1 Seu filho Josafá sucedeu-lhe no trono. Ele se fortificou contra Israel.
2 Colocou tropas em todas as cidades fortes de Judá, guarnições em toda a terra e nas cidades de Efraim das quais se tinha apoderado seu pai Asa.
3 O Senhor estava com Josafá, porque este seguia os exemplos que, a princípio, dera seu pai: não corria atrás dos Baal,
4 mas só procurava o Deus de seus pais, observando seus mandamentos, sem fazer nada de semelhante ao que fazia Israel.
5 Por isso o Senhor confirmou o poder em suas mãos. Todo o Judá lhe trazia presentes; teve riqueza em abundância e glória.
6 Cheio de confiança na obra do Senhor, fez desaparecer de Judá os lugares altos e os ídolos asserás.
7 No terceiro ano de seu reinado, enviou seus chefes, Benail, Obdias, Zacarias, Natanael e Miquéias, para que ensinassem nas cidades de Judá.
8 Ele os fez acompanhar pelos levitas Semeías, Natanias, Zabadias, Asael, Semiramot, Jonatã, Adonias, Tobias, Tobadonias, e pelos sacerdotes Elisama e Jorão.
9 Ensinaram em Judá, levando consigo o livro da lei do Senhor, e percorreram todas as cidades de Judá, instruindo o povo.
10 O terror do Senhor difundiu-se em todos os reinos que cercavam Judá, os quais se abstiveram de fazer guerra a Josafá.
11 Mesmo os filisteus vieram trazer a Josafá presentes e um tributo em prata; os árabes também lhe trouxeram gado miúdo: sete mil e setecentos carneiros e sete mil e setecentos bodes.
12 Josafá aumentava seu poder. Construiu em Judá fortalezas e cidades de entrepostos.
13 Realizou grandes trabalhos nas cidades de Judá. Havia em Jerusalém guerreiros cheios de valentia.
14 Eis a sua enumeração segundo suas famílias: de Judá, os chefes de milhares eram: o chefe Adna, com trezentos mil valentes guerreiros;
15 ao seu lado o chefe Joanã, com duzentos e oitenta mil valentes guerreiros;
16 ao seu lado Amasias, filho de Zecri, voluntariamente consagrado ao Senhor, com duzentos mil valentes guerreiros.
17 De Benjamim: o valoroso Eliada, com duzentos mil homens providos de arcos e de escudos;
18 ao seu lado Josabad, com quatrocentos e vinte mil homens equipados para a guerra.
19 Essas eram as pessoas a serviço do rei, além das guarnições colocadas por ele nas fortalezas da terra de Judá.
1 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He 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. 3 Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel. 5 Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. 6 His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.
7 Also 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; 8 and with them Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. 9 They taught in Judah, having the book of Yahweh’s law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
10 The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats. 12 Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah. 13 He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. 14 This 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 valor; 15 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand; 16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 17 From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; 18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready and prepared for war. 19 These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.