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2 Chronicles 17
Easy-to-Read Version
2 Chronicles 17
Easy-to-Read Version
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah
17 Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became the new king after him. Jehoshaphat made Judah strong so that they could fight against Israel. 2 He put groups of soldiers in all the towns of Judah that were made into fortresses. He built fortresses in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because in his young life he did the good things his ancestor David did. Jehoshaphat did not follow the Baal idols. 4 He looked for the God his ancestors followed. He followed God’s commands and did not live the same way the Israelites lived. 5 The Lord made Jehoshaphat a strong king over Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. So he had much wealth and honor. 6 His heart found pleasure in the ways of the Lord. He removed the high places and the Asherah poles from the country of Judah.
7 During the third year of Jehoshaphat’s rule,[a] he sent his leaders to teach in the towns of Judah. These leaders were Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. 8 Jehoshaphat also sent Levites with these leaders. These Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, and Tobijah. He also sent the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 These leaders, Levites, and priests taught the people in Judah. They had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went through all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The nations near Judah were afraid of the Lord, so they did not start a war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. They also brought silver to him because they knew he was a very powerful king. Some Arabian people brought flocks to Jehoshaphat. They brought 7700 rams and 7700 goats to him.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and storage towns in the country of Judah. 13 He kept many supplies in the storage towns. And Jehoshaphat kept trained soldiers in Jerusalem. 14 These soldiers were listed in their tribes. This is the list of these soldiers in Jerusalem:
From the tribe of Judah, these were the generals:
Adnah was the general of 300,000 soldiers.
15 Jehohanan was the general of 280,000 soldiers.
16 Amasiah was the general of 200,000 soldiers. Amasiah was Zicri’s son. Amasiah was happy to give himself to serve the Lord.
17 From the tribe of Benjamin these were the generals:
Eliada had 200,000 soldiers who used bows, arrows, and shields. Eliada was a very brave soldier.
18 Jehozabad had 180,000 men ready for war.
19 All these soldiers served King Jehoshaphat. The king also had other men in the fortresses in all the country of Judah.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 17:7 third year of Jehoshaphat’s rule About the year 871 B.C.
2 Chronicles 17
New International Version
2 Chronicles 17
New International Version
Jehoshaphat King of Judah
17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened(A) himself against Israel. 2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities(B) of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.(C)
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David(D) before him. He did not consult the Baals 4 but sought(E) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 5 The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts(F) to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.(G) 6 His heart was devoted(H) to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places(I) and the Asherah poles(J) from Judah.(K)
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach(L) in the towns of Judah. 8 With them were certain Levites(M)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law(N) of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The fear(O) of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs(P) brought him flocks:(Q) seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah 13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 14 Their enrollment(R) by families was as follows:
From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:
Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;
15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
16 next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered(S) himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.
17 From Benjamin:(T)
Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;
18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.
19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities(U) throughout Judah.(V)
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