2 Chronicles 17

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

11Jehoshaphat his son then became king in his place, and made his position over Israel firm. 2He placed troops in all 2the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim 3which Asa his father had captured.

His Good Reign

3The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he 4followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals, 4but sought the God of his father, 5followed His commandments, 6and did not act as Israel did. 5So the Lord established the kingdom in his 7control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and 8he had great riches and honor. 69He took great pride in the ways of the Lord and again 10removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.

7Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, 11to teach in the cities of Judah; 8and with them 12the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. 9They taught in Judah, having 13the book of the law of the Lord with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

10Now 14the dread of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11Some of the Philistines 15brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 12So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah. 13He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and warriors, valiant men, in Jerusalem. 14This was their muster according to their fathers’ households: of Judah, commanders of thousands, Adnah was the commander, and with him 300,000 valiant warriors; 15and next to him was Johanan the commander, and with him 280,000; 16and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, 16who volunteered for the Lord, and with him 200,000 valiant warriors; 17and of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant warrior, and with him 200,000 armed with bow and shield; 18and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war. 19These are they who served the king, apart from 17those whom the king put in the fortified cities through all Judah.