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17 Forsooth Jehoshaphat, his son, reigned for him; and he had the mastery against Israel.

And he set numbers of knights in all the cities of Judah, that were (en)compassed with walls (And he put numbers of horsemen in all the cities of Judah, that were surrounded with walls), and he disposed strongholds in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa, his father, had taken.

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, which went in the first ways of David, his father; he hoped not in Baalim, (And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, who went in the early ways of his father Asa; he did not trust in, or follow, the Baalim,)

but he hoped in the Lord God of David, his father (but he hoped in the Lord God of his father Asa), and he went in the commandments of God, and not after the sins of Israel.

And the Lord confirmed the realm in his hand; and all Judah gave gifts to Jehoshaphat, and riches without number, and much glory was made to him.

And when his heart had taken hardiness for the ways of the Lord, he took away also (the) high places and [maumet] woods from Judah. (And he took pride in following the ways of the Lord, and he also did away the hill shrines and the idol groves, or the sacred poles, in Judah.)

And in the third year of his realm, he sent of his princes (he sent his officials), Benhail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethaneel, and Michaiah, that they should teach in the cities of Judah;

and with them he sent nine deacons, (or Levites,) that is, Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, deacons (all Levites); and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests;

and they taught the people in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord; and they compassed all the cities of Judah, and taught all the people. (and they taught the people in Judah, and had The Book of the Law of the Lord; and they went all around the cities of Judah, and taught all the people.)

10 Therefore the dread of the Lord was made upon all the realms of (the) lands, that were (round) about Judah; and those durst not fight against Jehoshaphat.

11 But also [the] Philistines brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, and toll, or tribute, of silver; and men of Arabia brought to him sheep, seven thousand and seven hundred wethers, and so many bucks of goats (and as many goat bucks).

12 Then Jehoshaphat increased, and was magnified till to on high; and he builded in Judah houses at the likeness of towers, and full strong cities;

13 and he made ready many works in the cities of Judah. Also men warriors and strong men were in Jerusalem; (and he had much work done in the cities of Judah. And there were men of war and strong men in Jerusalem;)

14 of which this is the number, by the houses and families of all (the) men (who were) in Judah. Duke Adnah was prince of the host (Adnah was the leader of the army), and with him were three hundred thousand full strong men.

15 And after him was Jehohanan (the) prince (And second in command was Jehohanan), and with him were two hundred thousand and fourscore thousand men.

16 After this also Amasiah, the son of Zichri, was hallowed to the Lord (And after him was Amasiah, the son of Zichri, who was dedicated to the Lord), and with him were two hundred thousand of strong men.

17 (And of Benjamin;) Eliada, a mighty man to battles, followed this Amasiah, and with him were two hundred thousand of men holding bow and shield. (And of Benjamin; Eliada, a mighty man of battles, and with him were two hundred thousand men holding bow and shield.)

18 After this was also Jehozabad, and with him were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand of ready knights. (And after him was Jehozabad, and with him were a hundred and eighty thousand fully-armed horsemen.)

19 All these were at the hand of the king, besides others, which he had put in walled cities in all Judah. (All of these were at the hand of the king, besides others, whom he had put in the fortified cities in all of Judah.)

Jehoshaphat King of Judah

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

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

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

From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:

Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;

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

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

17 From Benjamin:(T)

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

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

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