1. After this the Moabites, the Ammonites, and with them some Meunites came to fight against Jehoshaphat.
2. Jehoshaphat was told: “A great multitude is coming against you from across the sea, from Edom; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (which is En-gedi).
3. Frightened, Jehoshaphat resolved to consult the Lord. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4. Then Judah gathered to seek the Lord’s help; from every one of the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
5. Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court,
6. and he said: “Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand is power and might, and no one can withstand you.
7. Was it not you, our God, who dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend?
8. They have dwelt in it and they built in it a sanctuary for your name. They have said:
9. ‘If evil comes upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house, and we will cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save!’
10. And now, see the Ammonites, Moabites, and those of Mount Seir whom you did not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt, but instead they passed them by and did not destroy them:
11. See how they are now repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you have given us.
12. O our God, will you not bring judgment on them? We are powerless before this vast multitude that is coming against us. We ourselves do not know what to do, so our eyes are turned toward you.”
13. All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.