| New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
| 1Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel. | 1Asa's son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king, and he consolidated his authority over Israel |
| 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. | 2by placing troops in all of the fortified citadels through Judah and by establishing garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities that his father Asa had captured. |
| 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal. | 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example set during his ancestor David's preliminary years by not pursuing the Baals. |
| 4He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. | 4Instead, Jehoshaphat sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike Israel. |
| 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. | 5Therefore the LORD secured Jehoshaphat's kingdom under his control, with all of Judah paying him tribute, and Jehoshaphat became very wealthy and greatly respected. |
| 6He was deeply committed to the ways of the LORD. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah. | 6He remained committed to following the LORD, and he removed the high places and Asherah poles from 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. | 7During the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach throughout the cities of Judah. |
| 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. | 8They were accompanied by the descendants of Levi, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah. These descendants of Levi were accompanied by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. |
| 9They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people. | 9They taught throughout Judah from a copy of the Book of the Law of the LORD that they took with them as they passed through all the cities of Judah, teaching among all the people. |
| 10Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat. | 10Because they were afraid of the LORD, none of the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah dared go to war against Jehoshaphat. |
| 11Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. | 11Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and Arabians brought him flocks of 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. |
| 12So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. | 12As a result, Jehoshaphat grew more and more powerful, and built up fortresses and storage centers throughout Judah. |
| 13He stored numerous supplies in Judah’s towns and stationed an army of seasoned troops at Jerusalem. | 13He placed a large amount of supplies into storage throughout the cities of Judah and stationed soldiers—all of them valiant men—in Jerusalem. |
| 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. | 14Here's how they were mustered, listed according to their ancestral houses and listed by commanders of thousands: Adnah commanded 300,000 elite forces. |
| 15Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops. | 15Near him was Johanan, commander of 280,000 |
| 16Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the LORD’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command. | 16and next to him was Zichri's son Amasiah, who had volunteered to serve the LORD. He commanded 200,000 elite forces. |
| 17From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier. | 17There was also Eliada from Benjamin, himself a valiant soldier. He was accompanied by 200,000 expert archers bearing shields. |
| 18Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men. | 18Near him was Jehozabad, who was accompanied by 180,000 soldiers equipped for warfare. |
| 19These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah. | 19These men served the king, and there were others whom the king garrisoned inside fortified cities throughout all of Judah. |
| 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. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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