24. The men from Judah came to a place where they could see the desert. They looked at the enemy’s large army. But they only saw dead bodies lying on the ground. No one had escaped.
25. Jehoshaphat and his army came to take valuable things from the dead bodies. They found many supplies, much clothing, and other valuable things. There was more than they could carry away. There was so much it took three days to gather it all.
26. On the fourth day Jehoshaphat and his army met in the Valley of Beracah. There they praised the Lord. That is why that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day.
27. Then Jehoshaphat led all the men from Judah and Jerusalem back to Jerusalem. The Lord had made them happy because their enemies were defeated.
28. They entered Jerusalem with lyres, harps and trumpets and went to the Temple of the Lord.
29. All the kingdoms of the lands around them heard how the Lord had fought Israel’s enemies. So they feared the Lord.
30. So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was not at war. His God gave him peace from all the countries around him.
31. Jehoshaphat ruled over the country of Judah. He was 35 years old when he began to rule. And he ruled 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
32. Jehoshaphat lived as his father Asa had lived. He followed what Asa had done. He did what the Lord said was right.
33. But the places where false gods were worshiped were not removed. And the people did not strongly desire to follow the God their ancestors had followed.
34. The other things Jehoshaphat did as king, from the beginning to the end, are written down. They are in the writings of Jehu son of Hanani. These writings are in the book of the kings of Israel.
35. Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an agreement with Ahaziah king of Israel. It was wrong for him to do this.
36. Jehoshaphat agreed with Ahaziah to build trading ships. They built them in the town of Ezion Geber.
37. Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu spoke against Jehoshaphat. Eliezer was from the town of Mareshah. He said, “Jehoshaphat, because you joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked. So Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah could not send them out to trade.