| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. | 1Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel. |
| 2He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. | 2He stationed troops in all the fortified towns of Judah, and he assigned additional garrisons to the land of Judah and to the towns of Ephraim that his father, Asa, had captured. |
| 3Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals, | 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal. |
| 4but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel. | 4He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. |
| 5So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor. | 5So the LORD established Jehoshaphat’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. |
| 6And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. | 6He was deeply committed to the ways of the LORD. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah. |
| 7In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, | 7In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. |
| 8accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. | 8He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram. |
| 9They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people. | 9They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people. |
| 10And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. | 10Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat. |
| 11Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks. | 11Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. |
| 12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah | 12So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. |
| 13and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor. | 13He stored numerous supplies in Judah’s towns and stationed an army of seasoned troops at Jerusalem. |
| 14These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor; | 14His army was enrolled according to ancestral clans. From Judah there were 300,000 troops organized in units of 1,000, under the command of Adnah. |
| 15next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000; | 15Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops. |
| 16and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor. | 16Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the LORD’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command. |
| 17From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields; | 17From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier. |
| 18and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle. | 18Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men. |
| 19These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah. | 19These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah. |
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