2 Chronicles 17

1 And Josaphat his son reigned in his stead, and grew strong against Israel.

Asa's son Jehoshaphat took over as king. He strengthened his country's defenses against Israel.

2 And he placed numbers of soldiers in all the fortified cities of Juda. And he put garrisons in the land of Juda, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

He assigned troops to every fortified city of Judah and placed garrisons throughout Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

3 And the Lord was with Josaphat, because he walked in the first ways of David his father: and trusted not in Baalim,

The Lord supported Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David. He did not believe in the Baals,

4 But in the God of his father, and walk in his commandments, and not according to the sins of Israel.

but worshiped the God of his father and obeyed his commandments, unlike what the kingdom of Israel was doing.

5 And the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, and all Juda brought presents to Josaphat: and he acquired immense riches, and much glory.

So the Lord made Jehoshaphat's hold on the kingdom secure, and all the people of Judah paid their dues to him. As a result he became very wealthy and highly honored.

6 And when his heart had taken courage for the ways of the Lord, he took away also the high places and the groves out of Juda.

He was sincerely committed to what the Lord wanted. He also he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

7 And in the third year of his reign, he sent of his princes Benhail, and Abdias, and Zacharias, and Nathanael, and Micheas, to teach in the cities of Juda:

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

8 And with them the Levites, Semeias, and Nathanias, and Zabadias, and Asael, and Semiramoth, and Jonathan, and Adonias, and Tobias, and Thobadonias Levites, and with them Elisama, and Joram priests.

He sent along with the them Levites named Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, and with them the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

9 And they taught the people in Juda, having with them the book of the law of the Lord: and they went about all the cities of Juda, and instructed the people.

Taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord they taught as they went around Judah. They visited all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.

10 And the fear of the Lord came upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Juda, and they durst not make war against Josaphat.

All the surrounding kingdoms were in awe of the Lord, so that they did not attack Jehoshaphat.

11 The Philistines also brought presents to Josaphat, and tribute in silver, and the Arabians brought him cattle, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and as many he goats.

Some of the Philistines even brought him gifts and silver, while the Arabians brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.

12 And Josaphat grew, and became exceeding great: and he built in Juda houses like towers, and walled cities.

Jehoshaphat grew increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storehouse towns in Judah.

13 And he prepared many works in the cities of Juda: and he had warriors, and valiant men in Jerusalem.

He maintained a great deal of supplies in the towns of Judah. He also had troops, experienced warriors, in Jerusalem.

14 Of whom this is the number of the houses and families of every one: in Juda captains of the army, Ednas the chief, and with him three hundred thousand most valiant men.

This is a count of them, according to their family lines: from Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and 300,000 mighty warriors with him;

15 After him Johanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand.

then Jehohanan the commander, and 280,000 with him;

16 And after him was Amasias the son of Zechri, consecrated to the Lord, and with him were two hundred thousand valiant men.

then Amasiah, son of Zichri, who volunteered to serve the Lord, and 200,000 mighty warriors with him;

17 After him was Eliada valiant in battle, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield.

from Benjamin, Eliada, a mighty warrior, and 200,000 with him armed with bows and shields;

18 After him also was Jozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready for war.

then Jehozabad, and 180,000 with him ready for battle;

19 All these were at the hand of the king, beside others, whom he had put in the walled cities, in all Juda.

These were the men who served the king, in addition those he assigned to the fortified towns throughout Judah.