2 Chronicles 17

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

Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself 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.

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

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,

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

but sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways 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.

Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

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

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 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,

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

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 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.

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 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.

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 stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah

Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.

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

He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, 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;

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

and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him 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.

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 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

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 180,000 armed for battle.

and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready and prepared for war.

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

These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.