17:1 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.
17:2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
17:3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals
17:4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.
17:5 The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.
17:6 His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
17:7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah.
17:8 With them were certain Levites–Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah–and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
17:9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
17:10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.
17:11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
17:12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah
17:13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem.
17:14 Their enrollment by families was as follows: From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;
17:15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
17:16 next, Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000
17:17 From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;
17:18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.
17:19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
17:1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel.
17:2 And he put forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had taken.
17:3 And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of David his father; and he did not pursue the Baals
17:4 But pursued the God of his father and walked in His commandments and did not do as Israel had done.
17:5 Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah gave tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
17:6 And his heart was exalted in the ways of Jehovah; and even more, he removed the high places and the Asherahs from Judah.
17:7 And in the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-hail and Obadiah and Zechariah and Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah;
17:8 And with them he sent the Levites Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them, Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
17:9 And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Jehovah; and they went around all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
17:10 And the fear of Jehovah was upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they waged no war against Jehoshaphat.
17:11 And some of the Philistines would bring presents to Jehoshaphat and silver as tribute; even the Arabians would bring him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
17:12 And Jehoshaphat grew exceedingly great, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.
17:13 And he conducted many works in the cities of Judah and had men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
17:14 And this was the muster of them according to their fathers’ house: of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;
17:15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;
17:16 And next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who offered himself willingly to Jehovah, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
17:17 And of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield;
17:18 And next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand armed for war.
17:19 These were those who served the king, besides those whom the king had put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.