Part 202 (1/2)

(Jehoshaphat was one of the wisest and best of the kings of Judah. He increased the territory of the nation greatly. He conquered Edom so that it was governed by a va.s.sal king. By conquering this country he gained a seaport, and it is interesting to note that he fitted out a fleet of s.h.i.+ps and attempted to revive the trade of Solomon for the gold of Ophir. The s.h.i.+ps, however, never reached their destination.

They were wrecked when starting on their first voyage, and he did not have the courage to repeat the attempt. For the first time since the reign of Solomon, there was peace between Judah and Israel. A treaty was made between the two kings, and Jehoram, heir to the throne of Judah, was married to Athaliah, daughter of King Ahab of Israel.

Through this alliance it was hoped no doubt to join the two kingdoms and restore the lost glory of the past. The attempt ended in failure.

Athaliah was wicked, like all the race of Ahab and Jezebel, and brought only disaster to Judah.)

And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken; and Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not the idols of Baal; but sought the G.o.d of {256} his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance.

Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; and with them the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the Lord with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people. 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. And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.

And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store. And he had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

(Jehoshaphat made a league with Ahab king of Israel and they fought together a battle in which Ahab was struck by an arrow from an archer's bow and was killed.)

But Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, ”Shouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate the {257} Lord? for this thing wrath is upon thee from before the Lord. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast put away the Asheroth out of the land, and hast set thine heart to seek G.o.d.”

And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord, the G.o.d of their fathers. And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, ”Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord; and he is with you in the judgment. Now therefore let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our G.o.d, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”

Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set the Levites and the priests, and the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies, And they returned to Jerusalem. And he charged them, saying, ”Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. And whensoever any controversy shall come to you from your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall warn them, that they be not guilty towards the Lord, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not be guilty.

”And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, {258} the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the Lord be with the good.”

And it came to pa.s.s after this, that the men of Moab, and the men of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat saying, ”There cometh a great mult.i.tude against thee from beyond the sea from Syria.”

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek unto the Lord; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to seek help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court; and he said, ”O Lord, the G.o.d of our fathers, art not thou G.o.d in heaven? and art not thou ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in thine hand is power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee. Didst not thou, O our G.o.d, drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 'If evil come upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before thee (for thy name is in this house), and cry unto thee in our affliction, and thou wilt hear and save.'

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

TOMBS IN THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT.

Mount of Olives in the background.

In the valley of Jehoshaphat there are many ancient tombs, and there are thousands of modern graves here also. The devout Jew earnestly desires to be buried here, as he believes that Messiah will descend on the Mount of Olives at the last day and pa.s.s through the valley on the way to his throne in the city.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

{261}

And now, behold, the men 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 aside from them, and destroyed them not; behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our G.o.d, 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.”

And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah came the spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation; and he said, ”Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat: thus saith the Lord unto you, 'Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great mult.i.tude; for the battle is not yours, but G.o.d's. To-morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the ascent of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 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 is with you.'”

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, wors.h.i.+ping the Lord.

And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ”Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; believe in the Lord your G.o.d, {262} so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto the Lord, and praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and say, ”Give thanks unto the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.”

And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set liers in wait against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the men of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another. And when Judah came to the watch-tower of the wilderness, they looked upon the mult.i.tude; and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none that escaped.