Judah’s King Jehoshaphat
3Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his ancestor David.17:3 Some Hb mss, LXX omit David He did not seek the Baals
4but sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to the practices of Israel.17:4 1Kg 12:28
5So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.17:5 2Ch 18:1
6He took great pride in the Lord’s ways, and he again17:6 2Ch 14:2–3 removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.17:6 2Ch 15:17
Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan
7In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials — Ben-hail,17:7 = Son of Power Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah — to teach in the cities of Judah.17:7 2Ch 15:3; 35:3
8The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,17:8 Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Arabic read Zechariah Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites.
Jehoshaphat’s Military Might
12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses17:12 2Ch 27:4 and storage cities in Judah
13and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem.
14These are their numbers according to their ancestral families.17:14 Lit the house of their fathers For Judah, the commanders of thousands:
Adnah the commander and three hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
15next to him, Jehohanan the commander and two hundred eighty thousand with him;
17from Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and two hundred thousand with him armed with bow and shield;
18next to him, Jehozabad and one hundred eighty thousand with him equipped for war.
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