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.
1 亚撒的儿子约沙法接续他作王； 约沙法发愤图强， 对抗以色列人。
2 他把军队安置在犹大的一切设防城里， 又在犹大地和他父亲亚撒占领的以法莲各城里驻扎防军。
3 耶和华和约沙法同在， 因为他遵行了他祖父大卫最初所行的道路， 没有寻求巴力。
4 只寻求他父亲的 神， 遵行 神的诫命， 没有随从以色列人的行为。
5 因此， 耶和华使他统治的国稳固； 犹大各地都给他进贡， 所以约沙法的财富很多， 极有尊荣。
6 他勇敢地遵行耶和华的道路， 并且从犹大地中除掉邱坛和亚舍拉。
7 他作王第三年， 就差派他的大臣便．亥伊勒、俄巴底、撒迦利雅、拿坦业、米该亚， 到犹大各城去教训人。
8 和他们同去的， 还有示玛雅、尼探雅、西巴第雅、亚撒黑、示米拉末、约拿单、亚多尼雅、多比雅和驼．巴多尼雅等几位利未人； 又有以利沙玛和约兰两位祭司和他们同去。
9 他们带着耶和华的律法书， 在犹大教训人； 他们走遍犹大各城， 在民间教训人。
10 犹大地周围的列国都惧怕耶和华， 不敢和约沙法交战。
11 有些非利士人送礼和纳贡银给约沙法； 阿拉伯人也送给他公绵羊七千七百只， 公山羊七千七百只。
12 约沙法逐渐变得十分强大， 在犹大建造了几座堡垒和贮藏货物的城市。
13 他在犹大各城中储备了大批物资； 在耶路撒冷也有不少战士， 都是英勇的战士。
14 他们的数目， 按着他们的家族记在下面： 犹大支派的千夫长中， 有押拿军长， 率领英勇的战士三十万；
15 在押拿底下， 是约哈难军长， 率领二十八万人；
16 在约哈难底下， 是细基利的儿子亚玛斯雅， 他是个甘愿献身给耶和华的人， 率领英勇的战士二十万。
17 便雅悯支派中有英勇的战士以利雅大， 率领配备弓箭和盾牌的人二十万，
18 在以利雅大底下是约萨拔， 率领常备军十八万。
19 这些人都是服事王的； 还有王在犹大全地各设防城里安置的， 没有计算在内。