2 Chronicles 17

1 Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became the king [of Judah], and he enabled his army to become very strong, with the result that they could resist attacks from [the army of] Israel.

And he became king Jehoshaphat son his in place of him and he strengthened himself on Israel.

2 He put soldiers in all the cities in Judah around which they had built walls, and he put soldiers in other places in Judah and in the towns in the area belonging to the tribe of Ephraim that [soldiers of] his father Asa had captured.

And he put an army in all [the] cities of Judah fortified and he put garrisons in [the] land of Judah and in [the] cities of Ephraim which he had captured Asa father his.

3 Yahweh helped Jehoshaphat because when he started [to rule Judah], he did the things that pleased Yahweh like his ancestor [King] David had done. He did not worship the idols of Baal.

And he was Yahweh with Jehoshaphat for he walked in [the] ways of David ancestor his former and not he sought the Baals.

4 Instead, he sought advice from the God whom his father [had worshiped], and he obeyed God’s commands, and did not do the [evil things that the kings of] Israel continually did.

For [the] God of father his he sought and in commandments his he walked and not according to [the] deed[s] of Israel.

5 Yahweh enabled him to completely control his kingdom. All [the people of] Judah brought gifts to him, with the result that he became very rich and was greatly honored.

And he established Yahweh the kingdom in hand his and they gave all Judah tribute to Jehoshaphat and it belonged to him wealth and honor to abundance.

6 He was completely devoted to doing what pleased Yahweh. His workers got rid of the shrines on the hilltops and the poles for [worshiping the goddess] Asherah throughout Judah.

And it was high heart his in [the] ways of Yahweh and again he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

7 When he had been ruling [Judah] for almost three years, he sent some of his officials—Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach the people in various towns in Judah.

And in year three of reigning his he sent officials his Ben-Hail and Obadiah and Zechariah and Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in [the] cities of Judah.

8 With them he sent several descendants of Levi—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah—and two priests, Elishama and Jehoram.

And [were] with them the Levites Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel (and Shemiramoth *Q(K)*) and Jonathan and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah the Levites and [were] with them Elishama and Jehoram the priests.

9 They took with them a scroll on which were written the laws of Yahweh and taught them to the people in all the towns throughout Judah,

And they taught in Judah and [was] with them [the] book of [the] law of Yahweh and they went round in all [the] cities of Judah and they taught among the people.

10 The people in all the kingdoms surrounding Judah became very afraid of [what Yahweh might do to punish them if they fought against Judah], so they did not start wars with Jehoshaphat’s army.

And it was - [the] dread of Yahweh on all [the] kingdoms of the lands which [were] around Judah and not they waged war with Jehoshaphat.

11 Some people from Philistia brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, and they also brought to him the silver that he demanded that they pay to him. Some Arabs brought to him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.

And some of [the] Philistines [were] bringing to Jehoshaphat tribute and silver a load also the Arabs [were] bringing to him flock[s] rams seven thousand and seven hundred and male goats seven thousand and seven hundred.

12 Jehoshaphat continued to become more powerful/influential. His workers built forts and places to store supplies in various towns in Judah.

And it was Jehoshaphat [was] going and [was] becoming great to upwards and he built in Judah fortresses and cities of storage.

13 Then they put large amounts of supplies in those storehouses. Jehoshaphat also placed in Jerusalem soldiers who were experienced.

And property much it belonged to him in [the] cities of Judah and men of war mighty [men] of strength [were] in Jerusalem.

14 The leaders and numbers from each tribe were as follows: From the tribe of Judah, Adnah was the leader of the soldiers, and he commanded 300,000 soldiers.

And these [were] group[s] their to [the] house of ancestors their of Judah commanders of thousands Adnah [was] the commander and [were] with him mighty [men] of strength three hundred thousand.

15 His assistant was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 soldiers.

And on hand his Jehohanan the commander and with him two hundred and eighty thousand.

16 Next was Zicri’s son Amasiah, who volunteered to serve Yahweh in this way; he commanded 200,000 soldiers.

And on hand his Amasiah [the] son of Zikri who volunteered to Yahweh and with him two hundred thousand mighty [man] of strength.

17 From the tribe of Benjamin, Eliada, who was a brave soldier, was the leader of the soldiers; he commanded 200,000 men who had bows [and arrows] and shields.

And from Benjamin a mighty [man] of strength Eliada and with him [men] equipped of bow and shield two hundred thousand.

18 Next was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 men who had weapons for fighting battles.

And on hand his Jehozabad and with him one hundred and eighty thousand [men] equipped of war.

19 Those were the soldiers who served the king [in Jerusalem], in addition to the men whom the king had placed in the other cities in Judah that had walls around them.

These [were] the [ones who] served the king besides [those] whom he put the king in [the] cities of fortification in all Judah.