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.