172 Chronicles 17

Jehoshaphat Becomes King

1Jehoshaphat succeeded his father Asa as king and strengthened his position against Israel.Select 2 Chronicles 17:1

2He stationed troops in the fortified cities of Judah, in the Judean countryside, and in the cities which Asa had captured in the territory of Ephraim.Select 2 Chronicles 17:2

3The Lord blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early life and did not worship Baal.Select 2 Chronicles 17:3

4He served his father's God, obeyed God's commands, and did not act the way the kings of Israel did.Select 2 Chronicles 17:4

5The Lord gave Jehoshaphat firm control over the kingdom of Judah, and all the people brought him gifts, so that he became wealthy and highly honored.Select 2 Chronicles 17:5

6He took pride in serving the Lord and destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah.Select 2 Chronicles 17:6

7In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.Select 2 Chronicles 17:7

8They were accompanied by nine Levites and two priests. The Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and the priests were Elishama and Jehoram.Select 2 Chronicles 17:8

9They took the book of the Law of the Lord and went through all the towns of Judah, teaching it to the people.Select 2 Chronicles 17:9

Jehoshaphat's Greatness

10The Lord made all the surrounding kingdoms afraid to go to war against King Jehoshaphat.Select 2 Chronicles 17:10

11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat a large amount of silver and other gifts, and some Arabs brought him 7,700 sheep and 7,700 goats.Select 2 Chronicles 17:11

12So Jehoshaphat continued to grow more and more powerful. Throughout Judah he built fortifications and cities,Select 2 Chronicles 17:12

13where supplies were stored in huge amounts. In Jerusalem he stationed outstanding officers,Select 2 Chronicles 17:13

14according to their clans. Adnah was the commander of the troops from the clans of Judah, and he had 300,000 soldiers under him.Select 2 Chronicles 17:14

15Second in rank was Jehohanan, with 280,000 soldiers,Select 2 Chronicles 17:15

16and third was Amasiah son of Zichri, with 200,000. (Amasiah had volunteered to serve the Lord.)Select 2 Chronicles 17:16

17The commander of the troops from the clans of Benjamin was Eliada, an outstanding soldier, in command of 200,000 men armed with shields and bows.Select 2 Chronicles 17:17

18His second in command was Jehozabad with 180,000 men, well-equipped for battle.Select 2 Chronicles 17:18

19These soldiers served the king in Jerusalem, and in addition he stationed others in the other fortified cities of Judah.Select 2 Chronicles 17:19