Jehoshaphat King of Judah
1
Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.
2
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.
3
The ORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked
in the ways his father David had followed. He did not consult Baals
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but sought the God of his father and followed his 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.
6
His heart was devoted tothe ways of the LORD; furthermore,
he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
7
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah,
Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the tows of Judah.
8
With them were certain Levites - 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 Law of
the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10
The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the land surrounding Judah,
so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.
11
Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute,
nd the Arabs brought him flocks: 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
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and had large supplies in the towns of Judah.
He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem.
14
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.
19
These were the men who served the king, besides those
he stationed in trhe fortified cities throughout Judah.
