When your people come to their senses in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, ‘We have sinned and gone astray, we have done evil!’

Micaiah said, “If you really do return safely, then the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Take note, all you people.”

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.

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.

When King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned home safely to Jerusalem,

For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and sons will be shown mercy by their captors and return to this land. The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate; he will not reject you if you return to him.”

O Lord God, do not reject your chosen ones! Remember the faithful promises you made to your servant David!”

He said to them, “Go away for three days, then return to me.” So the people went away.

They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen in charge of the livestock. They carried off many sheep and camels and then returned to Jerusalem.

Because of their distress, they turned back to the Lord God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them.

When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.

The Lord sent prophets among them to lead them back to him. They warned the people, but they would not pay attention.

Uzziah built up Elat and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah had passed away.

Now listen to me! Send back those you have seized from your brothers, for the Lord is very angry at you!”

Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, so that he may relent from his raging anger.

‘The Lord says this: “Do not attack and make war with your brothers. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.”’” They obeyed the Lord and called off the attack against Jeroboam.

Messengers delivered the letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. This royal edict read: “O Israelites, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so he may return to you who have been spared from the kings of Assyria.

listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.

“If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you, then if they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help before you in this temple,

then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.