17:1 His son Jehoshaphat then became king in his place, and he proved himself strong over Israel.
17:2 He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and placed garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which his father Asa had captured.
17:3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he ①followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals,
▷ ①Lit walked in the earlier ways of his father
17:4 but sought the God of his father, ①followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did.
▷ ①Lit walked in
17:5 So the LORD established the kingdom in his ①control, and all Judah gave tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.
▷ ①Lit hand
17:6 ①He took great pride in the ways of the LORD, and again removed the high places and the ②Asherim from Judah.
▷ ①Lit his heart was high ②I.e., wooden symbols of a female deity (Asherah)
17:7 Then 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;
17:8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
17:9 They taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; and they went throughout the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
17:10 Now 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.
17:11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
17:12 So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.
17:13 He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and warriors, valiant mighty men, in Jerusalem.
17:14 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;
17:15 and next to him was Johanan the commander, and with him 280,000;
17:16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand valiant warriors;
17:17 and of Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
17:18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war.
17:19 These are the ones who served the king, apart from those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.