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Although Jehoshaphat in a moment of weakness had rashly promised to join the king of Israel in his war against the Syrians； yet his better judgment led him to seek to learn the will of God concerning the undertaking。 〃Inquire； I pray thee； at the word of the Lord today；〃 he suggested to Ahab。 In response； Ahab called together four hundred of the false prophets of Samaria； and asked of them； 〃Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle； or shall I forbear？〃 And they answered； 〃Go up； for God will deliver it into the kings's hand。〃 Verses 4； 5。
Unsatisfied； Jehoshaphat sought to learn for a certainty the will of God。 〃Is there not here a prophet of the Lord；〃 he asked； 〃that we might inquire of him？〃 Verse 6。 〃There is yet one man； Micaiah to son of Imlah； by whom we may inquire of the Lord；〃 Ahab answered； 〃but I hate him〃 for he doth not prophesy good concerning me； but evil。〃 1 Kings 22：8。 Jehoshaphat was firm in his request that the man of God be called； and upon appearing before them and being adjured by Ahab to tell 〃nothing but that which
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is true in the name of the Lord；〃 Micaiah said： 〃I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills； as sheep that have not a shepherd： and the Lord said； These have no master： let them return every man to his house in peace。〃 Verses 16； 17。
The words of the prophet should have been enough to show the kings that their project was not favored by Heaven； but neither ruler felt inclined to heed the warning。 Ahab had marked out his course； and he was determined to follow it。 Jehoshaphat had given his word of honor； 〃We will be with thee in the war；〃 and after making such a promise； he was reluctant to withdraw his forces。 2 Chronicles 18：3。 〃So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead。〃 1 Kings 22：29。
During the battle that followed； Ahab was shot by an arrow； and at eventide he died。 〃About the going down of the sun；〃 〃there went a proclamation throughout the host；〃 〃Every man to his city； and every man to his own country。〃 Verse 36。 Thus was fulfilled the word of the prophet。
From this disastrous battle Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem。 As he approached the city； the prophet Jehu met him with the reproof： 〃Shouldest thou help the ungodly； and love them that hate the Lord？ therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord。 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee； in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land； and hast prepared thine heart to seek God。〃 2 Chronicles 19〃2； 3。
The later years of Jehoshaphat's reign were largely spent in strengthening the national and spiritual defenses of Judah。
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He 〃went out again through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim； and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers。〃 Verse 4。
One of the important steps taken by the king was the establishment and maintenance of efficient courts of justice。 He 〃set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah； city by city；〃 and in the charge given them he urged： 〃Take heed what ye do： for ye judge not for man； but for the Lord； who is with you in the judgment。 Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you； take heed and do it： for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God； nor respect of persons； nor taking of gifts。〃 Verses 5…7。
The judicial system was perfected by the founding of a court of appeal at Jerusalem； where Jehoshaphat 〃set of the Levites； and of the priests； and of the chief of the fathers of Israel； for the judgement of the Lord； and for controversies。〃 Verse 8。
The king exhorted these judges to be faithful。 〃Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord； faithfully； and with a perfect heart；〃 he charged them。 〃And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities； between blood and blood； between law and commandment； statutes and judgments； ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord； and so wrath come upon you； and upon your brethren： this do； and ye shall not trespass。
〃And； behold； Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord； and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael； the
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ruler of the house of Judah； for all the king's matters： also the Levites shall be officers before you。
〃Deal courageously； and the Lord shall be with the good。〃 Verses 9…11。
In his careful safeguarding of the rights and liberties of his subjects； Jehoshaphat emphasized the consideration that every member of the human family receives from the God of justice； who rules over all。 〃God standeth in the congregation of the mighty； He judgeth among the gods。〃 And those who are appointed to act as judges under Him； are to 〃defend the poor and fatherless；〃 they are to 〃do justice to the afflicted and needy；〃 and 〃rid them out of the hand of the wicked。〃 Psalm 82：1； 3； 4。
Toward the close of Jehoshaphat's reign the kingdom of Judah was invaded by an army before whose approach the inhabitants of the land had reason to tremble。 〃The children of Moab； and the children of Ammon； and with them other beside the Ammonites； came against Jehoshaphat to battle。〃 Tidings of this invasion reached the king through a messenger； who appeared with the startling word； 〃There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria： and； behold； they be in Hazazon…tamar； which is Engedi。〃 2 Chronicles 20：1； 2。
Jehoshaphat was a man of courage and valor。 For years he had been strengthening his armies and his fortified cities。 He was well prepared to meet almost any foe； yet in this crisis he put not his trust in the arm of flesh。 Not by disciplined armies and fenced cities； but by a living faith in the God of Israel； could he hope to gain the victory over these
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heathen who boasted of their power to humble Judah in the eyes of the nations。
〃Jehoshaphat feared； and set himself to seek the Lord； and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah。 And Judah gathered themselves together； to ask help of the Lord： even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord。〃
Standing in the temple court before his people； Jehoshaphat poured out his soul in prayer； pleading God's promises； with confession of Israel's helplessness。 〃O Lord God of our fathers〃 he petitioned； 〃art not Thou God in heaven？ and rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen？ and in Thine hand is there not power and might； so that none is able to withstand Thee？ Art not Thou our God； who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Israel； and gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend forever？ And they dwelt therein； and have built Thee a sanctuary therein for Thy name； saying； If； when evil cometh upon us； as the sword； judgment； or pestilence； or famine； we stand before this house； and in Thy presence； （for Thy name is in this house；） and cry unto Thee in our affliction； then Thou wilt hear and help。
〃And now； behold； the children 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 from them； and destroyed them not； behold； I say； how they reward us； to come to cast us out of Thy possession； which Thou hast given us to inherit。 O our God； wilt Thou not judge them？ for we have no might against this great
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company that cometh against us； neither know we what to do： but our eyes are upon Thee。〃 Verses 3…21。
With confidence Jehoshaphat could say to the Lord； 〃Our eyes are upon thee。〃 For years he had taught the people to trust in the One who in past ages had so often interposed to save His chosen ones from utter destruction； and now； when the kingdom was in peril； Jehoshaphat did not stand alone； 〃all Judah stood before the Lord； with their little ones； their wives； and their children。〃 Verse 13。 Unitedly they fasted and prayed； unitedly they besought the Lord to put their enemies to confusion； that the name of Jehovah might be glorified。
〃Keep not Thou silence； O God： Hold not Thy peace； and be not still； O God。 For； lo； Thine enemies make a tumult： And they that hate Thee have lifted up the head。 They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people； And consulted against Thy hidden ones。 They have said； Come； and let us cut them off from being a nation； That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance。 For they have consulted together with one consent： They are confederate against Thee： The tabernacles of Edom； and the Ishmaelites； Of Moab； and the Hagarenes； Gebal； and Ammon； and Amalek。 。 。 。 Do unto them as unto the Midianites； As to Sisera； as to Jabin； at the brook of Kison： 。 。 。 Let them be confounded and troubled forever； Yea； let them be put to shame； and perish： That men may know that Thou； whose name alone is Jehovah； Art the Most High over all the earth。〃 Psalm 83。