| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Asa's son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king, and he consolidated his authority over Israel | 1His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. |
| 2by placing troops in all of the fortified citadels through Judah and by establishing garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities that his father Asa had captured. | 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. |
| 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example set during his ancestor David's preliminary years by not pursuing the Baals. | 3Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals |
| 4Instead, Jehoshaphat sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike Israel. | 4but sought the God of his father and walked by His commands, not according to the practices of Israel. |
| 5Therefore the LORD secured Jehoshaphat's kingdom under his control, with all of Judah paying him tribute, and Jehoshaphat became very wealthy and greatly respected. | 5So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance. |
| 6He remained committed to following the LORD, and he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. | 6His mind rejoiced in the LORD's ways, and he again removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. |
| 7During the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach throughout the cities of 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. |
| 8They were accompanied by the descendants of Levi, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah. These descendants of Levi were accompanied by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. | 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. |
| 9They taught throughout Judah from a copy of the Book of the Law of the LORD that they took with them as they passed through all the cities of Judah, teaching among all the people. | 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. |
| 10Because they were afraid of the LORD, none of the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah dared go to war against Jehoshaphat. | 10The terror of the LORD was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so they didn't fight against Jehoshaphat. |
| 11Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and Arabians brought him flocks of 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. | 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. |
| 12As a result, Jehoshaphat grew more and more powerful, and built up fortresses and storage centers throughout Judah. | 12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah |
| 13He placed a large amount of supplies into storage throughout the cities of Judah and stationed soldiers—all of them valiant men—in Jerusalem. | 13and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, brave warriors, in Jerusalem. |
| 14Here's how they were mustered, listed according to their ancestral houses and listed by commanders of thousands: Adnah commanded 300,000 elite forces. | 14These are their numbers according to their ancestral families. For Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander and 300,000 brave warriors with him; |
| 15Near him was Johanan, commander of 280,000 | 15next to him, Jehohanan the commander and 280,000 with him; |
| 16and next to him was Zichri's son Amasiah, who had volunteered to serve the LORD. He commanded 200,000 elite forces. | 16next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer of the LORD, and 200,000 brave warriors with him; |
| 17There was also Eliada from Benjamin, himself a valiant soldier. He was accompanied by 200,000 expert archers bearing shields. | 17from Benjamin, Eliada, a brave warrior, and 200,000 with him armed with bow and shield; |
| 18Near him was Jehozabad, who was accompanied by 180,000 soldiers equipped for warfare. | 18next to him, Jehozabad and 180,000 with him equipped for war. |
| 19These men served the king, and there were others whom the king garrisoned inside fortified cities throughout all of Judah. | 19These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. |
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