17
1 Jehoshaphat his
son reigned in
his place, and
strengthened himself
against Israel.
2 He
placed forces in
all the fortified
cities of Judah,
and set garrisons
in the land of
Judah and in
the cities
of Ephraim, which Asa
his father had
taken.
3 The
LORD was with
Jehoshaphat, because
he walked in
the first ways
of his father
David, and didn’t
seek the Baals,
4 but
sought the God
of his father, and
walked in his
commandments, and
not in the ways
of Israel.
5 Therefore
the LORD
established the
kingdom in his
hand. All Judah
brought tribute to
Jehoshaphat, and
he had riches
and honor in
abundance.
6 His
heart was lifted
up in the
ways of the
LORD. Furthermore,
he took away
the high places
and the Asherah poles
out of Judah.
7 Also
in the third
year of his
reign he sent
his princes, even Ben Hail,
Obadiah, Zechariah,
Nethanel, and
Micaiah, to teach
in the cities
of Judah;
8 and
with them Levites, even
Shemaiah, Nethaniah,
Zebadiah, Asahel,
Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah,
Tobijah, and
Tobadonijah, the
Levites; and
with them Elishama and
Jehoram, the
priests.
9 They
taught in Judah,
having the book of
the LORD’s law
with them. They
went about
throughout all the
cities of Judah
and taught among
the people.
10 The
fear of the
LORD fell on
all the kingdoms
of the lands that
were around Judah,
so that they
made no war
against Jehoshaphat.
11 Some
of the Philistines
brought Jehoshaphat
presents and
silver for tribute.
The Arabians also
brought him flocks:
seven thousand seven
hundred rams and
seven thousand seven
hundred male goats.
12 Jehoshaphat
grew great
exceedingly; and
he built
fortresses and
store cities in
Judah.
13 He
had many works
in the cities
of Judah; and
men of war,
mighty men of
valor, in
Jerusalem.
14 This
was the numbering
of them according to
their fathers’ houses:
From Judah, the
captains of thousands:
Adnah the captain,
and with him
three hundred thousand
mighty men of
valor;
15 and
next to him
Jehohanan the
captain, and with
him two hundred
eighty thousand;
16 and
next to him
Amasiah the son
of Zichri, who
willingly offered
himself to the
LORD, and with
him two
hundred thousand mighty
men of valor.
17 From
Benjamin: Eliada, a
mighty man of
valor, and with
him two
hundred thousand armed
with bow and
shield;
18 and
next to him
Jehozabad, and
with him one
hundred eighty thousand ready
and prepared for
war.
19 These
were those who
waited on the
king, in addition
to those whom the
king put in
the fortified
cities throughout
all Judah.