| 章 |
| 17:1 |
Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.
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| 17:2 |
He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
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| 17:3 |
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals
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| 17:4 |
but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.
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| 17:5 |
The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.
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| 17:6 |
His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
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| 17:7 |
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah.
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| 17:8 |
With them were certain Levites--Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah--and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
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| 17:9 |
They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
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| 17:10 |
The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.
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| 17:11 |
Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
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| 17:12 |
Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah
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| 17:13 |
and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem.
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| 17:14 |
Their enrollment by families was as follows: From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;
|
| 17:15 |
next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
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| 17:16 |
next, Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000.
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| 17:17 |
From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;
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| 17:18 |
next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.
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| 17:19 |
These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
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