The Prophet Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat

191 And Jehoshaphat king of Judah turneth back unto his house in peace to Jerusalem, 2 and go out unto his presence doth Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, and saith unto king Jehoshaphat, 'To give help to the wicked, and to those hating Jehovah, dost thou love? and for this against thee 'is' wrath from before Jehovah, 3 but good things have been found with thee, for thou hast put away the shrines out of the land, and hast prepared thy heart to seek God.'

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

4 And Jehoshaphat dwelleth in Jerusalem, and he turneth back and goeth out among the people from Beer-Sheba unto the hill-country of Ephraim, and bringeth them back unto Jehovah, God of their fathers.

5 And he establisheth judges in the land, in all the fenced cities of Judah, for every city, 6 and saith unto the judges, 'See what ye are doing—for not for man do ye judge, but for Jehovah, who 'is' with you in the matter of judgment; 7 and now, let fear of Jehovah be upon you, observe and do, for there is not with Jehovah our God perverseness, and acceptance of faces, and taking of a bribe.' 8 And also in Jerusalem hath Jehoshaphat appointed of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the heads of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of Jehovah, and for strife; and they turn back to Jerusalem, 9 and he layeth a charge upon them, saying, 'Thus do ye do in the fear of Jehovah, in faithfulness, and with a perfect heart, 10 and any strife that cometh in unto you of your brethren who are dwelling in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and command, statutes, and judgments, then ye have warned them and they become not guilty before Jehovah, and wrath hath not been on you and on your brethren; thus do ye do, and ye are not guilty. 11 'And, lo, Amariah the head priest 'is' over you for every matter of Jehovah, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the house of Judah, 'is' for every matter of the king, and officers the Levites 'are' before you; be strong and do, and Jehovah is with the good.'

The Victory over Moab and Ammon

201 And it cometh to pass after this, the sons of Moab have come in, and the sons of Ammon, and with them of the peoples, against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 And they come in and declare to Jehoshaphat, saying, 'Come against thee hath a great multitude from beyond the sea, from Aram, and lo, they 'are' in Hazezon-Tamar—it 'is' En-Gedi.' 3 And Jehoshaphat feareth, and setteth his face to seek to Jehovah, and proclaimeth a fast over all Judah; 4 and Judah is gathered to inquire of Jehovah; also, from all the cities of Judah they have come in to seek Jehovah. 5 And Jehoshaphat standeth in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, at the front of the new court, 6 and saith, 'O Jehovah, God of our fathers, art not Thou—God in the heavens? yea, Thou art ruling over all kingdoms of the nations, and in Thy hand 'is' power and might, and there is none with Thee to station himself. 7 'Art not Thou our God? Thou hast dispossessed the inhabitants of this land from before Thy people Israel, and dost give it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend to the age, 8 and they dwell in it, and build to Thee in it a sanctuary for Thy name, saying, 9 If evil doth come upon us—sword, judgment, and pestilence, and famine—we stand before this house, and before Thee, for Thy name 'is' in this house, and cry unto Thee out of our distress, and Thou dost hear and save. 10 'And now, lo, sons of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom Thou didst not grant to Israel to go in against in their coming out of the land of Egypt, for they turned aside from off them and destroyed them not, 11 and lo, they are recompensing to us—to come in to drive us out of Thy possession, that Thou hast caused us to possess. 12 'O our God, dost Thou not execute judgment upon them? for there is no power in us before this great multitude that hath come against us, and we know not what we do, but on Thee 'are' our eyes.' 13 And all Judah are standing before Jehovah, also their infants, their wives, and their sons.

14 And upon Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, hath the Spirit of Jehovah been, in the midst of the assembly, 15 and he saith, 'Attend, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and O king Jehoshaphat, Thus said Jehovah to you, Ye fear not, nor are afraid of the face of this great multitude, for not for you 'is' the battle, but for God. 16 To-morrow, go ye down against them, lo, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz, and ye have found them in the end of the valley, the front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Not for you to fight in this; station yourselves, stand, and see the salvation of Jehovah with you, O Judah and Jerusalem—be not afraid nor fear ye—to-morrow go out before them, and Jehovah 'is' with you.' 18 And Jehoshaphat boweth—face to the earth—and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem have fallen before Jehovah, to bow themselves to Jehovah. 19 And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohathites, and of the sons of the Korhites, rise to give praise to Jehovah, God of Israel, with a loud voice on high.

20 And they rise early in the morning, and go out to the wilderness of Tekoa, and in their going out Jehoshaphat hath stood and saith, 'Hear me, O Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, remain stedfast in Jehovah your God, and be stedfast; remain stedfast in His prophets, and prosper.' 21 And he taketh counsel with the people, and appointeth singers to Jehovah, and those giving praise to the honour of holiness, in the going out before the armed 'men', and saying, 'Give ye thanks to Jehovah, for to the age 'is' His kindness.' 22 And at the time they have begun with singing and praise, Jehovah hath put ambushments against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who are coming in to Judah, and they are smitten, 23 and the sons of Ammon stand up, and Moab, against the inhabitants of mount Seir, to devote and to destroy, and at their finishing with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped, a man against his neighbour, to destroy. 24 And Judah hath come in unto the watch-tower, to the wilderness, and they look unto the multitude, and lo, they 'are' carcases fallen to the earth, and there is none escaped, 25 and Jehoshaphat cometh in, and his people, to seize their spoil, and they find among them, in abundance, both goods and carcases, and desirable vessels, and they take spoil to themselves without prohibition, and they are three days seizing the spoil, for it 'is' abundant. 26 And on the fourth day they have been assembled at the valley of Blessing, for there they blessed Jehovah: therefore they have called the name of that place, 'Valley of Blessing,' unto this day. 27 And they turn back, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, to go back unto Jerusalem with joy, for Jehovah hath made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 And they come in to Jerusalem with psalteries, and with harps, and with trumpets, unto the house of Jehovah. 29 And there is a fear of God on all kingdoms of the lands in their hearing that Jehovah hath fought with the enemies of Israel, 30 and the kingdom of Jehoshaphat is quiet, and his God giveth rest to him round about.

The Reign of Jehoshaphat

31 And Jehoshaphat reigneth over Judah, a son of thirty and five years in his reigning, and twenty and five years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother 'is' Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walketh in the way of his father Asa, and hath not turned aside from it, to do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah. 33 Only, the high places have not turned aside, and still the people have not prepared their heart for the God of their fathers. 34 And the rest of the matters of Jehoshaphat, the first and the last, lo, they are written among the matters of Jehu son of Hanani, who hath been mentioned on the book of the kings of Israel. 35 And after this hath Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, (he did wickedly in 'so' doing), 36 and he joineth him with himself to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they make ships in Ezion-Geber, 37 and prophesy doth Eliezer son of Dodavah, of Mareshah, against Jehoshaphat, saying, 'For thy joining thyself with Ahaziah, Jehovah hath broken up thy works;' and the ships are broken, and have not retained 'power' to go unto Tarshish.

The Reign of Jehoram of Judah

211 And Jehoshaphat lieth with his fathers, and is buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigneth in his stead. 2 And he hath brethren, sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah; all these 'are' sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel, 3 and their father giveth to them many gifts of silver and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah, and the kingdom he hath given to Jehoram, for He 'is' the first-born. 4 And Jehoram riseth up over the kingdom of his father, and strengtheneth himself, and slayeth all his brethren with the sword, and also—of the heads of Israel. 5 A son of thirty and two years 'is' Jehoram in his reigning, and eight years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, 6 and he walketh in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab, for a daughter of Ahab hath been to him for a wife, and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, 7 and Jehovah hath not been willing to destroy the house of David, for the sake of the covenant that He made with David, and as He had said to give to him a lamp, and to his sons—all the days. 8 In his days hath Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and cause a king to reign over them; 9 and Jehoram passeth over with his heads, and all the chariots with him, and it cometh to pass, he hath risen by night and smiteth the Edomites who are coming round against him, and the princes of the chariots, 10 and Edom revolteth from under the hand of Judah unto this day; then doth Libnah revolt at that time from under his hand, because he hath forsaken Jehovah, God of his fathers, 11 also, he hath made high places in the mountains of Judah, and causeth the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit whoredom, and compelleth Judah.

12 And there cometh in unto him a writing from Elijah the prophet, saying, 'Thus said Jehovah, God of David thy father, Because that thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, and in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 and thou dost walk in the way of the kings of Israel, and dost cause Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit whoredom like the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also thy brethren, the house of thy father, who are better than thyself, thou hast slain; 14 lo, Jehovah is smiting—a great smiting—among thy people, and among thy sons, and among thy wives, and among all thy goods— 15 and thou, with many sicknesses, with disease of thy bowels, till thy bowels come out, by the sickness, day by day.' 16 And Jehovah waketh up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, who 'are' beside the Cushim, 17 and they come up into Judah, and rend it, and take captive all the substance that is found at the house of the king, and also his sons, and his wives, and there hath not been left to him a son except Jehoahaz the youngest of his sons. 18 And after all this hath Jehovah plagued him in his bowels by a disease for which there is no healing, 19 and it cometh to pass, from days to days, and at the time of the going out of the end of two years, his bowels have gone out with his sickness, and he dieth of sore diseases, and his people have not made for him a burning like the burning of his fathers. 20 A son of thirty and two 'years' was he in his reigning, and eight years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and he goeth without desire, and they bury him in the city of David, and not in the graves of the kings.

The Reign of Ahaziah of Judah

221 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem cause Ahaziah his youngest son to reign in his stead, (for all the elder had the troop slain that came in with the Arabians to the camp,) and Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah reigneth. 2 A son of twenty and two years 'is' Ahaziah in his reigning, and one year he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother 'is' Athaliah daughter of Omri; 3 he also hath walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother hath been his counsellor to do wickedly. 4 And he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, like the house of Ahab, for they have been his counsellors, after the death of his father, for destruction to him. 5 Also, in their counsel he hath walked, and goeth with Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel to battle against Hazael king of Aram, in Ramoth-Gilead, and they of Ramah smite Joram; 6 and he turneth back to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds with which they had smitten him in Ramah, in his fighting with Hazael king of Aram. And Azariah son of Jehoram king of Judah hath gone down to see Jehoram son of Ahab, in Jezreel, for he 'is' sick;

Jehu Kills Ahaziah

7 and from God hath been the destruction of Ahaziah, to come unto Joram: and in his coming he hath gone out with Jehoram unto Jehu son of Nimshi, whom Jehovah anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8 And it cometh to pass, in Jehu's executing judgment with the house of Ahab, that he findeth the heads of Judah and sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, ministers of Ahaziah, and slayeth them. 9 And he seeketh Ahaziah, and they capture him, (and he is hiding himself in Samaria), and bring him in unto Jehu, and put him to death, and bury him, for they said, 'He 'is' son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Jehovah with all his heart;' and there is none to the house of Ahaziah to retain power for the kingdom.

Athaliah Usurps the Throne

10 And Athaliah mother of Ahaziah hath seen that her son is dead, and she riseth and destroyeth the whole seed of the kingdom of the house of Judah. 11 And Jehoshabeath daughter of the king taketh Joash son of Ahaziah, and stealeth him from the midst of the sons of the king who are put to death, and putteth him and his nurse into the inner part of the bed-chambers, and Jehoshabeath daughter of king Jehoram, wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she hath been sister of Ahaziah, hideth him from the face of Athaliah, and she hath not put him to death. 12 And he is with them in the house of God hiding himself six years, and Athaliah is reigning over the land.

231 And in the seventh year hath Jehoiada strengthened himself, and taketh the heads of the hundreds, even Azariah son of Jeroham, and Ishmael son of Jehohanan, and Azariah son of Obed, and Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri, with him into covenant. 2 And they go round about in Judah, and gather the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and heads of the fathers of Israel, and come in unto Jerusalem, 3 and all the assembly make a covenant in the house of God with the king, and he saith to them, 'Lo, the son of the king doth reign, as Jehovah spake concerning the sons of David. 4 'This 'is' the thing that ye do: The third of you, going in on the sabbath, of the priests, and of the Levites, 'are' for gatekeepers of the thresholds, 5 and the third 'are' at the house of the king, and the third at the gate of the foundation, and all the people 'are' in the courts of the house of Jehovah. 6 'And none doth enter the house of Jehovah except the priests, and those ministering of the Levites (they go in for they 'are' holy), and all the people keep the watch of Jehovah: 7 and the Levites have compassed the king round about, each with his weapon in his hand, and he who hath gone in unto the house is put to death; and be ye with the king in his coming in and in his going out.' 8 And the Levites and all Judah do according to all that Jehoiada the priest hath commanded, and take each his men going in on the sabbath, with those going out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest hath not let away the courses. 9 And Jehoiada the priest giveth to the heads of the hundreds the spears, and the shields, and the bucklers that 'are' king David's, that 'are' in the house of God; 10 and he stationeth the whole of the people, and each his dart in his hand, from the right shoulder of the house unto the left shoulder of the house, at the altar, and at the house, by the king, round about. 11 And they bring out the son of the king, and put upon him the crown, and the testimony, and cause him to reign; and Jehoiada and his sons anoint him, and say, 'Let the king live!'

12 And Athaliah heareth the voice of the people who are running, and who are praising the king, and she cometh in unto the people in the house of Jehovah, 13 and seeth, and lo, the king is standing by his pillar in the entrance, and the heads, and the trumpets 'are' by the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and shouting with trumpets, and the singers with instruments of song, and the teachers, to praise, and Athaliah rendeth her garments, and saith, 'Conspiracy, conspiracy.' 14 And Jehoiada the priest bringeth out the heads of the hundreds, inspectors of the force, and saith unto them, 'Take her out from within the rows, and he who hath gone after her is put to death by the sword;' for the priest said, 'Put her not to death 'in' the house of Jehovah.' 15 And they make for her sides, and she cometh in unto the entrance of the gate of the horses at the house of the king, and they put her to death there. 16 And Jehoiada maketh a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, to be for a people to Jehovah; 17 and all the people enter the house of Baal, and break it down, yea, his altars and his images they have broken, and Mattan priest of Baal they have slain before the altars. 18 And Jehoiada putteth the offices of the house of Jehovah into the hand of the priests the Levites whom David had apportioned over the house of Jehovah, to cause to ascend the burnt-offerings of Jehovah, as written in the law of Moses, with joy, and with singing, by the hands of David; 19 and he stationeth the gatekeepers over the gates of the house of Jehovah, and the unclean in anything doth not go in. 20 And he taketh the heads of the hundreds, and the honourable ones, and the rulers among the people, and all the people of the land, and bringeth down the king from the house of Jehovah, and they come in through the high gate to the house of the king, and cause the king to sit on the throne of the kingdom. 21 And all the people of the land rejoice, and the city hath been quiet, and Athaliah they have put to death by the sword.