Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

1His son Jehoshaphat became king in his placea and strengthened himself against Israel. 2He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judaha and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.b

3Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his ancestor David.A He did not seek the Baals 4but sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to the practices of Israel.a 5So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.a 6He took great pride in the Lord’s ways, and he againa removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.b

Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan

7In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials — Ben-hail,A Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah — to teach in the cities of Judah.a 8The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,A Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. 9They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them.a They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah,a so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat. 11Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.a

Jehoshaphat’s Military Might

12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortressesa and storage cities in Judah 13and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem. 14These are their numbers according to their ancestral families.A For Judah, the commanders of thousands:

1. Adnah the commander and three hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
2. 15next to him, Jehohanan the commander and two hundred eighty thousand with him;
3. 16next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteera of the Lord, and two hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
4. 17from Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and two hundred thousand with him armed with bow and shield;
5. 18next to him, Jehozabad and one hundred eighty thousand with him equipped for war.

19These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.a