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

2 A nd he placed troops 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 N ow the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals,

4 b ut sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel.

5 T herefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

6 A nd his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah.

7 A lso in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

8 A nd with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

9 S o they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

10 A nd the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

11 A lso some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

12 S o Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.

13 H e had much property in the cities of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem.

14 T hese are their numbers, according to their fathers’ houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;

15 a nd next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;

16 a nd next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

17 O f Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield;

18 a nd next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand prepared for war.

19 T hese served the king, besides those the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.