2 Chronicles 20
Moabites & Ammonites attack Judah
After that the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites challenged Jehoshaphat to battle. People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A huge army is approaching from Edom, beyond the sea, and they’re even in Hazazon-tamar (Engedi) as we speak.” That scared Jehoshaphat, so he sought the Existing One and proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah. So all of Judah’s cities assembled to ask the Existing One for help.
Judah asks God for help
Jehoshaphat stood up in front of the assembly at the Existing One's house in Jerusalem and said, “Oh God of our forefathers, the Existing One, aren’t you the God who lives in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms and countries. Your hold so much power and strength that no one can stand against you. Weren’t you the one who drove out the inhabitants of this land before you gave it to your friend Abraham’s descendants, your people Israel? They have lived in it and built you a sanctuary in it, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, the plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this house and in front of you (because your identity lives in this house) and cry out to you in our pain, and you will hear and save.’ Now look: men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir came to drive us out of your possession even though you always kept us from destroying each other. Oh, our God, won't you execute judgment on them? We are powerless against this great horde that approaches us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
Prophet says God will save Judah
Meanwhile, all of Judah stood in front of the Existing One with their wives, infants, and children. Then in the middle of the assembly the Existing One’s spirit came upon Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph's descendants). And he said, “Everyone listen: the Existing One says, ‘Don't be scared or disturbed by this great horde, for this battle isn't yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them, and they will come come up from Ziz’s ascent. You’ll find them there at the end of the valley, east of Jeruel’s wilderness. You won't need to fight this battle. Stand firm, hold your ground, and witness the Existing One save you, oh Judah and Jerusalem.’ Don't be scared, and don’t stress out. Go out against them tomorrow, and the Existing One will be with you.”
Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head, put his face on the ground, and all of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the Existing One and worshiped him. The Levites, Kohathites, and Korahites stood up to praise Israel’s God the Existing One with a loud voice.
Judah praises God, & enemies kill each other
So they got up early in the morning and went out into the Tekoa wilderness. When they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in your God the Existing One, and you will be established. Believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” After taking counsel with the people, he appointed vocalists to wear holy attire and go ahead of the army saying,
“Thank the Existing One, for his steady love never ends.”
And when they started singing praises, the Existing One set an ambush against Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, so that they retreated. Ammon and Moab rose against the soldiers of Mount Seir, and when they had destroyed them, they started fighting against each other.
Judah loots for 3 days
When Judah came to the wilderness watchtower, they looked toward the horde, and sure enough, dead bodies were scattered all over the ground—there were no survivors. When Jehoshaphat's people came to take their loot, they took as as many goods, clothes, and valuables as they could carry. They looted for three whole days because of how much loot there was. On the fourth day they gathered in the Beracah Valley (Blessings Valley) and blessed the Existing One there. That's why it has been called the Beracah Valley even to this day. Then Jehoshaphat led them back to Judah and Jerusalem, and they were glad that the Existing One defeated their enemies. When they got back to Jerusalem, they went to the Existing One's house with harps, lyres, and trumpets. All the surrounding countries became scared of God when they heard that the Existing One had fought Israel's enemies.
Jehoshaphat follows God
So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was 35 years old when he started to reign, and he reigned from Jerusalem for 25 years. His mom was Azubah (Shilhi’s daughter), and he unwaveringly lived in the ways of his father Asa, doing what was right in the Existing One's sight. However, the pagan shrines were never destroyed, and the people hadn't dedicated their hearts to their forefathers’s God.
The rest of Jehoshaphat's history from beginning to end is recorded in the book of Israel's Kings under the the chronicles of Jehu (Hanani’s son).
Jehoshaphat strays from God
After this Judah’s King Jehoshaphat joined Israel's King Ahaziah who lived wickedly. he joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, buildign them in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer (the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah) prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you joined Ahaziah, the Existing One will destroy what you’ve made.” And the ships were wrecked and unable to go to Tarshish.