2 Chronicles 17

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Jehoshaphat’s priests teach God’s law throughout Judah

Jehoshaphat takes Judah’s throne, follows God

Asa's son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. He stationed troops in all of Judah's fortified cities and the cities in Ephraim (which his father had captured). The Existing One was with Jehoshaphat, because he lived how his ancestor David did. He didn't seek the Baals, but sought his forefather's God and followed his orders rather than Israel's traditions. That's why the Existing One put him in charge of the kingdom. All of Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became wealthy and revered. His heart was courageous in the Existing One's ways, and he even removed the shrines and Asherim from Judah.

Jehoshaphat teaches Judah God’s law

In the third year of his reign, he sent the following officials to teach in Judah's cities:

• Ben-hail

• Obadiah

• Zechariah

• Nethanel

• Micaiah

He sent the following the Levites with them:

• Shemaiah

• Nethaniah

• Zebadiah

• Asahel

• Shemiramoth

• Jehonathan

• Adonijah

• Tobijah

• Tobadonijah

The priests Elishama and Jehoram also went with them. They took the Existing One's Book of Law with them and taught throughout all of Judah's cities.

God provides strong military and peace

All the nearby kingdoms became afraid of the Existing One and avoided starting wars with Jehoshaphat. Some of the Philistines even brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabians brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats. And Jehoshaphat's renown grew more and more. He built fortresses and store cities for Judah and accumulated large amounts of supplies. He had strong, brave soldiers in Jerusalem, grouped by their ancestry:

• Adnah commander of 300,000

• Jehohanan commander of 280,000

• Amasiah (Zichri's son) volunteered to serve the Existing One with 200,000

• Eliada (from Benjamin) with 200,000 armored archers

• Jehozabad with 180,000 armed for war

All of these men were in the king's service, and that's not even counting the ones who were stationed throughout all of Judah's fortified cities.