2 Chronicles 17

Jehoshaphat's Reign and Prosperity

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

²He placed forces 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.

³The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,

⁴but sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel.

⁵Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

⁶His heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.

⁷Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

⁸and with them Levites, even 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 the book of the LORD’s law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

¹⁰The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

¹¹Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

¹²Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.

¹³He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

¹⁴This was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: From Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;

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

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

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

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

¹⁹These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.