2 Chronicles 17

¹ Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, 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 Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

³ Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals, ⁴ but sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. ⁵ Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat; and he had riches and honor in abundance.

⁶ His heart was lifted up in Yahweh’s ways; and moreover he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.

⁷ Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; ⁸ and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. ⁹ They taught in Judah, having the book of Yahweh’s law with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.

¹⁰ The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

¹² Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built in Judah fortresses and store cities. ¹³ He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ This was their numbering, according to their fathers’ houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand; ¹⁵ and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand; ¹⁶ and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

¹⁷ Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; ¹⁸ and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready prepared for war. ¹⁹ These were those who waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.