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 Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became the new king after him. Jehoshaphat made Judah strong so that they could fight against Israel. He put groups of soldiers in all the towns of Judah that were made into fortresses. He built fortresses in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because in his young life he did the good things his ancestor David did. Jehoshaphat did not follow the Baal idols. He looked for the God his ancestors followed. He followed God’s commands and did not live the same way the Israelites lived. The Lord made Jehoshaphat a strong king over Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. So he had much wealth and honor. His heart found pleasure in the ways of the Lord. He removed the high places and the Asherah poles from the country of Judah.

During the third year of Jehoshaphat’s rule,[a] he sent his leaders to teach in the towns of Judah. These leaders were Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. Jehoshaphat also sent Levites with these leaders. These Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, and Tobijah. He also sent the priests Elishama and Jehoram. These leaders, Levites, and priests taught the people in Judah. They had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went through all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10 The nations near Judah were afraid of the Lord, so they did not start a war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. They also brought silver to him because they knew he was a very powerful king. Some Arabian people brought flocks to Jehoshaphat. They brought 7700 rams and 7700 goats to him.

12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and storage towns in the country of Judah. 13 He kept many supplies in the storage towns. And Jehoshaphat kept trained soldiers in Jerusalem. 14 These soldiers were listed in their tribes. This is the list of these soldiers in Jerusalem:

From the tribe of Judah, these were the generals:

Adnah was the general of 300,000 soldiers.

15 Jehohanan was the general of 280,000 soldiers.

16 Amasiah was the general of 200,000 soldiers. Amasiah was Zicri’s son. Amasiah was happy to give himself to serve the Lord.

17 From the tribe of Benjamin these were the generals:

Eliada had 200,000 soldiers who used bows, arrows, and shields. Eliada was a very brave soldier.

18 Jehozabad had 180,000 men ready for war.

19 All these soldiers served King Jehoshaphat. The king also had other men in the fortresses in all the country of Judah.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 17:7 third year of Jehoshaphat’s rule About the year 871 B.C.