New International Version | NET Bible |
1Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. | 1His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel. |
2He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. | 2He placed troops in all of Judah's fortified cities and posted garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized. |
3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals | 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David's footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals, |
4but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. | 4but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites. |
5The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. | 5The LORD made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. |
6His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah. | 6He was committed to following the LORD; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. |
7In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. | 7In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. |
8With them were certain Levites--Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah--and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. | 8They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. |
9They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. | 9They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the LORD. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people. |
10The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. | 10The LORD put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. |
11Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats. | 11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute, including a load of silver. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks. |
12Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah | 12Jehoshaphat's power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. |
13and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. | 13He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem. |
14Their enrollment by families was as follows: From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men; | 14These were their divisions by families: There were a thousand officers from Judah. Adnah the commander led 300,000 skilled warriors, |
15next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; | 15Jehochanan the commander led 280,000, |
16next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000. | 16and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the LORD, led 200,000 skilled warriors. |
17From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields; | 17From Benjamin, Eliada, a skilled warrior, led 200,000 men who were equipped with bows and shields, |
18next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle. | 18and Jehozabad led 180,000 trained warriors. |
19These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah. | 19These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah. |
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