But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Rise up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is the desert route.

And he rose up and went. And behold, an  ¹Ethiopian man, a eunuch, a man in power under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to  ²worship.

And he was returning and was sitting in his chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.

And the  ¹Spirit said to Philip, Approach and join this chariot.

And when Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, Do you really know the things that you are reading?

And he said, How could I unless someone guides me? And he entreated Philip to come up and sit with him.

Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "As a sheep  ¹He was led to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so He does not open His mouth.

In His humiliation His judgment was taken away. Who shall declare His generation? For His life is taken away from the earth.”

And the eunuch answered Philip and said, I beseech you, Concerning whom does the prophet say this? Concerning himself or concerning someone else?

And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he announced Jesus as the gospel to him.

And as they were going along the road, they came upon some water, and the eunuch said, Look,  ¹water. What prevents me from being baptized?

 ¹And Philip said, If you believe from all your heart, you will be saved. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he ordered the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away; and the eunuch did not see him anymore, for he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found in Azotus; and passing through, he announced the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel.

And he put forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had taken.

And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of David his father; and he did not pursue the Baals

But pursued the God of his father and walked in His commandments and did not do as Israel had done.

Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah gave tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

And his heart was exalted in the ways of Jehovah; and even more, he removed the high places and the Asherahs from Judah.

And in the third year of his reign he  ¹sent his officials Ben-hail and Obadiah and Zechariah and Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah;

And with them he sent the Levites Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them, Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Jehovah; and they went around all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

And the fear of Jehovah was upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they waged no war against Jehoshaphat.

And some of the Philistines would bring presents to Jehoshaphat and silver as tribute; even the Arabians would bring him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

And Jehoshaphat grew exceedingly great, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.

And he conducted many works in the cities of Judah and had men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

And this was the muster of them according to their fathers' house: of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;

And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;

And next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who offered willingly himself to Jehovah, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

And of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield;

And next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand armed for war.

These were those who served the king, besides those whom the king had put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

And Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he allied himself in marriage with Ahab.

And after a number of years he came down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered sheep and oxen in abundance for him and for the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

And Ahab the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And  ¹Jehoshaphat said to him, I will be as you are; my people will be as your people; we will be with you in battle.

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Ask today, I beg you, for the word of Jehovah.

And the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain? And they said, Go up, and God will give it into the king's hand.

But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not yet another prophet of Jehovah here, that we might inquire of him?

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah; but I hate him, for he prophesies no good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

Then the king of Israel called a certain officer and said, Quickly bring Micaiah the son of Imla.

Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, sitting on the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron, and he said, Thus says Jehovah, With these you will push the Syrians until you have destroyed them.

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and succeed; for Jehovah will deliver it into the king's hand.

And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, See, the words of the prophets, being of one accord, seem good to the king. So let your word, I beg you, be like one of them, and speak good.

And Micaiah said, As Jehovah lives, that which my God says, that will I speak.

And when he came to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain? And he said, Go up, and succeed; for they will be delivered into your hand.

And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?

And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd. And Jehovah said, These have no master; let each of them return to his house in peace.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he prophesies no good concerning me, but evil?

And Micaiah said, Hear therefore the word of Jehovah, I saw Jehovah sitting on His throne and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left.

And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said after this manner, and another said after that manner.

And there came forth a certain spirit and stood before Jehovah and said, I will entice him. And Jehovah said unto him, How?

And he said, I will go forth and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, You shall entice him and surely prevail. Go forth, and do so.

So now Jehovah has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, and Jehovah has spoken evil concerning you.

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah upon the cheek and said, Which way did the Spirit of Jehovah pass from me to speak to you?

And Micaiah said, You will see on that day when you go from room to room to hide yourself.

And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son.

And you shall say, Thus says the king, Put this man in prison, and feed him with the bread of affliction and with the water of affliction until I return in peace.

And Micaiah said, If you return in peace at all, Jehovah has not spoken by me. And he said, Listen, O peoples, all of you!

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself and enter into the battle; but you put on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle.

And the king of Syria commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, but with the king of Israel only.

And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, This is the king of Israel. And they surrounded him to fight, and Jehoshaphat cried out. And Jehovah helped him, and God diverted them from him.

And when the captains of the chariots perceived that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

And a man drew a bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. And the king of Israel said to his charioteer, Turn your hand, and drive me out of the camp; for I am wounded.

And the battle increased that day; and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot before the Syrians until the evening, and he died at the time of the setting of the sun.

Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in Jerusalem in peace.

And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him; and he said to King Jehoshaphat,  ¹Should you help the wicked and love those who hate Jehovah? Because of this matter wrath has come upon you from Jehovah.

Nevertheless there are some good things found in you, for you have purged the Asherahs out of the land and have set your heart to pursue God.

And Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to Jehovah, the God of their fathers.

And he set up judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.

And he said to the judges, Consider what you are doing, for you judge not for man but for Jehovah, and He is with you in pronouncing judgment.

Now therefore let the fear of Jehovah be upon you; be careful how you act, for there is no iniquity with Jehovah our God, nor respect of persons, nor the taking of bribes.

And also in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat set up some of the Levites and priests and heads of the fathers' houses in Israel for the judgment of Jehovah and for disputes. And they came back to Jerusalem.

And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of Jehovah, faithfully and with a perfect heart.

And for every dispute that comes to you from among your brothers who dwell in their cities, whether concerning bloodshed or concerning  ¹law or commandment, statute or ordinance, you shall warn them, so that they are not guilty before Jehovah and so that wrath does not come upon you and your brothers. Thus shall you act, and you will not be guilty.

And now Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters concerning Jehovah; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, is over you in all matters concerning the king. And the Levites will serve before you as officers. Be strong and take action, and may Jehovah be with the good.

Then after this the children of Moab and the children of Ammon and with them some of the  ¹Meunim came against Jehoshaphat for battle.

And some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude has come upon you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are now in Hazazon-tamar (this is En-gedi).

And Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to pursue Jehovah, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

And Judah gathered themselves to seek help from Jehovah; indeed out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah.

And Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court;

And he said, O Jehovah, the God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? And in Your hand is strength and might, and there is no one who can stand against You.

Did You not, O our God, dispossess the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the seed of Abraham Your friend?

And they have dwelt in it and built in it for You a sanctuary for Your name, saying,

If evil comes upon us, the sword or judgment or pestilence or famine, we will stand before this house and before You—for Your name is in this house—and cry unto You in our affliction, You will hear and save.

And now at this moment the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned away from them and did not destroy them—

At this moment they are rewarding us by coming to cast us out of Your possession, which You gave us as a possession.

O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no strength before this great multitude that is coming against us, and we do not know what to do; but our eyes are upon You.

And all Judah stood before Jehovah with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly;

And he said, Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat. Thus says Jehovah to you, Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.

Tomorrow go down against them. They are coming up at the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the river valley before the wilderness of Jeruel.

It is not for you to fight in this battle. Station yourselves; stand and see the salvation of Jehovah among you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid nor dismayed. Tomorrow go out to meet them, for Jehovah is with you.

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Jehovah to worship Jehovah.

And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, rose up to praise Jehovah the God of Israel with an exceedingly loud voice.

And they rose up early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in Jehovah your God, and you will be established; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them to sing to Jehovah and give thanks in holy array as they went out before the army and say, Give thanks to Jehovah, for His lovingkindness endures forever.

And when they began to shout in song and to praise, Jehovah set ambushes for the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were coming out against Judah; and they were struck.

And the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to absolutely destroy and demolish them; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every man helped to destroy his neighbor.

And Judah came to the wilderness watchtower and looked upon the multitude; and there they were, fallen corpses on the ground, and no one escaped.

And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil of them as plunder, they found among them in abundance both possessions and corpses and precious vessels, and stripped these for themselves, more than they could carry. And they spent three days taking spoil, for there was much.

And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of  ¹Beracah (for there they blessed Jehovah; therefore they have called the name of that place the valley of Beracah to this day).

And they turned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, to go back to Jerusalem with rejoicing; for Jehovah had caused them to rejoice over their enemies.

And they came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of Jehovah.

And the fear of Jehovah was upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Jehovah had fought with the enemies of Israel.

So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God had given him rest all around.

And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah; he was thirty-five years old when he began to reign. And he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

And he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it, doing what was right in the sight of Jehovah.

However the high places were not removed, nor as yet did the people set their heart after the God of their fathers.

And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the first and the last, are there written in the chronicle of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.

Then after this, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah joined himself to Ahaziah the king of Israel; he acted wickedly in so doing.

And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.

Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying,  ¹Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Jehovah has destroyed your works. And the ships were shattered and were unable to go to Tarshish.

And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David.