犹大王约沙法

17 亚撒的儿子约沙法继位,他发愤图强对抗以色列。 他派兵驻守犹大所有的坚城,又把守备军安置在犹大和他父亲亚撒所征服的以法莲各城邑。 耶和华与约沙法同在,因为他效法他祖先大卫起初所行的,没有寻求巴力, 只寻求他父亲的上帝,遵行祂的诫命,没有效法以色列人的行为。 因此,耶和华巩固他的王位,所有的犹大人都向他进贡,他极有财富和尊荣。 他专心遵行耶和华的道,铲除犹大境内的丘坛和亚舍拉神像。

他在执政第三年委派官员便·亥伊勒、俄巴底、撒迦利雅、拿坦业和米该亚到犹大各城教导民众, 与他们同去的还有利未人示玛雅、尼探雅、西巴第雅、亚撒黑、示米拉末、约拿单、亚多尼雅、多比雅和驼·巴多尼雅,还有祭司以利沙玛和约兰。 他们带着耶和华的律法书,走遍犹大各城镇教导民众。 10 犹大周围的列国都惧怕耶和华,不敢与约沙法争战。 11 一些非利士人向他进贡礼物和银子,阿拉伯人也给他送来公绵羊和公山羊各七千七百只。

12 约沙法日渐强大,在犹大境内修建堡垒和储货城, 13 在犹大各城储备大量物资。他又在耶路撒冷屯驻精兵, 14 其人数按宗族记在下面。

犹大族有千夫长押拿,率领精兵三十万; 15 其次是千夫长约哈难,率领军兵二十八万; 16 其次是自愿事奉耶和华的细基利的儿子亚玛斯雅,率领精兵二十万。 17 便雅悯族有勇士以利雅大,率领手持弓箭和盾牌的军兵二十万; 18 其次是约萨拔,率领全副武装的军兵十八万。 19 以上都是服侍王的军兵,不包括王派去驻守犹大各坚城的军兵。

Jehoshaphat King of Judah

17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened(A) himself against Israel. He stationed troops in all the fortified cities(B) of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.(C)

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David(D) before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought(E) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts(F) to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.(G) His heart was devoted(H) to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places(I) and the Asherah poles(J) from Judah.(K)

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach(L) in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites(M)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law(N) of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10 The fear(O) of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs(P) brought him flocks:(Q) seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah 13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 14 Their enrollment(R) by families was as follows:

From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:

Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;

15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;

16 next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered(S) himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.

17 From Benjamin:(T)

Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;

18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.

19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities(U) throughout Judah.(V)

17 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.

And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.

And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.

13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.

14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.

15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.

19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

17 Then (A)Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of (B)Judah and in the cities of Ephraim (C)which Asa his father had taken. Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought [a]the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to (D)the acts of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah (E)gave presents to Jehoshaphat, (F)and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover (G)he removed the [b]high places and wooden images from Judah.

Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, (H)to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. (I)So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

10 And (J)the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Also some of the Philistines (K)brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

12 So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. 13 He had much property in the cities of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem.

14 These are their numbers, according to their fathers’ houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor; 15 and next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand; 16 and next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, (L)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 men armed with bow and shield; 18 and next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand prepared for war. 19 These served the king, besides (M)those the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 17:4 LXX the Lord God
  2. 2 Chronicles 17:6 Places for pagan worship