Standing in the temple court before his people, Jehoshaphat poured out his soul in prayer, pleading God's promises, with confession of Israel's helplessness. "O Lord God of our fathers" he petitioned, "art not Thou God in heaven? and rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in Thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand Thee? Art not Thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend forever? And they dwelt therein, and have built Thee a sanctuary therein for Thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Thy presence, (for Thy name is in this house,) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help.

Se nu, hvorledes ammonitterne og moabitterne og de fra Seirs bjerge, hvem du ikke tillod israelitterne at angribe, da de kom fra Ægypten, tværtimod holdt de sig tilbage fra dem og tilintetgjorde dem ikke, se nu, hvorledes de gengælder os med at komme for at drive os bort fra din ejendom, som du gav os i eje! Vor Gud, vil du ikke holde dom over dem? Thi vi er afmægtige over for denne vældige menneskemængde, som kommer over os; vi ved ikke, hvad vi skal gøre, men vore øjne er vendt til dig!"