2 Chronicles 17

New International Version

Jehoshaphat King of Judah

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

³The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David^(D) before him. He did not consult the Baals ⁴but sought^(E) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. ⁵The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts^(F) to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.^(G) ⁶His 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)

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

¹⁰The 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. ¹¹Some 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.

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

From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:

Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;

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

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

¹⁷From Benjamin:^(T)

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

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

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

Zechariah 2

New International Version

A Man With a Measuring Line

2 ^[a]Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. ²I asked, “Where are you going?”

He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”^(A)

³While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him ⁴and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls^(B) because of the great number^(C) of people and animals in it.^(D) ⁵And I myself will be a wall^(E) of fire^(F) around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory^(G) within.’^(H)

⁶“Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered^(I) you to the four winds of heaven,”^(J) declares the Lord.^(K)

⁷“Come, Zion! Escape,^(L) you who live in Daughter Babylon!”^(M) ⁸For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye^(N)— ⁹I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.^[b]^(O) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.^(P)

¹⁰“Shout^(Q) and be glad, Daughter Zion.^(R) For I am coming,^(S) and I will live among you,”^(T) declares the Lord.^(U) ¹¹“Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people.^(V) I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.^(W) ¹²The Lord will inherit^(X) Judah^(Y) as his portion in the holy land and will again choose^(Z) Jerusalem. ¹³Be still^(AA) before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.^(AB)”