1His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.
2He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and set up military outposts throughout Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the early ways of his father David and did not worship the Baals,
4but instead sought the God of his father and obeyed his commands, unlike the people of Israel.
5Therefore, Yahweh made his kingdom secure. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very rich and honored.
6He was devoted to the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
7Also, 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;
8with them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah; and with them were the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
9They taught throughout Judah, carrying the Book of Yahweh's Law with them. They traveled through all the cities of Judah and instructed the people.
10The neighboring kingdoms around Judah were so afraid of Yahweh that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat.
11Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute. The Arabs also brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
12Jehoshaphat became extremely powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.
13He carried out many projects in the cities of Judah, and he had many brave soldiers stationed in Jerusalem.
14This is the count of his army, according to their family groups: From Judah, the commanders of thousands included Adnah, who commanded three hundred thousand mighty warriors;
15next was Jehohanan, who commanded two hundred eighty thousand;
16and next was Amasiah son of Zichri, who volunteered to serve Yahweh, and he commanded two hundred thousand mighty warriors.
17From Benjamin: Eliada, a brave warrior, who commanded 200,000 men armed with bows and shields.
18Next to him was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 men ready for battle.
19These men served the king, in addition to those the king stationed in fortified cities throughout Judah.