2 Chronicles 17

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah// 1 Kings 15:23–24

¹Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. ²He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

³Now Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, ⁴but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel. ⁵So Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor. ⁶And his heart took delight in the ways of Yahweh; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

• 2CH 17:3[DEMONIC]Jehoshaphat does not seek the Baals
• 2CH 17:6[HEART]Jehoshaphat's heart took delight in Yahweh's ways, so he tore down the idols.
• 2CH 17:6[DEMONIC]Jehoshaphat removes high places and Asherah poles

⁷In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, ⁸accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of Yahweh. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

¹⁰And the dread of Yahweh fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.

¹²Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah ¹³and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor. ¹⁴These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers:

From Judah, the commanders of thousands:

Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;

¹⁵next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;

¹⁶and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for Yahweh, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor.

¹⁷From Benjamin:

Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

¹⁸and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle.

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