2 Chronicles 17 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

Jehoshaphat king of Judah

1 Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa. Jehoshaphat became the next king after him. He made his kingdom strong in case Israel would attack him. 2 He placed troops in all the cities of Judah that had high walls around them. He stationed some soldiers in Judah. He also put some in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. 3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat. That’s because he lived the way King David had lived. He didn’t ask for advice from the gods that were named Baal. 4 Instead, Jehoshaphat obeyed the God of his father. He obeyed the LORD’s commands instead of the practices of Israel. 5 The LORD made the kingdom secure under Jehoshaphat’s control. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. So he had great wealth and honour. 6 His heart was committed to living the way the LORD wanted him to. He removed the high places from Judah. He also removed the poles used to worship the female god named Asherah. 7 In the third year of his rule, he sent his officials to teach in the towns of Judah. The officials were Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah. 8 Some Levites were with them. Their names were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah. Elishama and Jehoram, the priests, were also with them. 9 They taught people all through Judah. They took the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went around to all the towns of Judah. And they taught the people. 10 All the kingdoms of the lands around Judah became afraid of the LORD. So they didn’t go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought to Jehoshaphat the gifts and silver he required of them. The Arabs brought him their flocks. They brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats. 12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built forts in Judah. He also built cities in Judah where he could store things. 13 He had large supplies in the towns of Judah. In Jerusalem he kept men who knew how to fight well. 14 Here is a list of them, family by family. From Judah there were commanders of groups of 1,000. One of them was Adnah. He commanded 300,000 fighting men. 15 Another was Jehohanan. He commanded 280,000. 16 Another was Amasiah, the son of Zikri. Amasiah commanded 200,000. He had offered to serve the LORD. 17 From Benjamin there were also commanders. One of them was Eliada. He was a brave soldier. He commanded 200,000 men. They were armed with bows and shields. 18 Another was Jehozabad. He commanded 180,000 men. They were prepared for battle. 19 These were the men who served the king. He stationed some other men in the cities all through Judah. The cities had high walls around them.

English Standard Version

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

1 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured. (2Ch 11:5; 2Ch 15:8) 3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. (1Ki 12:28) 5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. (2Ch 18:1; 2Ch 32:23) 6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah. (1Ki 22:43; 2Ch 15:17; 2Ch 20:33) 7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; (2Ch 35:3) 8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. (2Ch 19:8) 9 And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. (2Ch 17:7) 10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. (2Ch 14:14; 2Ch 20:29) 11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats. (2Sa 8:2; 2Ch 26:8) 12 And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities, 13 and he had large supplies in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. 14 This was the muster of them by fathers’ houses: Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 mighty men of valor; 15 and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; 16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the Lord, with 200,000 mighty men of valor. (Jud 5:2; Jud 5:9; Ne 11:2) 17 Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, with 200,000 men armed with bow and shield; (1Ch 12:2) 18 and next to him Jehozabad with 180,000 armed for war. 19 These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. (2Ch 17:2)