2 Chronicles: Chapter 17
1. Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and
strengthened himself against Israel.
2. He placed forces in all the fortified cities of
Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which
Asa his father had taken.
3. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked
in the first ways of his father David, and didn't seek the Baals,
4. but sought to the God of his father, and walked
in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5. Therefore The Lord established the kingdom in his
hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor
in abundance.
6. His heart was lifted up in the ways of The Lord:
and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
7. Also in the third year of his reign he sent his
princes, even Ben Hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah,
to teach in the cities of Judah;
8. and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and
Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and
Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and
Jehoram, the priests.
9. They taught in Judah, having the book of the law
of The Lord with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and
taught among the people.
10. The fear of The Lord fell on all the kingdoms of
the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against
Jehoshaphat.
11. Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat
presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven
thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats.
12. Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built
in Judah castles and cities of store.
13. He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men
of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
14. This was the numbering of them according to their
fathers' houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and
with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand;
15. and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with
him two hundred eighty thousand;
16. and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who
willingly offered himself to The Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty
men of valor.
17. Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and
with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
18. and next to him Jehozabad and with him one hundred
eighty thousand ready prepared for war.
19. These were those who waited on the king, besides
those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.