1His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place, and he made himself strong against Israel.
2He put troops in all the walled cities of Judah, and he set soldiers in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which his father Asa had captured.
3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David, and did not look to the Baals.
4Instead he looked to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and did not follow what Israel did.
5So the LORD made the kingdom firm in his hand. All Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honour.
6His heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD. He also took away the high places and the groves out of Judah.
7In the third year of his reign he sent out his officials: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethaneel and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
8With them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, who were Levites. With them he sent Elishama and Jehoram, who were priests.
9They taught in Judah. They had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and they went round through all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
10The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute. The Arabians brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
12Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater. He built strongholds and store cities in Judah.
13He had much work in the cities of Judah. And the fighting men, mighty and brave, were in Jerusalem.
14These are their numbers, by their families: of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah was the chief, and with him were three hundred thousand mighty and brave men.
15Next to him was Jehohanan the commander, and with him were two hundred and eighty thousand.
16Next to him was Amasiah son of Zichri, who gladly offered himself to the LORD, and with him were two hundred thousand mighty and brave men.
17Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty and brave man, and with him were two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield.
18Next to him was Jehozabad, and with him were a hundred and eighty thousand men ready for war.
19These men served the king, besides those whom the king put in the walled cities throughout all Judah.