2 Chronicles 17

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

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

2 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.

And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had taken.

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

And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, for he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baals;

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

but he sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

5 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.

And Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave gifts to Jehoshaphat; and he had riches and honour in abundance.

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

And he took courage in the ways of Jehovah; moreover, he removed the high places and Asherahs 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 towns of Judah.

And in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethaneel, and Micah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

8 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.

and with them the Levites: Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

9 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.

And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of Jehovah with them; and they went about through all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.

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

And the terror of Jehovah was upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

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

And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute-silver. The Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.

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

And Jehoshaphat waxed exceeding great; and he built in Judah castles and store-cities.

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

And he had much business in the cities of Judah; and men of war, strong and valiant, in Jerusalem.

14 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;

And these are the numbers of them according to their fathers' houses. Of Judah the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valour;

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

and next to him was Johanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;

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

and next to him, Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Jehovah; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

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

And of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valour, and with him two hundred thousand, armed with bow and shield;

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

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

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

These were they that waited on the king, besides those that the king had put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.