2 Chronicles, 17

1. His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king and strengthened his hold against Israel.

1. When his son Jehoshaphat succeeded him, he made himself stronger against Israel

2. He placed armed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which his father Asa had taken.

2. by stationing troops in all the fortified towns in Judah and by garrisoning Judah and the towns of Ephraim which his father Asa had captured.

3. The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, for he walked in the ways his father had pursued in the beginning, and he did not consult the Baals.

3. Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's earlier days and did not have recourse to Baal,

4. Rather, he sought the God of his father and observed his commands, and not the practices of Israel.

4. but sought Yahweh, the God of his father, following his commandments and not behaving as Israel did.

5. As a result, the LORD made his kingdom secure, and all Judah gave Jehoshaphat gifts, so that he enjoyed great wealth and glory.

5. Because of this, Yahweh put him in secure control of the kingdom, while all Judah gave Jehoshaphat presents until ample riches and honour were his.

6. Thus he was encouraged to follow the LORD'S ways, and again he removed the high places and the sacred poles from Judah.

6. He was so enthusiastic about obeying Yahweh that once again he abolished the high places and sacred poles in Judah.

7. In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

7. In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men-Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to give instruction in the towns of Judah.

8. With them he sent the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah and Tobijah, together with the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

8. With them went the Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah and Tobijah, the Levites; Elishama and Jehoram the priests went with them.

9. They taught in Judah, having with them the book containing the law of the LORD; they traveled through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

9. They gave instruction in Judah, having with them the book of the Law of Yahweh, and went round all the towns of Judah instructing the people.

10. Now the fear of the LORD was upon all the kingdoms of the countries surrounding Judah, so that they did not war against Jehoshaphat.

10. A panic from Yahweh seized all the kings of the countries surrounding Judah, as a result of which they did not make war on Jehoshaphat.

11. Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and a tribute of silver; and the Arabs also brought him a flock of seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.

11. Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and a load of silver and the Arabs brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.

12. Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built strongholds and store cities in Judah.

12. Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and storage towns in Judah.

13. He carried out many works in the cities of Judah, and he had soldiers, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem.

13. He accumulated ample supplies in the towns of Judah. He also had warriors, outstanding men, in Jerusalem.

14. This was their mustering according to their ancestral houses. Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him three hundred thousand valiant warriors.

14. According to family, this is how they were classified: Over the commanders of the thousands of Judah was General Adnah, who had three hundred thousand outstanding men;

15. Next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him two hundred eighty thousand.

15. Under him was General Jehohanan, who had two hundred and eighty thousand;

16. Next to him, Amasiah, son of Zichri, who offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand valiant warriors.

16. Under him was Amasiah son of Zichri, who had volunteered for Yahweh and who had two hundred thousand outstanding men;

17. From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant warrior, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and buckler.

17. That outstanding soldier, Eliada, represented Benjamin, and he had two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield;

18. Next to him, Jozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand equipped for war.

18. And under him Jehozabad, who had one hundred and eighty thousand equipped for war.

19. These were at the service of the king; in addition were those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

19. These were in attendance on the king, apart from those whom the king had stationed in the fortified towns all over Judah.