2 Chronicles 17:1–19
17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthenedy himself against Israel. 2 He stationed troops in all the fortified citiesz of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.a
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father Davidb before him. He did not consult the Baals 4 but soughtc the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 5 The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought giftsd to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.e 6 His heart was devotedf to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high placesg and the Asherah polesh from Judah.i
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teachj in the towns of Judah. 8 With them were certain Levitesk—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Lawl of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The fearm 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 Arabsn brought him flocks:o 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 enrollmentp 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 volunteeredq himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.
17 From Benjamin:r
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 citiess throughout Judah.t