Judah’s King Jehoshaphat
1 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place 17:1 1Kg 15:24 and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah 17:2 2Ch 11:5 and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. 17:2 2Ch 15:8
3 Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his ancestor David. 17:3 Some Hb mss, LXX omit David He did not seek the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to the practices of Israel. 17:4 1Kg 12:285 So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance. 17:5 2Ch 18:16 He took great pride in the Lord’s ways, and he again 17:6 2Ch 14:2–3 removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. 17:6 2Ch 15:17
Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan
7 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials — Ben-hail, 17:7 = Son of Power Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah — to teach in the cities of Judah. 17:7 2Ch 15:3; 35:38 The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, 17:8 Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Arabic read Zechariah Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. 9 They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them. 17:9 Dt 6:4–9; 17:18; 28:58,61; 29:21; 30:10; 31:24,26; Jos 1:8; 8:31,34; 23:6; 24:26 They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, 17:10 2Ch 14:14 so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 17:11 2Ch 9:14; 26:8
Jehoshaphat’s Military Might
12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses 17:12 2Ch 27:4 and storage cities in Judah 13 and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem. 14 These are their numbers according to their ancestral families. 17:14 Lit the house of their fathers For Judah, the commanders of thousands:
Adnah the commander and three hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
15 next to him, Jehohanan the commander and two hundred eighty thousand with him;
16 next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer 17:16 Jdg 5:2,9; 1Ch 29:9 of the Lord, and two hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
17 from Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and two hundred thousand with him armed with bow and shield;
18 next to him, Jehozabad and one hundred eighty thousand with him equipped for war.
19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. 17:19 2Ch 17:2