Jehoshaphat
1His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him and strengthened his position against Israel. 2He put troops in all the fortified towns in Judah, and appointed governors in the land of Judah and in all the towns of Ephraim captured by his father Asa.
3Yahweh blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of David his father and did not worship Baal; 4he served the God of his father, following his commandments and not following the example of Israel. 5So Yahweh made the kingship secure in his hands; all the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, and ample riches and honor were his. 6He took pride in serving Yahweh and destroyed all the High places and Asherah’s trunks in Judah.
7In the third year of his reign he sent his officers: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to give instruction in the towns of Judah. 8With them went the Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asaherel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah and Tobijah, the Levites, together with the priests, Elishama and Jehoram. 9They gave instruction in Judah, having with them the book of the Law of Yahweh, and went around all the towns of Judah instructing the people.
10The fear of Yahweh came upon all the kingdoms surrounding Judah, so that they did not war against Jehoshaphat. 11Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver in tribute; the Arabs themselves brought him, in small stock, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred hegoats. 12Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. Throughout Judah he built fortresses and towns with storage places.
13He had many workers in the towns of Judah and a garrison of outstanding officers in Jerusalem. 14This was their disposition by families: for Judah, commanders of thousands; Adnah, the commanding officer, with three hundred thousand outstanding officers under his command, 15Jehohanan with two hundred and eighty thousand; 16Amasiah son of Zichri, who had volunteered for Yahweh’s service, with two hundred thousand valiant warriors.
17From Benjamin: the valiant warrior Eliada with two hundred thousand, armed with bow and shield: 18under his command, Jehozabad with a hundred and eighty thousand equipped for war.
19These were the men who served the king, not counting those the king had put in the fortified towns throughout Judah.
