Read the Bible

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

^1 (C1)Jehoshaphat his son then became king of Judah in Asa's place, and strengthened his position over Israel.² He placed troops in all ^(C1)the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim ^(C2)which his father Asa had captured.

His Good Reign

⁷ Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, ^(C1)to teach in the cities of Judah;⁸ and with them were ^(C1)the Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with them the priests Elishama and Jehoram.⁹ They taught in Judah having ^(C1)the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

¹⁰ Now the ^(C1)dread of the LORD was on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.¹¹ Some of the Philistines ^(C1)brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.¹² So Jehoshaphat became greater and greater. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.¹³ He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and soldiers, courageous men, in Jerusalem.¹⁴ This was the number of them by their fathers' (ancestors') households: of Judah, the commanders of thousands, Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 courageous men;¹⁵ and next to him was Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;¹⁶ and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, ^(C1)who volunteered for the LORD, and with him 200,000 courageous men;¹⁷ and of Benjamin: Eliada, a brave man, and with him 200,000 men armed with bow and shield;¹⁸ and next to him was Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed and ready for military service.¹⁹ These are the ones who were in the service of the king, besides ^(C1)those he had placed in fortified cities throughout Judah.