1His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel. | 1His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel. |
2He placed troops in all of Judah's fortified cities and posted garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized. | 2He placed troops in all of Judah's fortified cities and posted garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized. |
3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David's footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals, | 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David's footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals, |
4but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites. | 4but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites. |
5The LORD made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. | 5The LORD made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. |
6He was committed to following the LORD; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. | 6He was committed to following the LORD; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. |
7In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. | 7In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. |
8They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. | 8They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. |
9They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the LORD. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people. | 9They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the LORD. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people. |
10The LORD put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. | 10The LORD put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. |
11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute, including a load of silver. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks. | 11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute, including a load of silver. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks. |
12Jehoshaphat's power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. | 12Jehoshaphat's power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. |
13He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem. | 13He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem. |
14These were their divisions by families: There were a thousand officers from Judah. Adnah the commander led 300,000 skilled warriors, | 14These were their divisions by families: There were a thousand officers from Judah. Adnah the commander led 300,000 skilled warriors, |
15Jehochanan the commander led 280,000, | 15Jehochanan the commander led 280,000, |
16and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the LORD, led 200,000 skilled warriors. | 16and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the LORD, led 200,000 skilled warriors. |
17From Benjamin, Eliada, a skilled warrior, led 200,000 men who were equipped with bows and shields, | 17From Benjamin, Eliada, a skilled warrior, led 200,000 men who were equipped with bows and shields, |
18and Jehozabad led 180,000 trained warriors. | 18and Jehozabad led 180,000 trained warriors. |
19These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah. | 19These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah. |
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