1 J ehoshaphat his son reigned in Asa’s stead and strengthened himself against Israel.

2 A nd 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.

3 T he Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father. He did not seek the Baals

4 B ut sought and yearned with all his desire for the Lord, the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not after the ways of Israel.

5 T herefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.

6 H is heart was cheered and his courage was high in the ways of the Lord; moreover, he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

7 A lso in the third year of his reign he sent his princes Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah;

8 A nd with them were the Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; and with these Levites were the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

9 A nd they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

10 A nd a terror from the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

11 A nd some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute silver, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7, 700 each of rams and of he-goats.

12 A nd Jehoshaphat became very great. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities,

13 A nd he had many works in the cities of Judah, and soldiers, mighty men of courage, in Jerusalem.

14 T his was the number of them by their fathers’ houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the chief, with 300, 000 mighty men of valor;

15 N ext to him was Jehohanan the captain, with 280, 000;

16 A nd next to him Amasiah son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord, with 200, 000 mighty men of valor.

17 O f Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, with 200, 000 men armed with bow and shield;

18 N ext to him was Jehozabad with 180, 000 armed for war.

19 T hese were in the king’s service, besides those had placed in fortified cities throughout all Judah.