(1 Kings 15:23–24)

¹ Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel.

² He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

³ Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways¹ of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals,

1. Or in his early years he walked in the ways

⁴ but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel.

⁵ So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.

⁶ And his heart took delight¹ in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

1. Or was exalted or was courageous

⁷ In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah,

⁸ accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

⁹ They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

¹⁰ And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

¹¹ Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.

¹² Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah

¹³ and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor.

¹⁴ These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;

¹⁵ next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;

¹⁶ and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor.

¹⁷ From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

¹⁸ and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle.

¹⁹ These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.