers unto the LORD, and that fhould praife the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to fay, Praife the LORD, for his mercy enduretb for ever. 22 And when they began to fing and to praife, the LORD fet anibufhments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come againit Judah, and they were fmitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab ftood up againit the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to lay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to deftroy one another... 24 And when Judah came toward the To And now behold, the children of Am-watch-tower in the wildernels, they looked mon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom anto the multitude, and behold, they were thou wouldeft not let Ifrael invade, when dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none they came out of the land of Egypt, but eleaped. they turned from them, and deftroyedthem not: 11 Behold, I fay, bow they reward us, to come to caft us out of thy pofleflion, which thou haft given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judgethem? for we have no might against this great company that cometh againft us: neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee. 13 And all Judah ftood before the LORD, with their little ones,their wives and their children. 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the fon of Benaiah, the fon of Jehiel, the fon of Mattaniah, a Levite ofthe fons of Afaph,came the spirit of theLORD in the midft of the congregation: 15 And he faid, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerufalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus faith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid,nor difmayed, by reafon of this great multitude; for thebattle is not yours but Gods. 16To morrow go ye down againft them: behold, they come up by the cliff of ziz, and ye fhall find them at the end of the brook, before the wildernels of Jeruel. 17 Ye fhall not need to fight in this battle; fet your felves, ftand ye ftill, and fee the falvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerufalem: fear not, nor be difmayed; to morrow go out againit them, for the LORD will be with you. 25 And whenJehoshaphat and his people came to take away the fpoil of them, they found among them in abundance, bos riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels (which they ftript off for themfelves) more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was fo much. 26 And on the fourth day they affembled themfelves in the valley of Berachah, for there they bleffed the LORD: therefore the name of the fame place was called the valley of Berachah,unto this day.. 27 Then they returned every man of Judah and Jerufalem, and Jehoshaphat the forefront of them, to go again to Jerufalem with joy for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 And they came to Jerufalem with pfalteries, and, harps, and trumpets, unto the houfe of the LORD. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of thofe countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Ifrael. 30. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him rett round about. 31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: be was thirty and five years oldwhen he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerufalem and his mothers name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. P2 32 And Jeboram reign. Abariab fuccedeth. 11 Moreover, he made high places inthe mountains of Judah, and caufed the inhabitants ofJerufalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto. Il Chronicles 22 And he walked in the way of Afa his father, and departed not fromit, doing that ebich was right in the fight of theLORD: 33 Howbeit, the high places were not taken away; for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. 34 Now the reft of the acts of Jehofhaphat, firit and laft, behold, they are writ ten in the book of Jehu the fon of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Ifrael. 35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah joyn himself with Ahaziah king of Ifrael, who did very wickedly: 36 And he joined himself with him to make fhips to go to Tarthith: and they made the fhips in Ezion-gaber. 37 Then Eliezer the fon of Dodavah of Marefhah,prophefied against Jehoshaphat, faying, Becaufe thou haft joyned thy felf with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the fhips were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarfhith. CHAP. XXI. 1 Jeboram fucceeding Jebo bapbat slayeth bis brethren. Nand world with his fathers inthe eity of David and Jehoram his fon reigned in his ftead. OwJehoshaphatflept with his fathers, And he had brethren, the fons of Jehofhaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all there were the fons of Je hoshaphat king of Ifrael. 3 And their father gave them great gifts of filver,and ofgold,andof precious things, with fenced cities in Judah : but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, bacaufe he was the firtt-born. 4 Now when Jehoram was rifen up to the kingdom of his father, he ftrenthenhimfelf, and flew all his brethren with ahe word, and divers alfo of the princes of Ifrael. Jeheram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerufalem. 6And he walked in the way of the kings of Ifrael, like as did the houfe of Ahab': for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. 7 Howbeit the LORD would not deftroy the houfe of David, because of the cove nant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him, and to bistons for ever. In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. 9 Then Jeheram went forth with his Princes and all his chariots with him: and he role up by night, and (mote the Edemites which compaffed him in, and the captains of the chariots. to So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The fame time alfo didLibnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forfaken the LORD ed of his fathers. 12 11 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the Prophet, faying, Thus faith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou halt not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, ner in the ways of Afa king of Judah, 13 But baft walked in the way of the kings of Ifrael, and haft made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerufalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the houfe of Ahab, and alfo haft flain thy brethren of thy fathers houfe, which were better than thy felf: 14 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD imite thy people, and thy children, and shy wives, and all thy goods. 15 And thou shalt bave great fickness by difeafe of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out, by reafon of the fickness day by day. 16 ¶ Moreover, the LORD itirred up againft Jehoram the fpirit of thePhilistines, and of the Arabians that were near the Ethiopians. brake into it, and carried away a, and fubftance that was found in the kings houfe, and his fons alfo, and his wives; fo that there was never a fes left him, lave Jehoahaz the youngelt of his fons. 17 And they came up into Judah, 18 And after all this,the LORD fmote him in hisbowels with anincurable difeafe. 19 And it came to pafs that in procefs of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reafon of his fickness: fo he died of fore difeales: And his people made no burning for him, like the barning of his fathers. 20 Thirty and two years old was be when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerufalem eight years, and departed without being defired: howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the fepulchres of the kings. CHAP. XXII. 1 Abaziab fusseeding, reigneth wickedly. 9 He is slain by Jebu. A the inhabong of for alim indis Ahazia' his youngest fon, king in his flead: for the band of menthat came with the Arabians to the camp,had flain all the eldeft. So Ahaziah the fen of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. 2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerufalem: his mothers name also as Athaliah the daughter of Omri. 3 He alfo walked in the ways of the houfe of Ahab: for his mother was his counfeller to do wiekedly. 4 Wherefore he did evil in the fight of theLORD,like the house of Ahab for they were his counfellers after the death of his father, to his deftruction. 5. He walked alfo after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Ifrael, to war againk Hazael king of Syria, at Ramoth-gilead: and the Sytians fmote Joram. 6 And |