17 Asa's son Jehoshaphat became the next king of Judah. He made his kingdom strong to fight against Israel. 2 He put soldiers in all Judah's cities that had walls around them and in other places in Judah. He also put soldiers in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had taken power over.
3 Jehoshaphat obeyed the Lord as his ancestor David had done when he first ruled as king. So the Lord was with him to help him. Jehoshaphat did not worship the idols of Baal. 4 Instead, he served the God that his father had served. He obeyed the Lord 's commands. He did not do the wrong things that Israel's people did. 5 The Lord gave Jehoshaphat power over the kingdom of Judah. All Judah's people brought gifts to him. So Jehoshaphat became rich and people respected him. 6 He served the Lord with all his strength. He removed from Judah the altars on the hills and the Asherah poles.
7 In the third year that Jehoshaphat ruled Judah as king, he sent his officers to teach people in all Judah's towns. The names of those officers were Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah. 8 He sent these Levites to go with them: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah. He also sent the priests, Elishama and Jehoram. 9 These men travelled everywhere in Judah to teach people. They took with them the book which was a copy of the Lord 's law. They used it to teach people in all Judah's towns.
10 The people in all the kingdoms around Judah were afraid of the Lord 's power. So they did not want to fight a war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought silver and other gifts to Jehoshaphat to make him happy. People from Arabia also brought gifts to him. They brought 7,700 male sheep and 7,700 male goats.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built strong buildings and places to store things everywhere in Judah. 13 He kept lots of things in Judah's towns. He had a big army of strong, brave soldiers in Jerusalem. 14 These are the groups of the soldiers in each clan:
From Judah's tribe, the officer who led the soldiers was Adnah. He had authority over 300,000 soldiers, in groups of 1,000.
15 The next officer was Jehohanan. He had authority over 280,000 soldiers.
16 After him, the next officer was Zikri's son, Amasiah. He himself chose to serve the Lord in this way. He had authority over 200,000 soldiers.
17 From Benjamin's tribe, the officer who led the soldiers was Eliada, a brave soldier. He had authority over 200,000 soldiers who had bows and arrows, as well as shields.
18 After him, the next officer was Jehozabad. He had authority over 180,000 soldiers who had their weapons ready to fight.
19 All these men served as the king's soldiers in Jerusalem. He also had soldiers that he put in Judah's other strong cities.
17 Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became the new king after him. Jehoshaphat made Judah strong so that they could fight against Israel. 2 He put groups of soldiers in all the towns of Judah that were made into fortresses. He built fortresses in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because in his young life he did the good things his ancestor David did. Jehoshaphat did not follow the Baal idols. 4 He looked for the God his ancestors followed. He followed God’s commands and did not live the same way the Israelites lived. 5 The Lord made Jehoshaphat a strong king over Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. So he had much wealth and honor. 6 His heart found pleasure in the ways of the Lord . He removed the high places and the Asherah poles from the country of Judah.
7 During the third year of Jehoshaphat’s rule, [ a ] he sent his leaders to teach in the towns of Judah. These leaders were Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. 8 Jehoshaphat also sent Levites with these leaders. These Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, and Tobijah. He also sent the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 These leaders, Levites, and priests taught the people in Judah. They had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went through all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The nations near Judah were afraid of the Lord , so they did not start a war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. They also brought silver to him because they knew he was a very powerful king. Some Arabian people brought flocks to Jehoshaphat. They brought 7700 rams and 7700 goats to him.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and storage towns in the country of Judah. 13 He kept many supplies in the storage towns. And Jehoshaphat kept trained soldiers in Jerusalem. 14 These soldiers were listed in their tribes. This is the list of these soldiers in Jerusalem:
From the tribe of Judah, these were the generals:
Adnah was the general of 300,000 soldiers.
15 Jehohanan was the general of 280,000 soldiers.
16 Amasiah was the general of 200,000 soldiers. Amasiah was Zicri’s son. Amasiah was happy to give himself to serve the Lord .
17 From the tribe of Benjamin these were the generals:
Eliada had 200,000 soldiers who used bows, arrows, and shields. Eliada was a very brave soldier.
18 Jehozabad had 180,000 men ready for war.
19 All these soldiers served King Jehoshaphat. The king also had other men in the fortresses in all the country of Judah.
17 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord : moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
8 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.
13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.
16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord ; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.
17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
17 His son ( A ) Jehoshaphat then became king in his place, and he proved himself strong over Israel. 2 He placed troops in all ( B ) the fortified cities of Judah, and placed garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim ( C ) which his father Asa had captured.
3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he [ a ] followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father, [ b ] followed His commandments, ( D ) and did not act as Israel did. 5 So the Lord established the kingdom in his [ c ] control, and all Judah gave tribute to Jehoshaphat, and ( E ) he had great riches and honor. 6 [ d ] He took great pride in the ways of the Lord , and again ( F ) removed the high places and the [ e ] Asherim from Judah.
7 Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, ( G ) to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them ( H ) the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught in Judah, having ( I ) the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; and they went throughout the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
10 Now ( J ) the dread of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines ( K ) brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 12 So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. 13 He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and warriors, valiant mighty men, in Jerusalem. 14 This was their muster according to their fathers’ households: of Judah, commanders of thousands, Adnah was the commander, and with him three hundred thousand valiant warriors; 15 and next to him was Johanan the commander, and with him 280,000; 16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, ( L ) who volunteered for the Lord , and with him two hundred thousand valiant warriors; 17 and of Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; 18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war. 19 These are the ones who served the king, apart from ( M ) those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened ( A ) himself against Israel. 2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities ( B ) of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. ( C )
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David ( D ) before him. He did not consult the Baals 4 but sought ( E ) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 5 The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts ( F ) to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. ( G ) 6 His heart was devoted ( H ) to the ways of the Lord ; furthermore, he removed the high places ( I ) and the Asherah poles ( J ) from Judah. ( K )
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach ( L ) in the towns of Judah. 8 With them were certain Levites ( M ) —Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law ( N ) of the Lord ; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The fear ( O ) of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs ( P ) brought him flocks: ( Q ) seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah 13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 14 Their enrollment ( R ) by families was as follows:
From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:
Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;
15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
16 next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered ( S ) himself for the service of the Lord , with 200,000.
17 From Benjamin: ( T )
Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;
18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.
19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities ( U ) throughout Judah. ( V )
