English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.
1
Asa's son Jehoshaphat was the next king; he started out by working on his defense system against Israel.
2 He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured.
2
He put troops in all the fortress cities of Judah and deployed garrisons throughout Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals,
3
God was on Jehoshaphat's side because he stuck to the ways of his father Asa's early years. He didn't fool around with the popular Baal religion -
4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.
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he was a seeker and follower of the God of his father and was obedient to him; he wasn't like Israel.
5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.
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And God secured the kingdom under his rule, gave him a firm grip on it. And everyone in Judah showed their appreciation by bringing gifts. Jehoshaphat ended up very rich and much honored.
6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
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He was single-minded in following God; and he got rid of the local sex-and-religion shrines.
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;
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In the third year of his reign he sent his officials - excellent men, every one of them - Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah on a teaching mission to the cities of Judah.
8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
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They were accompanied by Levites - Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah; the priests Elishama and Jehoram were also in the company.
9 And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
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They made a circuit of the towns of Judah, teaching the people and using the Book of The Revelation of God as their text.
10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
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There was a strong sense of the fear of God in all the kingdoms around Judah - they didn't dare go to war against Jehoshaphat.
11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.
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Some Philistines even brought gifts and a load of silver to Jehoshaphat, and the desert bedouin brought flocks - 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.
12 And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities,
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So Jehoshaphat became stronger by the day, and constructed more and more forts and store-cities - an age of prosperity for Judah!
13 and he had large supplies in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
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He also had excellent fighting men stationed in Jerusalem.
14 This was the muster of them by fathers' houses: Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 mighty men of valor;
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The captains of the military units of Judah, classified according to families, were: Captain Adnah with 300,000 soldiers;
15 and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
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his associate Captain Jehohanan with 280,000;
16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with 200,000 mighty men of valor.
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his associate Amasiah son of Zicri, a volunteer for God, with 200,000.
17 Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, with 200,000 men armed with bow and shield;
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Officer Eliada represented Benjamin with 200,000 fully equipped with bow and shield;
18 and next to him Jehozabad with 180,000 armed for war.
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and his associate was Jehozabad with 180,000 armed and ready for battle.
19 These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
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These were under the direct command of the king; in addition there were the troops assigned to the fortress cities spread all over Judah.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.