Read the Bible

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

¹ His son ^(C1)Jehoshaphat then became king in his place, and he proved himself strong over Israel.² He placed troops in all ^(C1)the fortified cities of Judah, and placed 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 ^(C1)the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; 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; and they went throughout the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

¹⁰ Now ^(C1)the dread of the LORD was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around 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 grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.¹³ He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and warriors, valiant mighty men, in Jerusalem.¹⁴ This was their muster according to their fathers' households: of Judah, commanders of thousands, Adnah was the commander, and with him three hundred thousand valiant warriors;¹⁵ and next to him was Johanan 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 two hundred thousand valiant warriors;¹⁷ and of Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;¹⁸ and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war.¹⁹ These are the ones who served the king, apart from ^(C1)those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.