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2 Chronicles 17
Jehoshaphat Strengthens Judah
Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. He placed 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 captured. The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of David his ancestor and did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat. He had riches and honor in abundance. His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD, and he further removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
Teachers Carry the Instruction through Judah
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. With them were Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah; and with these Levites were Elishama and Jehoram the priests. They taught in Judah, having with them the book of the instruction of the LORD. They went around throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
The Fear of the LORD Falls on the Nations
The fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabians also brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats. Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. He had much work in the cities of Judah, and men of war, mighty warriors, in Jerusalem.
Jehoshaphat’s Military Forces
This was their enrollment according to their ancestral houses: from Judah, commanders of thousands—Adnah the commander, and with him three hundred thousand mighty warriors; next to him Jehohanan the commander, and with him two hundred eighty thousand; next to him Amasiah son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty warriors. From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty warrior, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand equipped for war. These served the king besides those whom the king had put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.