He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the LORD approved.( 22: 44) However, the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

约沙法行他父亲亚撒所行的道，不偏离左右，行耶和华眼中看为正的事；只是邱坛还没有废去，百姓仍在那里献祭烧香。

约沙法效法他父亲亚撒所行的道，不偏离左右，行耶和华眼中看为正的事。只是丘坛还没有废去，百姓仍在那里献祭烧香。

约沙法效法他父亲亚撒所行的道，不偏离左右，行耶和华眼中看为正的事。只是丘坛还没有废去，百姓仍在那里献祭烧香。

约沙法事事效法他父亲亚撒，不偏不离，做耶和华视为正的事。但他没有拆毁丘坛，百姓仍然在那里献祭烧香。

约沙法遵行他父亲亚撒所行的一切，总不偏离，行耶和华看为正的事。只是邱坛还没有废去，人民仍在邱坛上献祭烧香（“只是邱坛⋯⋯献祭烧香。”《马索拉文本》为22:44）。

約沙法行他父親亞撒所行的道，不偏離左右，行耶和華眼中看為正的事；只是邱壇還沒有廢去，百姓仍在那裏獻祭燒香。

約沙法效法他父親亞撒所行的道，不偏離左右，行耶和華眼中看為正的事。只是丘壇還沒有廢去，百姓仍在那裏獻祭燒香。

約沙法效法他父親亞撒所行的道，不偏離左右，行耶和華眼中看為正的事。只是丘壇還沒有廢去，百姓仍在那裏獻祭燒香。

約沙法事事效法他父親亞撒，不偏不離，做耶和華視為正的事。但他沒有拆毀邱壇，百姓仍然在那裡獻祭燒香。

約沙法遵行他父親亞撒所行的一切，總不偏離，行耶和華看為正的事。只是邱壇還沒有廢去，人民仍在邱壇上獻祭燒香（“只是邱壇⋯⋯獻祭燒香。”《馬索拉文本》為22:44）。

約沙法走他父親亞撒所始終走的路，總不偏離，乃行永恆主所看為對的事；只是邱壇還沒有廢去，人民仍然在邱壇上宰牲燻祭。

約沙法循其父亞撒之道、不偏離之、行耶和華所悅、惟崇邱未廢、民仍獻祭焚香於其上、

從父亞撒所為、不背厥道、行善於耶和華前、惟崇坵猶不廢、民尚在彼獻祭焚香。

約沙法行其父亞撒之道、不偏離左右、行善於主前、

In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

Jehoshaphat followed all the ways of his father Asa. He didn’t wander away from them. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord. But the high places weren’t removed. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at them.

He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.

Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the example of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

He walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them but did what was right in the LORD’s sight. However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

He walked entirely in the way of his father Asa; he did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

And he walked in all the way of Asa his father; He turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah: howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

He walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them but did what was right in the Lord’s sight. However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing[ that which was] right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away;[ for] the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.

He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

The high places were not eliminated, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD throughout his lifetime.

But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

Nevertheless you have done some good things; you removed the Asherah poles from the land and you were determined to follow the LORD.”Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. He went out among the people from Beer Sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and encouraged them to follow the LORD God of their ancestors.

They even built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

At that time Hanani the prophet visited King Asa of Judah and said to him:“ Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.Did not the Cushites and Libyans have a huge army with chariots and a very large number of horsemen? But when you relied on the LORD, he handed them over to you!Certainly the LORD watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time.The events of Asa’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease. Though his disease was severe, he did not seek the LORD, but only the doctors.

He did what the LORD approved, just as his father Amaziah had done.But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

( 14: 1) Asa did what the LORD his God desired and approved.He removed the pagan altars and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.He ordered Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands.He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule.

Asa did what the LORD approved like his ancestor David had done.

Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the LORD’s advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast.The people of Judah assembled to ask for the LORD’s help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the LORD’s help.Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the LORD’s temple, in front of the new courtyard.He prayed:“ O LORD God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you.Our God, you drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession to the descendants of your friend Abraham.They settled down in it and built in it a temple to honor you, saying,‘ If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will hear and deliver us.’Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming! When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands. They bypassed them and did not destroy them.Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us!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.”All the men of Judah were standing before the LORD, along with their infants, wives, and children.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.He said:“ Pay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says to you:‘ Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s.Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the Desert of Jeruel.You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the LORD deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the LORD is with you!’”Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD and worshiped him.Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the LORD God of Israel.Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said:“ Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the LORD your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.”He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the LORD and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said:“ Give thanks to the LORD, for his loyal love endures.”When they began to shout and praise, the LORD suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors!Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where they praised the LORD. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah to this very day.Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the LORD had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies.They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the LORD.All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the LORD had fought against Israel’s enemies.Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side.

Perhaps you will tell me,‘ We are trusting in the LORD our God.’ But Hezekiah is the one who eliminated his high places and altars and then told the people of Judah and Jerusalem,‘ You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem.’

When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he was encouraged. He removed the detestable idols from the entire land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had seized in the Ephraimite hill country. He repaired the altar of the LORD in front of the porch of the LORD’s temple.

As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, may the LORD remove them, along with those who behave wickedly! May Israel experience peace!

How blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!

The high places were not eliminated from Israel, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD throughout his lifetime.

Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil.

I will not even consider doing what is dishonest. I hate doing evil; I will have no part of it.

He did this because David had done what he approved and had not disregarded any of his commandments his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite.

Then Samuel said to the people,“ Don’t be afraid. You have indeed sinned. However, don’t turn aside from the LORD. Serve the LORD with all your heart.You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver, since they are empty.

He did what the LORD approved, but not like David his father. He followed the example of his father Joash.But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals,but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites.The LORD made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected.He was committed to following the LORD; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

Asa prayed to the LORD his God:“ O LORD, there is no one but you who can help the weak when they are vastly outnumbered. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you and have marched on your behalf against this huge army. O LORD our God, don’t let men prevail against you!”

They have quickly turned aside from the way that I commanded them– they have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and said,‘ These are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt.’”