1. Later the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
2. Some men reported to Jehoshaphat, “A large crowd is coming against you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from Edom. The crowd is already in Hazazon Tamar” (also called En Gedi).
3. Frightened, Jehoshaphat decided to ask for the Lord’s help. He announced a fast throughout Judah.
4. The people of Judah gathered to seek the Lord’s help. They came from every city in Judah.
5. In the new courtyard at the Lord’s temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the people.
6. He said, “Lord God of our ancestors, aren’t you the God in heaven? You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess power and might, and no one can oppose you.
7. Didn’t you, our God, force those who were living in this country out of Israel’s way? Didn’t you give this country to the descendants of your friend Abraham to have permanently?
8. His descendants have lived in it and built a holy temple for your name in it. They said,
9. ‘If evil comes in the form of war, flood, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple and in front of you because your name is in this temple. We will cry out to you in our troubles, and you will hear us and save us.’