Asa smiteth the Ethiopians. B. C. about 951. 941. ⚫ ch. 16. 8. f Josh, 15. 44. g Ex. 14. 10. ch. 13. 14. Ps. 22. 5. II. CHRONICLES. h Judah's covenant with God. 6 And nation was destroyed of † Heb. beaten nation, and city of city for God did vex them with all adversity. 7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away inations. 11 And Asa cried unto the LORD the tabominable idols out of all the † Heb. abom h1 Sam. 14. 6. ing with thee to help, whether with Prov. 18. 10. I Or, mortal man. k ch. 13. 15. 1 Gen. 10. 19. & 20. 1. 12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. 13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto 'Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover them+Heb. broken. selves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. m Gen. 35, 5. ch. 17. 10. a Num. 24. 2. Judg. 3. 10. ch, 20. 14. & 24. 20. + Heb. before Asa. b James 4. 8. t 14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them. 15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. CHAPTER XV. covenant with God. 16 He removeth Maachah his things into the house of God, and enjoyeth a long peace. a AND the Spirit of God cam ND the Spirit of God came upon 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 ch. 33. 12, 13. found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. e ver. 4, 15. Jer. 29. 13. d ch. 24. 20. • Hos. 3. 4. с 3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with 1 ch. 11. 16. them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. m ch. 14. 15. 11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of "the spoil +Heb. in that which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. 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. 14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. Baasha's design defeated. B. C. 941. 940. 41 Kings 15. 17, &c. ch. 15. 9. •Heh, DarBack Eeb, which were hit. 941. Kings 16.1. 192 €1.31. 1. Jer. 17. 5. ch. 14.9. 12. 3 + Hay is abundance. t Jub $4.21. Prov. 5, 21. & 33. Jer. 16. 17. & 32.19. Zoch 4.10. taken away out of Israel: neverthe- | of them whose heart is perfect toward 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. CHAPTER XVI. Asa, by the aid of the Syrians, diverteth Baasha from euse, he seeketh not to God, but to the physicians. 13 His death and burial. N the six and thirtieth year of 11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, 11 Kings 15. 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 m Jer. 17. 5. cians. Ith the six and antisha Ying of in his, list to the physi Israel came up against Judah, and 2 Then Asa brought out silver and 914. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year 1 Kings 15. of his reign. 24. • Gen. 50. 2. Mark 16. 1. 14 And they buried him in his own 3 There is a league between me and 4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of this armies against the cities of Is CHAPTER XVII. pereth. 7 He sendeth Levites with the princes to John 19. 39, 40. Pch. 21. 19. Jer. 34. 5. rael; and they smote ljon, and Dan, AND Jehoshaphat his son reigned 1 Kings 15 7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and 'the Lubim ta 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 only and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf to hold with them, &c. Jehoshaphat's greatness. B. C. 912. 5 ch. 15. 3. h ch. 35. 3. Neh. 8. 7. i Gen. 35. 5. † Heb. was. k 2 Sam. 8. 2. Michaiah, to teach in the cities of down to Ahab to Samaria. Judah. 8 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama 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. 10 And the fear of the LORD + fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Also some of the Philistines *brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. 12 ¶ And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah Or, palaces. castles, and cities of store. + Heb. at his hand. 13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem. 14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand. 15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand. 16 And next him was Amasiah the 1 Judg. 5. 2, 9. son of Zichri, 'who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour. And B. C. 897. Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead. 3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war. 4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, 41 Sam. 23.2 at the word of the LORD to day. 5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand. 4, 9. 2 Sam 2. L. Heb. Hasten 8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, FetchOr, uncha quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. 9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place | Or, floor. at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until + they be consumed. 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 the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. 13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak. 14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he + Heb. thou consume + Heb. with one mouth. e Num. 22 18, 20, S5, & 23. 12, 26. & 24 13 1 Kings 22.14. Micaiah's prophecy. II. CHRONICLES. The death of Ahab. 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. B. C. 897. said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they | Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, shall be delivered into your hand. 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? 16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace. 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, Or, but for but evil? 'Jcb 1.6. (Job 12 16. 1. 19. 14. Mark 14. 65. Arts 23. 2. 18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20 Then there came out a 'spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? 21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. 22 Now therefore, behold, & the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee. 23 Then Zedekiah the son of Che 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel. 31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. B. C. 897. Jehoshaphat is reproved by Jehu the prophet. 5 His instructions to the judges, 8 and to the priests and Levites. AND Jehoshaphat the king of Ju dah returned to his house in Jer. 20. 2 naanah came near, and smote Mi-peace to Jerusalem. 1 Or. from chamber to chamber. † Heb. a chamber in a chamber. ch. 16. 10. 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; 26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. 27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people. 28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said unto + Heb.between the joints and between the breastplate. + Heb. made sick. 896. b Ps. 139. 21. 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the 1 Sam. 9. 9. seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. ch. 32. 25. ch. 17. 4, 6. See ch. 12. 12. 3 Nevertheless, there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine ch. 30. 19. heart to seek God. Ezra 7. 10. turned and went out. 4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and the went out again through + Heb. he rethe 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, f Deut. 1. 17. g Ps. 82. 1. Ecc. 5. 8. 6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for 'ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, & who is with Heb, in the matter of you in the judgment. judgment. Jehoshaphat's charge. B. C. 896. b Deut. 32. 4. Rom. 9. 14. i Deut. 10. 17. Job 34. 19. Acts 10, 34. Rom. 2. 11. Gal. 2. 6. Eph. 6. 9. Col. 3. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 17. k Deut. 16. 18. ch. 17. 8. m Deut. 17. 8, &c. II. CHRONICLES. 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 i respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. 8¶ Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. m 9 And he charged them, saying, Thus 12 Sam. 23. 3. shall ye do 'in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10 And what cause soever shall 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 trespass not against the LORD, and so a Num. 16. 46. wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. o Ez. 3. 18. n 11 And, behold, Amariah the chief p 1 Chr. 26.30. priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. + Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good. + Heb. Take courage and do. q ch. 15. 2. His prayer in distress. so that none is able to withstand B. C. 896. 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, i + Heb, thou Gen. 17. 7. Ex. 6. 7. i Ps. 44. 2. Is. 41.2. James 2. 23. 33, 37, ch. 6. 28, 29, 30. m ch. 6. 20. 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as 11 Kings 8. the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy "name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou "wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy P Ps. 83. 12 possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but 'our eyes are upon thee. 13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Congregation; the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not Ex. 14. 13, afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 14. Deut. 1. 29, 90. & $1. 6,8. ch. 27. 16 To morrow go ye down against them behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them+Heb. ascent. at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 " Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: *for the LORD will be with you. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the children |
