1
Jehoshaphat succeeded his father Asa as king and strengthened his position against Israel.
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 blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early life and did not worship Baal.
4
He served his father's God, obeyed God's commands, and did not act the way the kings of Israel did.
5
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
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 out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
8
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 took the book of the Law of the Lord and went through all the towns of Judah, teaching it to the people.