2 Chronicles 17

1 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.

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

2 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

7 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;

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 Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the 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 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 amongst 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 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.

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

11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks: seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats.

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

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

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

13 He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valour, in Jerusalem.

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

14 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 valour;

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

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

16 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 valour.

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

17 From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valour, 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 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand ready and prepared for war.

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

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

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