| Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and 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 set 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 former ways of his father David. He did not seek 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 sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to 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. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance. | 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. |
| 6His mind rejoiced in the LORD's ways, and he again 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. |
| 8The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. | 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, having the book of the LORD's instruction with them. 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. |
| 10The terror of the LORD was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so they didn't fight 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 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. | 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. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah | 12So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. |
| 13and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem. | 13He stored numerous supplies in Judah’s towns and stationed an army of seasoned troops at Jerusalem. |
| 14These are their numbers according to their ancestral families. For Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander and three hundred thousand valiant warriors with him; | 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 two hundred eighty thousand with him; | 15Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops. |
| 16next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer of the LORD, and two hundred thousand valiant warriors with him; | 16Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the LORD’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command. |
| 17from Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and two hundred thousand with him armed with bow and shield; | 17From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier. |
| 18next to him, Jehozabad and one hundred eighty thousand with him equipped for war. | 18Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men. |
| 19These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. | 19These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah. |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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