1 Em lugar de Asa, reinou o seu filho Josafá, que se fortificou contra Israel. 2 Ele pôs tropas em todas as cidades fortificadas de Judá e estabeleceu guarnições na terra de Judá e nas cidades de Efraim, que Asa, seu pai, havia conquistado. 3 O Senhor esteve com Josafá, porque ele andou nos primeiros caminhos de Davi, seu pai, e não buscou os baalins. 4 Pelo contrário, buscou o Deus de seu pai e andou nos seus mandamentos, e não segundo as obras de Israel. 5 O Senhor confirmou o reino nas suas mãos, e todo o Judá deu presentes a Josafá, de modo que ele teve riquezas e glória em abundância. 6 O coração dele se tornou ousado em seguir os caminhos do Senhor, e ainda tirou os lugares altos e os postes da deusa Aserá que havia em Judá.

7 No terceiro ano do seu reinado, Josafá enviou os seus oficiais Ben-Hail, Obadias, Zacarias, Natanael e Micaías, para ensinarem nas cidades de Judá. 8 Com eles enviou os levitas Semaías, Netanias, Zebadias, Asael, Semiramote, Jônatas, Adonias, Tobias e Tobe-Adonias. E, com estes levitas, enviou os sacerdotes Elisama e Jeorão. 9 Eles ensinaram em Judá, tendo consigo o Livro da Lei do Senhor; percorriam todas as cidades de Judá e ensinavam o povo.

10 O terror do Senhor veio sobre todos os reinos das terras que estavam ao redor de Judá, de maneira que não fizeram guerra contra Josafá. 11 Alguns dos filisteus trouxeram presentes a Josafá e prata como tributo. Também os árabes lhe trouxeram sete mil e setecentos carneiros e sete mil e setecentos bodes. 12 Josafá se tornou cada vez mais poderoso, e construiu fortalezas e cidades-armazéns em Judá. 13 Empreendeu muitas obras nas cidades de Judá e tinha, em Jerusalém, gente de guerra e homens valentes. 14 Este é o número deles segundo as suas famílias: em Judá, eram capitães de mil: o chefe Adna e, com ele, trezentos mil homens valentes; 15 depois dele, o capitão Joanã e, com ele, duzentos e oitenta mil homens; 16 e, depois, Amasias, filho de Zicri, que voluntariamente se ofereceu ao serviço do Senhor, e, às suas ordens, duzentos mil homens valentes. 17 De Benjamim, Eliada, homem valente, e, com ele, duzentos mil homens, armados de arco e de escudo; 18 depois dele, Jozabade, com cento e oitenta mil homens armados para a guerra. 19 Estes estavam a serviço do rei, além dos que o rei tinha posto nas cidades fortificadas por todo o Judá.

1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead,and strengthened himself against Israel;

2 and put 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 captured.

3 And it came to pass, that, Yahweh, was with Jehoshaphat,because he walked in the first ways of David his father, and sought not unto the Baalim;

4 for, unto the God of his father, he sought, and, in his commandments, he walked,and not according to the doing of Israel.

5 Therefore did Yahweh establish the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah gave a present unto Jehoshaphat,and he came to have riches and honour, in abundance.

6 And his heart was encouraged, in the ways of Yahweh,and he, yet further, took away the high places and the Sacred Stems, out of Judah.

7 And, in the third year of his reign, he sent to his rulers, even to Ben-hail and to Obadiah and to Zechariah, and to Nethanel, and to Micaiah,that they were to teach throughout the cities of Judah;

8 and, with them, Levites, Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan, and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tob-adonijah, Levites,and, with them, Elishama and Jehoram, priests;

9 and they taught throughout Judah, and, with them, was the book of the law of Yahweh,so they went round throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

10 And it came to pass, that, the dread of Yahweh, was upon all the kingdoms of the countries, that were round about Judah,and they warred not against Jehoshaphat.

11 And, from among the Philistines, were they bringing in unto Jehoshaphat a present, and silver as tribute,even the Arabians, were bringing in unto him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.

12 And so it came to pass that, Jehoshaphat, went on waxing surpassingly great,and he built, throughout Judah, fortresses and cities for store;

13 and, much business, had he, throughout the cities of Judah,but, the men of war, the heroes of valour, were in Jerusalem.

14 And, these, are the numbers of them, by their ancestral house,To Judah, pertained rulers of thousands, Adnah the chief, and, with him, mighty men of valour, three hundred thousand;

15 and, under his direction, was Jehohanan the chief,and, with him, two hundred and eighty thousand;

16 and, under his direction, Amasiah son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Yahweh,and, with him, two hundred thousand heroes of valour.

17 And, out of Benjamin, a hero of valour, Eliada,and, with him, armed with bow and buckler, two hundred thousand;

18 and, under his direction, Jehozabad,and, with him, a hundred and eighty thousand, equipped for war.

19 These, were they who were waiting upon the king,besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities, throughout all Judah.