17Jehoshaphat succeeded his father Asa as king and strengthened his position against Israel. ²He stationed troops in the fortified cities of Judah, in the Judean countryside, and in the cities which Asa had captured in the territory of Ephraim. ³The Lord blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early life and did not worship Baal. ⁴He served his father’s God, obeyed God’s commands, and did not act in the way the kings of Israel did. ⁵The Lord gave Jehoshaphat firm control over the kingdom of Judah, and all the people brought him gifts, so that he became wealthy and highly honoured. ⁶He took pride in serving the Lord and destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah.

⁷In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. ⁸They were accompanied by nine Levites and two priests. The Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and the priests were Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹They took the book of the Law of the Lord and went through all the towns of Judah, teaching it to the people.

Jehoshaphat’s Greatness

¹⁰The Lord made all the surrounding kingdoms afraid to go to war against King Jehoshaphat.

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