[1] Jehosh'aphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself
against Israel. [2] He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah,
and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of E'phraim which
Asa his father had taken. [3] The LORD was with Jehosh'aphat, because he
walked in the earlier ways of his father; he did not seek the Ba'als, [4]
but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not
according to the ways of Israel. [5] Therefore the LORD established the
kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought tribute to Jehosh'aphat; and he
had great riches and honor. [6] His heart was courageous in the ways of the
LORD; and furthermore he took the high places and the Ashe'rim out of
Judah. [7] In the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail,
Obadi'ah, Zechari'ah, Nethan'el, and Micai'ah, to teach in the cities of
Judah; [8] and with them the Levites, Shemai'ah, Nethani'ah, Zebadi'ah,
As'ahel, Shemi'ramoth, Jehon'athan, Adoni'jah, Tobi'jah, and Tobadoni'jah;
and with these Levites, the priests Eli'shama and Jeho'ram. [9] And they
taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; they
went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
[10] And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that
were round about Judah, and they made no war against Jehosh'aphat. [11]
Some of the Philistines brought Jehosh'aphat presents, and silver for
tribute; and the Arabs also brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams
and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats. [12] And Jehosh'aphat grew
steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store-cities, [13] and
he had great stores in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of
valor, in Jerusalem. [14] This was the muster of them by fathers' houses:
Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with three
hundred thousand mighty men of valor, [15] and next to him Jehoha'nan the
commander, with two hundred and eighty thousand, [16] and next to him
Amasi'ah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with
two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. [17] Of Benjamin: Eli'ada, a
mighty man of valor, with two hundred thousand men armed with bow and
shield, [18] and next to him Jeho'zabad with a hundred and 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.
