¹Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place , and strengthened himself against Israel .

²He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah , and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken .

³The LORD was with Jehoshaphat , because he walked in the first ways of his father David , and didn’t seek the Baals ,

⁴but sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments , and not in the ways of Israel .

⁵Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand . All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat , and he had riches and honour in abundance .

⁶His heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD . Furthermore , he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah .

⁷Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes , even Ben Hail, Obadiah , Zechariah , Nethanel , and Micaiah , to teach in the cities of Judah ;

⁸and with them Levites , even Shemaiah , Nethaniah , Zebadiah , Asahel , Shemiramoth , Jehonathan , Adonijah, Tobijah , and Tobadonijah , the Levites ; and with them Elishama and Jehoram , the priests .

⁹They taught in Judah , having the book of the LORD ’s law with them . They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught amongst the people .

¹⁰The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah , so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat .

¹¹Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute . The Arabians also brought him flocks : seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats .

¹²Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly ; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah .

¹³He had many works in the cities of Judah ; and men of war , mighty men of valour , in Jerusalem .

¹⁴This was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses : From Judah , the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain , and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valour ;

¹⁵and next to him Jehohanan the captain , and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;

¹⁶and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri , who willingly offered himself to the LORD , and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour .

¹⁷From Benjamin : Eliada, a mighty man of valour , and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield ;

¹⁸and next to him Jehozabad , and with him one hundred and eighty thousand ready and prepared for war .

¹⁹These were those who waited on the king , in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah .