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his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set 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 former ways of his father David. He did seek the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in His commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 5 So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honour in abundance. 6 His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord; furthermore he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
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 With them he sent Levites, Shemaish, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, and Tob-adonijah, and with them 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 cities of Judah and taught the people.
10 The dread of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines also brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah 13 and carried out great works in the cities of Judah. He had fighting men, mighty warriors, stationed in Jerusalem. 14 These are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers:
From Judah, the commanders of thousands:
Adnah the commander,
and with him 300,000 brave warriors.
15 Next to him was Jehohanan the commander,
and with him 280,000 brave warriors.
16 Next to him was Amasiah son of Zichri, who volunteered himself for the service of the Lord,
and with him 200,000 brave warriors.
17 Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty warrior,
and with him 200,000 men armed with bow and shield.
18 Next to him was Jehozabad,
and with him 180,000 men equipped for war.
19 These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.