2 Chronicles 17

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

And Jehoshaphat his son reigneth in his stead, and he strengtheneth 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 putteth a force in all the fenced cities of Judah, and putteth garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured.

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

And Jehovah is with Jehoshaphat, for he hath walked in the first ways of David his father, and hath not sought to Baalim,

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

for to the God of his father he hath sought, and in His commands he hath walked, and not according to the work 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 doth establish the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah give a present to Jehoshaphat, and he hath 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 his heart is high in the ways of Jehovah, and again he hath turned aside the high places and the shrines 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 hath sent for his heads, for Ben-Hail, and for Obadiah, and for Zechariah, and for Nethaneel, and for Michaiah, to teach in 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 Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijath, and Tob-Adonijah, the 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 teach in Judah, and with them [is] the Book of the Law of Jehovah, and they go round about into all cities of Judah, and teach among the people.

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

And here is a fear of Jehovah on all kingdoms of the lands that [are] round about Judah, and they have not fought with 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 of the Philistines they are bringing in to Jehoshaphat a present, and tribute silver; also, the Arabians are bringing to him a flock, rams seven thousand an seven hundred, and he-goats seven thousand and seven hundred.

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

And Jehoshaphat is going on and becoming very great, and he buildeth in Judah palaces and cities of store,

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

and he hath much work in cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty of valour, [are] 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] their numbers, for the house of their fathers: Of Judah, heads of thousands, Adnah the head, and with him mighty ones of valour, three hundred chiefs.

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

And at his hand [is] Jehohanan the head, and with him two hundred and eighty chiefs.

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

And at his hand [is] Amasiah son of Zichri, who is willingly offering himself to Jehovah, and with him two hundred chiefs, mighty of valour.

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

And of Benjamin: mighty of valour, Eliada, and with him, armed with bow and shield, two hundred chiefs.

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

And at his hand [is] Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty chiefs, armed ones of the host.

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

These [are] those serving the king, apart from those whom the king put in the cities of fortress, in all Judah.