17Then Jehoshaphat, Asa's son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel.H3092H1121H4427H2388H34782He 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.H5414H2428H1219H5892H3063H5414H5333H776H3063H5892H669H609H1H39203The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early years and did not worship the images of Baal.H3068H3092H1980H7223H1870H1H1732H1875H11684He sought his father's God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel.H1875H430H1H1980H4687H4639H34785So 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.H3068H3559H4467H3027H3063H5414H3092H4503H6239H3519H72306He was deeply committed to the ways of the LORD. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah.H3820H1361H1870H3068H5493H1116H842H30637In 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.H7969H8141H4427H7971H8269H1134H5662H2148H5417H4322H3925H5892H30638He 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.H3881H8098H5418H2069H6214H8070H3083H138H2900H2899H3881H476H3088H35489They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.H3925H3063H5612H8451H3068H5437H5892H3063H3925H597110Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat.H6343H3068H4467H776H5439H3063H3898H309211Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.H6430H935H3092H4503H4853H3701H6163H935H6629H7651H505H7651H3967H352H7651H505H7651H3967H849512So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.H3092H1980H1432H4605H1129H3063H1003H5892H454313He stored numerous supplies in Judah's towns and stationed an army of seasoned troops at Jerusalem.H7227H4399H5892H3063H582H4421H1368H2428H338914His 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.H6486H1004H1H3063H8269H505H5734H8269H1368H2428H7969H3967H50515Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops.H3027H3076H8269H3967H8084H50516Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the LORD's service, with 200,000 troops under his command.H3027H6007H1121H2147H5068H3068H3967H505H1368H242817From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier.H1144H450H1368H2428H5401H7198H4043H3967H50518Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men.H3027H3075H3967H8084H505H2502H663519These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah.H8334H4428H4428H5414H4013H5892H3063
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and did not worship the images of Baal.H3068
