⁵ Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the Lord’s temple, in front of the new courtyard. ⁶ He prayed: “O Lord God of our ancestors,^[a] you are the God who lives in heaven^[b] and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you. ⁷ Our God, you drove out^[c] the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession^[d] to the descendants of your friend^[e] Abraham. ⁸ They settled down in it and built in it a temple^[f] to honor you,^[g] saying, ⁹ ‘If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack,^[h] judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple.^[i] We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will^[j] hear and deliver us.’ ¹⁰ Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming!^[k] When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands.^[l] They bypassed them and did not destroy them. ¹¹ Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us! ¹² Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us. We don’t know what we should do; we look to you for help.”^[m]

¹³ All the men of Judah^[n] were standing before the Lord, along with their infants, wives, and children. ¹⁴ Then in the midst of the assembly, the Lord’s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph. ¹⁵ He said: “Pay attention, all you people of Judah,^[o] residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic^[p] because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them as^[q] they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you,^[r] O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!^[s] Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’”