1 J ehoshaphat his son became king in his place, and made himself strong against Israel.

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

2 H e placed soldiers in all the strong cities of Judah, and in places built for them in the land of Judah. And he put soldiers in the cities of Ephraim which his father Asa had taken in battle.

And 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 T he Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the early ways of his father. He did not follow the false gods of Baal.

Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals,

4 H e looked to the God of his father, followed His Laws, and did not act as Israel did.

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

5 S o the Lord made the nation strong under his rule. And all Judah paid taxes to Jehoshaphat. He had great riches and honor.

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

6 H e was strong in his heart in the ways of the Lord. And he took the high places and the false goddess Asherah out of Judah again.

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

7 I n the third year of his rule, Jehoshaphat sent his leaders to teach in the cities of Judah. He sent Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.

Also 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 W ith them he sent the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah. And with them he sent the religious leaders, Elishama and Jehoram.

And 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 T hey taught in Judah, having the book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. Jehoshaphat’s Strength

So 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 T he fear of the Lord was on all the nations of the lands around Judah. So they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

And 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 S ome of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts, and silver for taxes. The Arabians brought him flocks, 7, 700 rams and 7, 700 male goats.

Also 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 greater and greater. And he built strong places and store-cities in Judah.

So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.

13 H e had many things in the cities of Judah. And he had powerful soldiers in Jerusalem.

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

14 T his was the number of them by their fathers’ houses: Adnah was the captain of thousands from Judah. He had 300, 000 powerful soldiers with him.

These 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 N ext to him was Johanan, the captain of 280, 000.

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

16 N ext to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who gave himself to work for the Lord. He had 200, 000 powerful soldiers with him.

and 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 E liada was a powerful soldier of the family of Benjamin. He had with him 200, 000 men with bows and battle-coverings.

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

18 N ext to him was Jehozabad, the captain of 180, 000 ready for war.

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

19 T hese are the men who served the king, as well as those whom the king put in the strong cities through all Judah.

These served the king, besides those the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.