2 Chronicles 17

1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigneth in his stead, and he strengtheneth himself against Israel,

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

2 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.

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

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

4 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.

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

5 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,

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 his heart is high in the ways of Jehovah, and again he hath turned aside the high places and the shrines 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 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,

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, 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.

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 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.

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 here is a fear of Jehovah on all kingdoms of the lands that [are] round about Judah, and they have not fought with Jehoshaphat;

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

11 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.

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

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

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

13 and he hath much work in cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty of valour, [are] in Jerusalem.

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

14 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.

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

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

16 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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