2 Chronicles 17

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

1Jehoshaphat became king after his father Asa. He made himself strong against the land of Israel to the north.

2And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

2He put soldiers in every walled city of Judah. He also put groups of soldiers in the land of Judah. He put some in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had taken.

3And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat. He lived the way his ancestor David lived at first. He did not go after the Baals, which were false gods.

4But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

4Instead he looked to the God his father worshiped. He obeyed God's commands. He did not copy what the people of Israel were doing.

5Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.

5So the LORD made his kingdom strong and safe. All Judah brought him gifts. He had a great deal of money and honor.

6And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

6His heart was glad to walk in the LORD's ways. He also took away the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

Note"His heart was lifted up" sounds like pride today. Here it means his heart was glad and eager to follow God's ways.

7Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

7In his third year as king, he sent out his officials to teach in the towns of Judah. They were Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.

8And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.

8He sent Levites with them, men from the family that helped with worship. They were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. Two priests went too, Elishama and Jehoram.

9And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

9They taught all through Judah. They carried the book of the LORD's law with them. They went to every town in Judah and taught the people.

10And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

10All the kingdoms around Judah became afraid of the LORD. So none of them went to war against Jehoshaphat.

11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

11Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as payment. The Arabs brought him animals from their flocks. They brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

12And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.

12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built forts in Judah and towns for storing supplies.

13And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.

13He kept large amounts of supplies in the towns of Judah. He also had brave, skilled soldiers in Jerusalem.

14And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.

14Here is how many there were, listed by family. From the tribe of Judah, these men led groups of a thousand. Adnah was the chief leader, with 300,000 brave soldiers.

15And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

15Next to him was the leader Jehohanan, with 280,000 men.

16And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

16Next was Amasiah son of Zichri. He chose on his own to serve the LORD. He had 200,000 brave soldiers with him.

17And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

17From the tribe of Benjamin came Eliada, a brave soldier. He had 200,000 men with bows and shields.

18And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.

18Next to him was Jehozabad, with 180,000 men ready for battle.

19These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

19These men served the king in Jerusalem. The king also had other soldiers in the walled cities all over Judah.