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Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

¹ His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place^(C1) and strengthened himself against Israel. ² He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah^(C1) and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.^(C2)

³ Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David.^(F1) He did not seek the Baals ⁴ but sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to the practices of Israel.^{(C1) 5} So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.^{(C1) 6} His mind rejoiced in the Lord’s ways, and he again^(C1) removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.^(C2)

Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan

⁷ In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials—Ben-hail,^(F1) Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah.^{(C1) 8} The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,^(F1) Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them.^(C1) They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

¹⁰ The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah,^(C1) so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.^(C1)

Jehoshaphat’s Military Might

¹² Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses^(C1) and storage cities in Judah ¹³ and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ These are their numbers according to their ancestral families.^(F1) For Judah, the commanders of thousands:

¹⁹ These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.^(C1)