1Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.

2And he placed troops 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.

3Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals,

4but sought 17:4 LXX the Lord Godthe God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel.

5Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

6And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the 17:6 Places for pagan worshiphigh places and wooden images from Judah.

7Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

8And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

9So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

10And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

12So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.

13He had much property in the cities of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem.

14These are their numbers, according to their fathers’ houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;

15and next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;

16and next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

17Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield;

18and next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand prepared for war.

19These served the king, besides those the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.