2 Chronicles 20:1-22
After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,
came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Messengers came and told
Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from
beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar" (that is, En-gedi).
Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a
fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD;
from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of
the LORD, before the new court, and said, "O LORD, God of our ancestors,
are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the
nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to
withstand you. Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this
land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of
your friend Abraham? They have lived in it, and in it have built you a
sanctuary for your name, saying, '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 to you in our
distress, and you will hear and save.' See now, the people of Ammon,
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 — they
reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given
us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For
we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their
wives, and their children. Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel
son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite
of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. He said, "Listen,
all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says
the LORD to you: 'Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for
the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them; they
will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the
valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. This battle is not for you to
fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD on
your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow
go out against them, and the LORD will be with you."
Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and
the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the
LORD. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to
praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa;
and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah
and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God and you will
be established; believe his prophets." When he had taken counsel with the
people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in
holy splendor, as they went before the army, saying,
"Give thanks to the LORD,
for his steadfast love endures forever."
