II - Chapter 20

1After that, Moabites, Ammonites, together with some Ammonites, came against Yehoshafat to wage war.

אוַיְהִי אַחֲרֵיכֵן בָּאוּ בְנֵי־מוֹאָב וּבְנֵי עַמּוֹן וְעִמָּהֶם מֵהָעַמּוֹנִים עַל־יְהוֹשָׁפָט לַמִּלְחָמָה׃

2The report was brought to Yehoshafat: “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram, and is now in Hazazon-tamar”—that is, Ein-gedi.

בוַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּגִּידוּ לִיהוֹשָׁפָט לֵאמֹר בָּא עָלֶיךָ הָמוֹן רָב מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם מֵאֲרָם וְהִנָּם בְּחַצְצוֹן תָּמָר הִיא עֵין גֶּדִי׃

3Yehoshafat was afraid; he decided to resort to Hashem and proclaimed a fast for all Yehuda.

גוַיִּרָא וַיִּתֵּן יְהוֹשָׁפָט אֶת־פָּנָיו לִדְרוֹשׁ לַיהֹוָה וַיִּקְרָא־צוֹם עַל־כָּל־יְהוּדָה׃

4Yehuda assembled to beseech Hashem. They also came from all the towns of Yehuda to seek Hashem.

דוַיִּקָּבְצוּ יְהוּדָה לְבַקֵּשׁ מֵיְהֹוָה גַּם מִכָּל־עָרֵי יְהוּדָה בָּאוּ לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָה׃

5Yehoshafat stood in the congregation of Yehuda and Yerushalayim in the House of Hashem at the front of the new court.

הוַיַּעֲמֹד יְהוֹשָׁפָט בִּקְהַל יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלַ ִם בְּבֵית יְהֹוָה לִפְנֵי הֶחָצֵר הַחֲדָשָׁה׃

6He said, “God of our fathers, truly You are the God in heaven and You rule over the kingdoms of the nations; power and strength are Yours; none can oppose You.

ווַיֹּאמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵינוּ הֲלֹא אַתָּה־הוּא אֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם וְאַתָּה מוֹשֵׁל בְּכֹל מַמְלְכוֹת הַגּוֹיִם וּבְיָדְךָ כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה וְאֵין עִמְּךָ לְהִתְיַצֵּב׃

7O our God, you dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before Your people Yisrael, and You gave it to the descendants of Your friend Avraham forever.

זהֲלֹא אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵינוּ הוֹרַשְׁתָּ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת מִלִּפְנֵי עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַתִּתְּנָהּ לְזֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אֹהַבְךָ לְעוֹלָם׃

8They settled in it and in it built for You a House for Your name. They said,

חוַיֵּשְׁבוּ־בָהּ וַיִּבְנוּ לְךָ בָּהּ מִקְדָּשׁ לְשִׁמְךָ לֵאמֹר׃

9‘Should misfortune befall us—the punishing sword, pestilence, or famine, we shall stand before this House and before You—for Your name is in this House—and we shall cry out to You in our distress, and You will listen and deliver us.'

טאִם־תָּבוֹא עָלֵינוּ רָעָה חֶרֶב שְׁפוֹט וְדֶבֶר וְרָעָב נַעַמְדָה לִפְנֵי הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה וּלְפָנֶיךָ כִּי שִׁמְךָ בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה וְנִזְעַק אֵלֶיךָ מִצָּרָתֵנוּ וְתִשְׁמַע וְתוֹשִׁיעַ׃

10Now the people of Ammon, Moab, and the hill country of Seir, into whose [land] You did not let Yisrael come when they came from Egypt, but they turned aside from them and did not wipe them out,

יוְעַתָּה הִנֵּה בְנֵי־עַמּוֹן וּמוֹאָב וְהַר־שֵׂעִיר אֲשֶׁר לֹא־נָתַתָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לָבוֹא בָהֶם בְּבֹאָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם כִּי סָרוּ מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וְלֹא הִשְׁמִידוּם׃

11these now repay us by coming to expel us from Your possession which You gave us as ours.

יאוְהִנֵּה־הֵם גֹּמְלִים עָלֵינוּ לָבוֹא לְגָרְשֵׁנוּ מִיְּרֻשָּׁתְךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹרַשְׁתָּנוּ׃

12O our God, surely You will punish them, for we are powerless before this great multitude that has come against us, and do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

יבאֱלֹהֵינוּ הֲלֹא תִשְׁפָּט־בָּם כִּי אֵין בָּנוּ כֹּחַ לִפְנֵי הֶהָמוֹן הָרָב הַזֶּה הַבָּא עָלֵינוּ וַאֲנַחְנוּ לֹא נֵדַע מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂה כִּי עָלֶיךָ עֵינֵינוּ׃

13All Yehuda stood before Hashem with their little ones, their womenfolk, and their children.

יגוְכָל־יְהוּדָה עֹמְדִים לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה גַּם־טַפָּם נְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם׃

14Then in the midst of the congregation the spirit of Hashem came upon Yachaziel son of Zecharya son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah the Levi, of the sons of Asaf,

ידוְיַחֲזִיאֵל בֶּן־זְכַרְיָהוּ בֶּן־בְּנָיָה בֶּן־יְעִיאֵל בֶּן־מַתַּנְיָה הַלֵּוִי מִן־בְּנֵי אָסָף הָיְתָה עָלָיו רוּחַ יְהֹוָה בְּתוֹךְ הַקָּהָל׃

15and he said, “Give heed, all Yehuda and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim and King Yehoshafat; thus said Hashem to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed by this great multitude, for the battle is Hashem's, not yours.

טווַיֹּאמֶר הַקְשִׁיבוּ כָל־יְהוּדָה וְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם וְהַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָט כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה לָכֶם אַתֶּם אַל־תִּירְאוּ וְאַל־תֵּחַתּוּ מִפְּנֵי הֶהָמוֹן הָרָב הַזֶּה כִּי לֹא לָכֶם הַמִּלְחָמָה כִּי לֵאלֹהִים׃

16March down against them tomorrow as they come up by the Ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the wadi in the direction of the wilderness of Jeruel.

טזמָחָר רְדוּ עֲלֵיהֶם הִנָּם עֹלִים בְּמַעֲלֵה הַצִּיץ וּמְצָאתֶם אֹתָם בְּסוֹף הַנַּחַל פְּנֵי מִדְבַּר יְרוּאֵל׃

17It is not for you to fight this battle; stand by, wait, and witness your deliverance by Hashem, O Yehuda and Yerushalayim; do not fear or be dismayed; go forth to meet them tomorrow and Hashem will be with you.'”

יזלֹא לָכֶם לְהִלָּחֵם בָּזֹאת הִתְיַצְּבוּ עִמְדוּ וּרְאוּ אֶת־יְשׁוּעַת יְהֹוָה עִמָּכֶם יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלַ ִם אַל־תִּירְאוּ וְאַל־תֵּחַתּוּ מָחָר צְאוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם וַיהֹוָה עִמָּכֶם׃

18Yehoshafat bowed low with his face to the ground, and all Yehuda and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim threw themselves down before Hashem to worship Hashem.

יחוַיִּקֹּד יְהוֹשָׁפָט אַפַּיִם אָרְצָה וְכָל־יְהוּדָה וְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם נָפְלוּ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוׂת לַיהֹוָה׃

19Leviim of the sons of Kehat and of the sons of Korach got up to extol God of Yisrael at the top of their voices.

יטוַיָּקֻמוּ הַלְוִיִּם מִן־בְּנֵי הַקְּהָתִים וּמִן־בְּנֵי הַקָּרְחִים לְהַלֵּל לַיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל לְמָעְלָה׃

20Early the next morning they arose and went forth to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went forth, Yehoshafat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Yehuda and inhabitants of Yerushalayim: Trust firmly in Hashem your God and you will stand firm; trust firmly in His Neviim and you will succeed.”

כוַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ בַבֹּקֶר וַיֵּצְאוּ לְמִדְבַּר תְּקוֹעַ וּבְצֵאתָם עָמַד יְהוֹשָׁפָט וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמָעוּנִי יְהוּדָה וְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם הַאֲמִינוּ בַּיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְתֵאָמֵנוּ הַאֲמִינוּ בִנְבִיאָיו וְהַצְלִיחוּ׃

21After taking counsel with the people, he stationed singers to Hashem extolling the One majestic in holiness as they went forth ahead of the vanguard, saying, “Praise Hashem, for His steadfast love is eternal.”

כאוַיִּוָּעַץ אֶל־הָעָם וַיַּעֲמֵד מְשֹׁרֲרִים לַיהֹוָה וּמְהַלְלִים לְהַדְרַת־קֹדֶשׁ בְּצֵאת לִפְנֵי הֶחָלוּץ וְאֹמְרִים הוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ׃

22As they began their joyous shouts and hymns, Hashem set ambushes for the men of Ammon, Moab, and the hill country of Seir, who were marching against Yehuda, and they were routed.

כבוּבְעֵת הֵחֵלּוּ בְרִנָּה וּתְהִלָּה נָתַן יְהֹוָה מְאָרְבִים עַל־בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן מוֹאָב וְהַר־שֵׂעִיר הַבָּאִים לִיהוּדָה וַיִּנָּגֵפוּ׃

23The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the men of the hill country of Seir to exterminate and annihilate them. When they had made an end of the men of Seir, each helped to destroy his fellow.

כגוַיַּעַמְדוּ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן וּמוֹאָב עַל־יֹשְׁבֵי הַר־שֵׂעִיר לְהַחֲרִים וּלְהַשְׁמִיד וּכְכַלּוֹתָם בְּיוֹשְׁבֵי שֵׂעִיר עָזְרוּ אִישׁ־בְּרֵעֵהוּ לְמַשְׁחִית׃

24When Yehuda reached the lookout in the wilderness and looked for the multitude, they saw them lying on the ground as corpses; not one had survived.

כדוִיהוּדָה בָּא עַל־הַמִּצְפֶּה לַמִּדְבָּר וַיִּפְנוּ אֶל־הֶהָמוֹן וְהִנָּם פְּגָרִים נֹפְלִים אַרְצָה וְאֵין פְּלֵיטָה׃

25Yehoshafat and his army came to take the booty, and found an abundance of goods, corpses, and precious objects, which they pillaged, more than they could carry off. For three days they were taking booty, there was so much of it.

כהוַיָּבֹא יְהוֹשָׁפָט וְעַמּוֹ לָבֹז אֶת־שְׁלָלָם וַיִּמְצְאוּ בָהֶם לָרֹב וּרְכוּשׁ וּפְגָרִים וּכְלֵי חֲמֻדוֹת וַיְנַצְּלוּ לָהֶם לְאֵין מַשָּׂא וַיִּהְיוּ יָמִים שְׁלוֹשָׁה בֹּזְזִים אֶת־הַשָּׁלָל כִּי רַב־הוּא׃

26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Blessing—for there they blessed Hashem; that is why that place is called the Valley of Blessing to this day.

u-va-YOM ha-r'-vi-EE nik-ha-LU l'-AY-mek b'-ra-KHAH KEE SHAM bay-r'-KHU et a-do-NAI al KAYN ka-r'-U et SHAYM ha-ma-KOM ha-HU AY-mek b'-ra-KHAH ad ha-YOM

כווּבַיּוֹם הָרְבִעִי נִקְהֲלוּ לְעֵמֶק בְּרָכָה כִּי־שָׁם בֵּרֲכוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה עַל־כֵּן קָרְאוּ אֶת־שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא עֵמֶק בְּרָכָה עַד־הַיּוֹם׃

27All the men of Yehuda and Yerushalayim with Yehoshafat at their head returned joyfully to Yerushalayim, for Hashem had given them cause for rejoicing over their enemies.

כזוַיָּשֻׁבוּ כָּל־אִישׁ יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלַ ִם וִיהוֹשָׁפָט בְּרֹאשָׁם לָשׁוּב אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם בְּשִׂמְחָה כִּי־שִׂמְּחָם יְהֹוָה מֵאוֹיְבֵיהֶם׃

28They came to Yerushalayim to the House of Hashem, to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and trumpets.

כחוַיָּבֹאוּ יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם בִּנְבָלִים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת וּבַחֲצֹצְרוֹת אֶל־בֵּית יְהֹוָה׃

29The terror of Hashem seized all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Hashem had fought the enemies of Yisrael.

כטוַיְהִי פַּחַד אֱלֹהִים עַל כָּל־מַמְלְכוֹת הָאֲרָצוֹת בְּשָׁמְעָם כִּי נִלְחַם יְהֹוָה עִם אוֹיְבֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

30The kingdom of Yehoshafat was untroubled, and his God granted him respite on all sides.

לוַתִּשְׁקֹט מַלְכוּת יְהוֹשָׁפָט וַיָּנַח לוֹ אֱלֹהָיו מִסָּבִיב׃

31Yehoshafat reigned over Yehuda. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Yerushalayim for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

לאוַיִּמְלֹךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָט עַל־יְהוּדָה בֶּן־שְׁלֹשִׁים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנָה בְּמָלְכוֹ וְעֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנָה מָלַךְ בִּירוּשָׁלַ ִם וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ עֲזוּבָה בַּת־שִׁלְחִי׃

32He followed the course of his father Asa and did not deviate from it, doing what was pleasing to Hashem.

לבוַיֵּלֶךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ אָבִיו אָסָא וְלֹא־סָר מִמֶּנָּה לַעֲשׂוֹת הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה׃

33However, the shrines did not cease; the people still did not direct their heart toward the God of their fathers.

לגאַךְ הַבָּמוֹת לֹא־סָרוּ וְעוֹד הָעָם לֹא־הֵכִינוּ לְבָבָם לֵאלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיהֶם׃

34As for the other events of Yehoshafat's reign, early and late, they are recorded in the annals of Yehu son of Chanani, which were included in the book of the kings of Yisrael.

לדוְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי יְהוֹשָׁפָט הָרִאשֹׁנִים וְהָאַחֲרֹנִים הִנָּם כְּתוּבִים בְּדִבְרֵי יֵהוּא בֶן־חֲנָנִי אֲשֶׁר הֹעֲלָה עַל־סֵפֶר מַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

35Afterward, King Yehoshafat of Yehuda entered into a partnership with King Achazyahu of Yisrael, thereby acting wickedly.

להוְאַחֲרֵיכֵן אֶתְחַבַּר יְהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה עִם אֲחַזְיָה מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא הִרְשִׁיעַ לַעֲשׂוֹת׃

36He joined with him in constructing ships to go to Tarshish; the ships were constructed in Ezion-geber.

לווַיְחַבְּרֵהוּ עִמּוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֳנִיּוֹת לָלֶכֶת תַּרְשִׁישׁ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֳנִיּוֹת בְּעֶצְיוֹן גָּבֶר׃

37Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Yehoshafat, “As you have made a partnership with Achazyahu, Hashem will break up your work.” The ships were wrecked and were unable to go to Tarshish.

לזוַיִּתְנַבֵּא אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן־דֹּדָוָהוּ מִמָּרֵשָׁה עַל־יְהוֹשָׁפָט לֵאמֹר כְּהִתְחַבֶּרְךָ עִם־אֲחַזְיָהוּ פָּרַץ יְהֹוָה אֶת־מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וַיִּשָּׁבְרוּ אֳנִיּוֹת וְלֹא עָצְרוּ לָלֶכֶת אֶל־תַּרְשִׁישׁ׃