Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

17 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place(A) and strengthened himself against Israel. He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah(B) and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.(C)

Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his ancestor David.[a] He did not seek the Baals but sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to the practices of Israel.(D) So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.(E) He took great pride in the Lord’s ways, and he again(F) removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.(G)

Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan

In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials—Ben-hail,[b] Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah.(H) The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,[c] Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them.(I) They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10 The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah,(J) so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.(K)

Jehoshaphat’s Military Might

12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses(L) and storage cities in Judah 13 and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem. 14 These are their numbers according to their ancestral families.[d] For Judah, the commanders of thousands:

Adnah the commander and three hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;

15 next to him, Jehohanan the commander and two hundred eighty thousand with him;

16 next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer(M) of the Lord, and two hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;

17 from Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and two hundred thousand with him armed with bow and shield;

18 next to him, Jehozabad and one hundred eighty thousand with him equipped for war.

19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.(N)

Footnotes

  1. 17:3 Some Hb mss, LXX omit David
  2. 17:7 = Son of Power
  3. 17:8 Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Arabic read Zechariah
  4. 17:14 Lit the house of their fathers

Jehoshaphat King of Judah

17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened(A) himself against Israel. He stationed troops in all the fortified cities(B) of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.(C)

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David(D) before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought(E) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts(F) to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.(G) His heart was devoted(H) to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places(I) and the Asherah poles(J) from Judah.(K)

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach(L) in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites(M)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law(N) of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10 The fear(O) of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs(P) brought him flocks:(Q) seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah 13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 14 Their enrollment(R) by families was as follows:

From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:

Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;

15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;

16 next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered(S) himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.

17 From Benjamin:(T)

Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;

18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.

19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities(U) throughout Judah.(V)