1. His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king, and took firm hold of Israel.
2. He stationed troops in all the fortified towns of Judah, and stationed garrisons throughout the land of Judah and the cities of Ephraim which his father Asa had captured.
3. The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the earlier ways of his father David, and did not worship the Baalim,
4. but worshiped the God of his father and followed His commandments -- unlike the behavior of Israel.
5. So the LORD established the kingdom in his hands, and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat. He had wealth and glory in abundance.
6. His mind was elevated in the ways of the LORD. Moreover, he abolished the shrines and the sacred posts from Judah.
7. In the third year of his reign he sent his officers Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah throughout the cities of Judah to offer instruction.
8. With them were the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-adonijah the Levites; with them were Elishama and Jehoram the priests.
9. They offered instruction throughout Judah, having with them the Book of the Teaching of the LORD. They made the rounds of all the cities of the LORD and instructed the people.
10. A terror of the LORD seized all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, and they did not go to war with Jehoshaphat.
11. From Philistia a load of silver was brought to Jehoshaphat as tribute. The Arabs, too, brought him flocks: 7700 rams and 7700 he-goats.
12. Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built up fortresses and garrison towns in Judah.
13. He carried out extensive works in the towns of Judah, and had soldiers, valiant men, in Jerusalem.
14. They were enrolled according to their clans. Judah: chiefs of thousands, Adnah the chief, who had 300000 valiant men;
15. next to him was Jehohanan the captain, who had 280000;
16. next to him was Amasiah son of Zichri, who made a freewill offering to the LORD. He had 200000 valiant men.
17. Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant man, who had 200000 men armed with bow and buckler;
18. next to him was Jehozabad, who had 180000 armed men.
19. These served the king, besides those whom the king assigned to the fortified towns throughout Judah.
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