17:1 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.

17:2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

17:3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals

17:4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.

17:5 The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.

17:6 His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

17:7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah.

17:8 With them were certain Levites--Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah--and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

17:9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

17:10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.

17:11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

17:12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah

17:13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem.

17:14 Their enrollment by families was as follows: From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;

17:15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;

17:16 next, Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000.

17:17 From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;

17:18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.

17:19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.