2 Chronicles 17

New King James Version

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

17 Then^(A)Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.² And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of^(B)Judah and in the cities of Ephraim^(C)which Asa his father had taken.³ Now theLordwas with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals,⁴ but sought^[a]the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to^(D)the acts of Israel.⁵ Therefore theLordestablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah^(E)gave presents to Jehoshaphat,^(F)and he had riches and honor in abundance.⁶ And his heart took delight in the ways of theLord; moreover^(G)he removed the^[b]high places and wooden images from Judah.

⁷ Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah,^(H)to teach in the cities of Judah.⁸ And with themhe sentLevites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.^9 (I)So they taught in Judah, andhadthe Book of the Law of theLordwith them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

¹⁰ And^(J)the fear of theLordfell on all the kingdoms of the lands thatwerearound Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.¹¹ Alsosomeof the Philistines^(K)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 So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.¹³ He had much property in the cities of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of valor,werein Jerusalem.

¹⁴ Thesearetheir 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 and next to himwasJehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;¹⁶ and next to himwasAmasiah the son of Zichri,^(L)who willingly offered himself to theLord, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.¹⁷ Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield;¹⁸ and next to himwasJehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand prepared for war.¹⁹ These served the king, besides^(M)those the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.