1His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place17:1 1Kg 15:24 and strengthened himself against Israel.

2He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah17:2 2Ch 11:5 and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.17:2 2Ch 15:8

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.

9They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them.17:9 Dt 6:4–9; 17:18; 28:58,61; 29:21; 30:10; 31:24,26; Jos 1:8; 8:31,34; 23:6; 24:26 They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

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:

19These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.17:19 2Ch 17:2