New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.
1
Jehoshaphat succeeded his father Asa as king and strengthened his position against Israel.
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.
2
He stationed troops in the fortified cities of Judah, in the Judean countryside, and in the cities which Asa had captured in the territory of Ephraim.
3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals
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The Lord blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early life and did not worship Baal.
4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.
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He served his father's God, obeyed God's commands, and did not act the way the kings of Israel did.
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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The Lord gave Jehoshaphat firm control over the kingdom of Judah, and all the people brought him gifts, so that he became wealthy and highly honored.
6 His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
6
He took pride in serving the Lord and destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah.
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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In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
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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They were accompanied by nine Levites and two priests. The Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and the priests were Elishama and Jehoram.
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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They took the book of the Law of the Lord and went through all the towns of Judah, teaching it to the people.
10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat.
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The Lord made all the surrounding kingdoms afraid to go to war against King Jehoshaphat.
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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Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat a large amount of silver and other gifts, and some Arabs brought him 7,700 sheep and 7,700 goats.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah
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So Jehoshaphat continued to grow more and more powerful. Throughout Judah he built fortifications and cities,
13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem.
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where supplies were stored in huge amounts. In Jerusalem he stationed outstanding officers,
14 Their enrollment by families was as follows: From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;
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according to their clans. Adnah was the commander of the troops from the clans of Judah, and he had 300,000 soldiers under him.
15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
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Second in rank was Jehohanan, with 280,000 soldiers,
16 next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000.
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and third was Amasiah son of Zichri, with 200,000. (Amasiah had volunteered to serve the Lord.)
17 From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;
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The commander of the troops from the clans of Benjamin was Eliada, an outstanding soldier, in command of 200,000 men armed with shields and bows.
18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.
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His second in command was Jehozabad with 180,000 men, well-equipped for battle.
19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
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These soldiers served the king in Jerusalem, and in addition he stationed others in the other fortified cities of Judah.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.