3. Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he asked the Lord what to do. He then told the people of Judah to go without eating to show their sorrow.
4. They immediately left for Jerusalem to ask for the Lord's help.
5. After everyone from Judah and Jerusalem had come together at the Lord's temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the new courtyard
6. and prayed:You, Lord, are the God our ancestors worshipped, and from heaven you rule every nation in the world. You are so powerful that no one can defeat you.
7. Our God, you forced out the nations who lived in this land before your people Israel came here, and you gave it to the descendants of your friend Abraham for ever.
8. Our ancestors lived in this land and built a temple to honour you.
9. They believed that whenever this land is struck by war or disease or famine, your people can pray to you at the temple, and you will hear their prayer and save them.
27-28. Jehoshaphat led the crowd back to Jerusalem. And as they marched, they played harps and blew trumpets. They were very happy because the Lord had given them victory over their enemies, so when they reached the city, they went straight to the temple.
29. When the other nations heard how the Lord had fought against Judah's enemies, they were too afraid
30. to invade Judah. The Lord let Jehoshaphat's kingdom be at peace.
31. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
32. Jehoshaphat obeyed the Lord, just as his father Asa had done,
33. but he did not destroy the local shrines. So the people still worshipped foreign gods, instead of faithfully serving the God their ancestors had worshipped.
34. Everything else Jehoshaphat did while he was king is written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani that are included in The History of the Kings of Israel.
35. While Jehoshaphat was king, he signed a peace treaty with Ahaziah the wicked king of Israel.
36. They agreed to build several seagoing ships at Ezion-Geber.
37. But the prophet Eliezer warned Jehoshaphat, “The Lord will destroy these ships because you have supported Ahaziah.” The ships were wrecked and never sailed.