2 Chronicles 17

1 Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel.

Then Jehoshaphat, his son, reigned in his place. And he grew strong against Israel.

2 He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

And he appointed numbers of soldiers in all the cities of Judah that had been fortified with walls. And he placed garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized.

3 Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals,

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father, David. And he did not trust in the Baals,

4 but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel.

but in the God of his father. And he advanced in his precepts, and not according to the sins of Israel.

5 So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.

And the Lord confirmed the kingdom in his hand. And all of Judah gave gifts to Jehoshaphat. And innumerable riches were brought to him, and much glory.

6 And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

And when his heart had taken courage because of the ways of the Lord, he now also took away the high places and the sacred groves from Judah.

7 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah,

Then, in the third year of his reign, he sent Benhail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, from among his leaders, so that they might teach in the cites of Judah.

8 accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

And with them were the Levites Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah, and also Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan, and the Levites Adonijah and Tobijah and Tobadonijah. And with them were the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

And they were teaching the people in Judah, having with them the book of the law of the Lord. And they were traveling through all the cities of Judah, and were instructing the people.

10 And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

And so, the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah. And they did not dare to make war against Jehoshaphat.

11 Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.

Moreover, the Philistines carried gifts to Jehoshaphat, and a tribute in silver. Also, the Arabians brought cattle: seven thousand seven hundred rams, and the same number of he-goats.

12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah

Therefore, Jehoshaphat increased and was magnified, even on high. And in Judah, he built houses in the likeness of towers, and walled cities.

13 and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor.

And he prepared many works in the cities of Judah. Also, there were men experienced in warfare in Jerusalem,

14 These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;

and this is the number of them, by each of the houses and families. In Judah, the leader of the army was Adnah, the commander; and with him were three hundred thousand very experienced men.

15 next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;

After him, Jehohanan was the leader; and with him were two hundred eighty thousand.

16 and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor.

Also after him, there was Amasiah, the son of Zichri, who was consecrated to the Lord; and with him were two hundred thousand strong men.

17 From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

Following him, there was Eliada, who was experienced in battle; and with him were two hundred thousand, holding bow and shield.

18 and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle.

Then too, after him, there was Jehozabad; and with him were one hundred eighty thousand lightly-armed soldiers.

19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

All these were at the hand of the king, aside from the others, whom he had positioned in the walled cities, in all of Judah.