New International Version | New Living Translation |
1Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. | 1Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel. |
2He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. | 2He stationed troops in all the fortified towns of Judah, and he assigned additional garrisons to the land of Judah and to the towns of Ephraim that his father, Asa, had captured. |
3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals | 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal. |
4but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. | 4He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. |
5The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. | 5So the LORD established Jehoshaphat’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. |
6His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah. | 6He was deeply committed to the ways of the LORD. He removed the pagan shrines 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 towns of Judah. | 7In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. |
8With them were certain Levites--Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah--and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. | 8He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram. |
9They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. | 9They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people. |
10The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. | 10Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat. |
11Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats. | 11Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. |
12Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah | 12So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. |
13and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. | 13He stored numerous supplies in Judah’s towns and stationed an army of seasoned troops at Jerusalem. |
14Their enrollment by families was as follows: From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men; | 14His army was enrolled according to ancestral clans. From Judah there were 300,000 troops organized in units of 1,000, under the command of Adnah. |
15next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; | 15Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops. |
16next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000. | 16Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the LORD’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command. |
17From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields; | 17From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier. |
18next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle. | 18Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men. |
19These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah. | 19These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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