The Battle That Was Never Yours.

וַיְהִ֣י אַֽחֲרֵיכֵ֡ן בָּ֣אוּ בְנֵי־מוֹאָב֩ וּבְנֵ֨י עַמּ֜וֹן וְעִמָּהֶ֧ם׀ מֵֽהָעַמּוֹנִ֛ים עַל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle.

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָט֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֣א עָלֶ֜יךָ הָמ֥וֹן רָ֛ב מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיָּ֖ם מֵאֲרָ֑ם וְהִנָּם֙ בְּחַֽצְצ֣וֹנ תָּמָ֔ר הִ֖יא עֵ֥ינ גֶּֽדִי׃

[2] Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi).

וַיִּרָ֕א וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו לִדְר֣וֹשׁ לַיהוָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָא־צ֖וֹם עַל־כָּל־יְהוּדָֽה׃

[3] Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord , and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ יְהוּדָ֔ה לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ מֵֽיְהוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם מִכָּל־עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה בָּ֖אוּ לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃

[4] And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord ; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord .

וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט בִּקְהַ֧ל יְהוּדָ֛ה וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה לִפְנֵ֖י הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַחֲדָשָֽׁה׃

[5] And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord , before the new court,

וַיֹּאמַ֗ר יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ הֲלֹ֨א אַתָּֽה־ה֤וּא אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְאַתָּ֣ה מוֹשֵׁ֔ל בְּכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּבְיָדְךָ֙ כֹּ֣חַ וּגְבוּרָ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין עִמְּךָ֖ לְהִתְיַצֵּֽב׃

[6] and said, “O Lord , God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.

הֲלֹ֣א׀ אַתָּ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ הוֹרַ֙שְׁתָּ֙ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵי֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את מִלִּפְנֵ֖י עַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽתִּתְּנָ֗הּ לְזֶ֛רַע אַבְרָהָ֥ם אֹֽהַבְךָ֖ לְעוֹלָֽם׃

[7] Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ־בָ֑הּ וַיִּבְנ֨וּ לְךָ֧׀ בָּ֛הּ מִקְדָּ֖שׁ לְשִׁמְךָ֥ לֵאמֹֽר׃

[8] And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying,

אִם־תָּב֨וֹא עָלֵ֜ינוּ רָעָ֗ה חֶרֶב֮ שְׁפוֹט֮ וְדֶ֣בֶר וְרָעָב֒ נַֽעַמְדָ֞ה לִפְנֵ֨י הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ וּלְפָנֶ֔יךָ כִּ֥י שִׁמְךָ֖ בַּבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֑ה וְנִזְעַ֥ק אֵלֶ֛יךָ מִצָּרָתֵ֖נוּ וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע וְתוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃

[9] ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’

וְעַתָּ֡ה הִנֵּה֩ בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֨וֹן וּמוֹאָ֜ב וְהַר־שֵׂעִ֗יר אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־נָתַ֤תָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לָב֣וֹא בָהֶ֔ם בְּבֹאָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּ֛י סָ֥רוּ מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א הִשְׁמִידֽוּם׃

[10] And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy—

וְהִ֨נֵּה־הֵ֔ם גֹּמְלִ֖ים עָלֵ֑ינוּ לָבוֹא֙ לְגָ֣רְשֵׁ֔נוּ מִיְּרֻשָּׁתְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֽוֹרַשְׁתָּֽנוּ׃

[11] behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.

אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ הֲלֹ֣א תִשְׁפָּט־בָּ֔ם כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין בָּ֙נוּ֙ כֹּ֔חַ לִ֠פְנֵי הֶהָמ֥וֹן הָרָ֛ב הַזֶּ֖ה הַבָּ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ לֹ֤א נֵדַע֙ מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כִּ֥י עָלֶ֖יךָ עֵינֵֽינוּ׃

[12] O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

וְכָ֨ל־יְהוּדָ֔ה עֹמְדִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה גַּם־טַפָּ֖ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֥ם וּבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ פ

[13] Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord , with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

וְיַחֲזִיאֵ֡ל בֶּן־זְכַרְיָ֡הוּ בֶּן־בְּ֠נָיָה בֶּן־יְעִיאֵ֧ל בֶּן־מַתַּנְיָ֛ה הַלֵּוִ֖י מִן־בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֑ף הָיְתָ֤ה עָלָיו֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל׃

[14] And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ כָל־יְהוּדָה֙ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה לָכֶ֗ם אַ֠תֶּם אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ וְאַל־תֵּחַ֙תּוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֨י הֶהָמ֤וֹן הָרָב֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָכֶ֛ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כִּ֥י לֵאלֹהִֽים׃

[15] And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.

מָחָר֙ רְד֣וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם הִנָּ֥ם עֹלִ֖ים בְּמַעֲלֵ֣ה הַצִּ֑יץ וּמְצָאתֶ֤ם אֹתָם֙ בְּס֣וֹף הַנַּ֔חַל פְּנֵ֖י מִדְבַּ֥ר יְרוּאֵֽל׃

[16] Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel.

לֹ֥א לָכֶ֖ם לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם בָּזֹ֑את הִתְיַצְּב֣וּ עִמְד֡וּ וּרְא֣וּ אֶת־יְשׁוּעַת֩ יְהוָ֨ה עִמָּכֶ֜ם יְהוּדָ֣ה וִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙ וְאַל־תֵּחַ֔תּוּ מָחָר֙ צְא֣וּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיהוָ֖ה עִמָּכֶֽם׃

[17] You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

וַיִּקֹּ֧ד יְהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט אַפַּ֖יִם אָ֑רְצָה וְכָל־יְהוּדָ֞ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם נָֽפְלוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת לַיהוָֽה׃

[18] Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord , worshiping the Lord .

וַיָּקֻ֧מוּ הַלְוִיִּ֛ם מִן־בְּנֵ֥י הַקְּהָתִ֖ים וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י הַקָּרְחִ֑ים לְהַלֵּ֗ל לַיהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּק֥וֹל גָּד֖וֹל לְמָֽעְלָה׃

[19] And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord , the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֵּצְא֖וּ לְמִדְבַּ֣ר תְּק֑וֹעַ וּבְצֵאתָ֞ם עָמַ֣ד יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שְׁמָע֗וּנִי יְהוּדָה֙ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם הַאֲמִ֜ינוּ בַּיהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם֙ וְתֵ֣אָמֵ֔נוּ הַאֲמִ֥ינוּ בִנְבִיאָ֖יו וְהַצְלִֽיחוּ׃

[20] And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”

וַיִּוָּעַץ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם וַיַּעֲמֵ֤ד מְשֹֽׁרֲרִים֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וּֽמְהַֽלְלִ֖ים לְהַדְרַת־קֹ֑דֶשׁ בְּצֵאת֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הֶֽחָל֔וּץ וְאֹֽמְרִים֙ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃

[21] And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord , for his steadfast love endures forever.”

וּבְעֵת֩ הֵחֵ֨לּוּ בְרִנָּ֜ה וּתְהִלָּ֗ה נָתַ֣ן יְהוָ֣ה׀ מְ֠אָֽרְבִים עַל־בְּנֵ֨י עַמּ֜וֹן מוֹאָ֧ב וְהַר־שֵׂעִ֛יר הַבָּאִ֥ים לִֽיהוּדָ֖ה וַיִּנָּגֵֽפוּ׃

[22] And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

וַ֠יַּֽעַמְדוּ בְּנֵ֨י עַמּ֧וֹן וּמוֹאָ֛ב עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הַר־שֵׂעִ֖יר לְהַחֲרִ֣ים וּלְהַשְׁמִ֑יד וּכְכַלּוֹתָם֙ בְּיוֹשְׁבֵ֣י שֵׂעִ֔יר עָזְר֥וּ אִישׁ־בְּרֵעֵ֖הוּ לְמַשְׁחִֽית׃

[23] For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

וִֽיהוּדָ֛ה בָּ֥א עַל־הַמִּצְפֶּ֖ה לַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיִּפְנוּ֙ אֶל־הֶ֣הָמ֔וֹן וְהִנָּ֧ם פְּגָרִ֛ים נֹפְלִ֥ים אַ֖רְצָה וְאֵ֥ין פְּלֵיטָֽה׃

[24] When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped.

וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט וְעַמּוֹ֮ לָבֹ֣ז אֶת־שְׁלָלָם֒ וַיִּמְצְאוּ֩ בָהֶ֨ם לָרֹ֜ב וּרְכ֤וּשׁ וּפְגָרִים֙ וּכְלֵ֣י חֲמֻד֔וֹת וַיְנַצְּל֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לְאֵ֣ין מַשָּׂ֑א וַיִּֽהְי֞וּ יָמִ֧ים שְׁלוֹשָׁ֛ה בֹּזְזִ֥ים אֶת־הַשָּׁלָ֖ל כִּ֥י רַב־הֽוּא׃

[25] When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much.

וּבַיּ֣וֹם הָרְבִעִ֗י נִקְהֲלוּ֙ לְעֵ֣מֶק בְּרָכָ֔ה כִּי־שָׁ֖ם בֵּרֲכ֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֡ן קָֽרְא֞וּ אֶת־שֵׁ֨ם הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֛וּא עֵ֥מֶק בְּרָכָ֖ה עַד־הַיּֽוֹם׃

[26] On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord . Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day.

וַ֠יָּשֻׁבוּ כָּל־אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֤ה וִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט בְּרֹאשָׁ֔ם לָשׁ֥וּב אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה כִּֽי־שִׂמְּחָ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה מֵֽאוֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃

[27] Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies.

וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם בִּנְבָלִ֥ים וּבְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּבַחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת אֶל־בֵּ֖ית יְהוָֽה׃

[28] They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord .

וַיְהִי֙ פַּ֣חַד אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַ֖ל כָּל־מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת בְּשָׁמְעָ֕ם כִּ֚י נִלְחַ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה עִ֖ם אוֹיְבֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[29] And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.

וַתִּשְׁקֹ֖ט מַלְכ֣וּת יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט וַיָּ֧נַֽח ל֦וֹ אֱלֹהָ֖יו מִסָּבִֽיב׃ פ

[30] So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט עַל־יְהוּדָ֑ה בֶּן־שְׁלֹשִׁים֩ וְחָמֵ֨שׁ שָׁנָ֜ה בְּמָלְכ֗וֹ וְעֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֤שׁ שָׁנָה֙ מָלַ֣ךְ בִּֽירוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ עֲזוּבָ֖ה בַּת־שִׁלְחִֽי׃

[31] Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He 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.

וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ בְּדֶ֛רֶךְ אָבִ֥יו אָסָ֖א וְלֹא־סָ֣ר מִמֶּ֑נָּה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

[32] He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord .

אַ֥ךְ הַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־סָ֑רוּ וְע֤וֹד הָעָם֙ לֹא־הֵכִ֣ינוּ לְבָבָ֔ם לֵאלֹהֵ֖י אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

[33] The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.

וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י יְהוֹשָׁפָ֔ט הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים בְּדִבְרֵי֙ יֵה֣וּא בֶן־חֲנָ֔נִי אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֹֽעֲלָ֔ה עַל־סֵ֖פֶר מַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[34] Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

וְאַחֲרֵיכֵ֗ן אֶתְחַבַּר֙ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֔ה עִ֖ם אֲחַזְיָ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ה֖וּא הִרְשִׁ֥יעַ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

[35] After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly.

וַיְחַבְּרֵ֣הוּ עִמּ֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֳנִיּ֖וֹת לָלֶ֣כֶת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֳנִיּ֖וֹת בְּעֶצְי֥וֹנ גָּֽבֶר׃

[36] He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber.

וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֞א אֱלִיעֶ֤זֶר בֶּן־דֹּדָוָ֙הוּ֙ מִמָּ֣רֵשָׁ֔ה עַל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּהִֽתְחַבֶּרְךָ֣ עִם־אֲחַזְיָ֗הוּ פָּרַ֤ץ יְהוָה֙ אֶֽת־מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וַיִּשָּׁבְר֣וּ אֳנִיּ֔וֹת וְלֹ֥א עָצְר֖וּ לָלֶ֥כֶת אֶל־תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃

[37] Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.