Jehoshaphat King of Judah
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Jehoshapaht his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.
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He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah
and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
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The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways
his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals
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but sought the God of his father and followed hus commands
rather than the practices of Israel.
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The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts
to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.
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His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; frthermore,
he removed the high places and the Aherah poles from Judah.
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In the third year of his reign he sent hid officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah,
Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah.
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With them were certain Levites - Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadah, Asahel,
Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah - and the
priests Elishama and Jehoram.
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They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Bok of the Law of the LORD;
they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
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The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands
surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.
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Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs
brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand
seven hundred goats.
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Jehoshaphat became more and moe powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah
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and had large supploes of in the towns of Judah.
He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem.
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Their enrollment by families was as follows:
From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:
Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;
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next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
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next Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered himself for the service
of the LORD, with 200,000.
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From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with
bows and shields;
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next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.
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These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed
in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
