[1] His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel. [2] He placed troops in all Judah's fortified cities and posted garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized. [3] The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David's footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals, [4] but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites. [5] The LORD made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. [6] He was committed to following the LORD; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. [7] In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. [8] They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. [9] They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the LORD. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people. [10] The LORD put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. [11] Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute, including a load of silver. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks. [12] Jehoshaphat's power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. [13] He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem. [14] These were their divisions by families: There were 1,000 officers from Judah. Adnah the commander led 300,000 skilled warriors, [15] Jehochanan the commander led 280,000, [16] and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the LORD, led 200,000 skilled warriors. [17] From Benjamin, Eliada, a skilled warrior, led 200,000 men who were equipped with bows and shields, [18] and Jehozabad led 180,000 trained warriors. [19] These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
