OET-RV 2 CHR Chapter 17

17 Then Asa’s son Yehoshafat (Jehoshaphat) replaced him as king, and he strengthened their defenses against Yisrael. 2 He placed troops in all of Yehudah’s fortified cities, and posted garrisons across Yehudah and in the cities in Efrayim that his father Asa had captured. 3 Yahweh helped Yehoshafat because he followed his ancestor David’s ways at the beginning, and didn’t ask the Baals for guidance, 4 because he asked his father’s god, and he followed God’s instructions rather than doing the evil things done in Yisrael. 5 So Yahweh enabled him to maintain control of his kingdom, and the Yehudah brought tribute to Yehoshafat, causing him to become very wealthy and highly respected. 6 He was completely devoted to doing what pleased Yahweh, even removing the hilltop shrines and the Asherah poles from Yehudah.

7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-Hayil, Ovadyah, Zekaryah, Netanel, and Mikayah, to teach in Yehudah’s cities. 8 They were accompanied by the Levites Shemayah, Netanyah, Zevadyah, Asahel, Shemiramot, Yehonatan, Adoniyah, Toviyah, and Tov-Adoniyah, along with two priests Elishama and Yehoram. 9 They took a scroll with Yahweh’s instructions written on it, and went around Yehudah’s cities teaching the people.

10 All the surrounding kingdoms were afraid of Yahweh, so they didn’t attack Yehoshafat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought tribute to Yehoshafat, including lots of silver. Also, the Arabians brought him flocks totalling 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats. 12 So Yehoshafat continued to become more powerful, and he built palaces in Yehudah as well as storehouses in the cities. 13 He accumulated many supplies in Yehudah’s cities.

He also had many powerful warriors in Yerushalem. 14 These are the leaders and numbers from each tribe:

• From the tribe of Yehudah, Adnah was the commander and he had three-hundred thousand warriors,
• 15 His assistant Yehohanan commanded 280,000,
• 16 Next was Zikri’s son Amasyah who volunteered for Yahweh and commanded two-hundred thousand warriors.
• 17 From the tribe of Benyamin, Elyada led two-hundred thousand men equipped with bows and shields,
• 18 next to him was Yehozavad with 180,000 equipped for war.

19 Those were the ones who served the king, along with the ones that the king had placed in Yehudah’s fortified cities.