| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned 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. |
| 2And he placed troops 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. | 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 in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. | 4He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. |
| 5Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, 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. |
| 6And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah. | 6He was deeply committed to the ways of the LORD. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah. |
| 7Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, 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. |
| 8And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. | 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. |
| 9So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; they went throughout all the cities 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 fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around 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. |
| 11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred 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. |
| 12So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. | 12So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. |
| 13He had much property in the cities of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were 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 fathers’ houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand 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. |
| 15and next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand; | 15Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops. |
| 16and next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. | 16Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the LORD’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command. |
| 17Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men 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. |
| 18and next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand prepared for war. | 18Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men. |
| 19These served the king, besides those the king put 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 Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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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