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About the same time the Moabites and Ammonites made an expedition
against Jehoshaphat, ,and took with them a great body of Arabians, and
pitched their camp at Engedi, a city that is situate at the lake Asphaltiris,
and distant three hundred furlongs from Jerusalem. In that place grows
the best kind of palm trees, and the opobalsamum.
1
Now Jehoshaphat heard that the enemies had passed over the lake, and had
made an irruption into that country which belonged to his kingdom; at which
news he was aftrighted, and called the people of Jerusalem to a congregation
in the temple, and standing over against the temple itself, he called upon
God to afford him power and strength, so as to inflict punishment on those
that made this expedition against them (for that those who built this his
temple had prayed, that he would protect that city, and take vengeance
on those that were so bold as to come against it); for they are come to
take from us that land which thou hast given us for a possession. When
he had prayed thus, he fell into tears; and the whole multitude, together
with their wives and children, made their supplications also: upon which
a certain prophet, Jahaziel by name, came into the midst of the assembly,
and cried out, and spake both to the multitude and to the king, that God
heard their prayers, and promised to fight against their enemies. He also
gave order that the king should draw his forces out the next day, for that
he should find them between Jerusalem and the ascent of Engedi, at a place
called The Eminence, and that he should not fight against them, but only
stand still, and see how God would fight against them. When the prophet
had said this, both the king and the multitude fell upon their faces, and
gave thanks to God, and worshipped him; and the Levites continued singing
hymns to God with their instruments of music.