Jehoshaphat King of Judah^(A)

⁴¹ Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. ⁴² Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. ⁴³ In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa^(B) and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places,^(C) however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.^{[a] 44} Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.

⁴⁵ As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ⁴⁶ He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes^(D) who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa. ⁴⁷ There was then no king^(E) in Edom; a provincial governor ruled.

⁴⁸ Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships^[b](F) to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber.^{(G) 49} At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with yours,” but Jehoshaphat refused.

⁵⁰ Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoshaphat King of Judah

17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened^(A) himself against Israel. ² 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)

³ The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David^(D) before him. He did not consult the Baals ⁴ but sought^(E) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. ⁵ 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) 6} 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)

⁷ 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. ⁸ With them were certain Levites^(M)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ 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:

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