2 Chronicles 17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jehoshaphat’s Reign
17 His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him and strengthened himself against Israel.(A) 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 that his father Asa had taken.(B) 3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father;[a] he did not seek the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments and not according to the ways of Israel.(C) 5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.(D) 6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the sacred poles[b] from Judah.(E)
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah.(F) 8 With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; and with these Levites the priests Elishama and Jehoram.(G) 9 They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the Lord with them; they went around through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.(H)
10 The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, and they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.(I) 11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabs also brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.(J) 12 Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. 13 He carried out great works in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty warriors, in Jerusalem. 14 This was the muster of them by ancestral houses: Of Judah, the commanders of the thousands: Adnah the commander, with three hundred thousand mighty warriors, 15 and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with two hundred eighty thousand, 16 and next to him Amasiah son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the Lord, with two hundred thousand mighty warriors.(K) 17 Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty warrior, with two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield, 18 and next to him Jehozabad with one hundred eighty thousand armed for war. 19 These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
2 Chronicles 17
Evangelical Heritage Version
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah[a]
17 Asa’s son Jehoshaphat ruled in his place. He strengthened his position against Israel and 2 placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah. He placed garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the ways that his father David walked in the beginning. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but he sought the God of his father, and he walked in his commandments. He did not follow the example of Israel. 5 So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah gave tribute to Jehoshaphat. He had abundant riches and honor. 6 His heart was bold in the ways of the Lord. Furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. 8 Along with them he sent these Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, as well as the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught in Judah. They took the Book of the Law[b] of the Lord with them and traveled around through all the cities of Judah, teaching among the people.
10 The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah. They did not wage war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver to Jehoshaphat as tribute. Also the Arabs brought flocks to him: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
12 Jehoshaphat was continually becoming greater and greater. He built fortresses and towns for storehouses in Judah.
13 He had large amounts of supplies[c] in the cities of Judah, and soldiers who were powerful warriors were stationed in Jerusalem. 14 Their numbers, based on their fathers’ houses, were as follows.
Belonging to Judah, these were the commanders of units of a thousand:
Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 powerful warriors.
15 Next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him 280,000.
16 Next to him Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the Lord, and with him 200,000 powerful warriors.
17 From Benjamin:
Eliada, a powerful warrior, and with him 200,000 men armed with bow and shield.
18 Next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 men armed for war.
19 These were the men who served the king, in addition to those forces that the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 17:1 The Chronicles account about Jehoshaphat includes much material that has no parallel in Kings.
- 2 Chronicles 17:9 The term law often includes all of God’s teaching, not just commandments.
- 2 Chronicles 17:13 Or many projects
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.