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17:1 His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him, and strengthened himself against Israel. 17:2 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 his father Asa had taken. 17:3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father; he did not seek the Baals, 17:4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the ways of Israel. 17:5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 17:6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD; and furthermore he removed the high places and the sacred poles from Judah. 17:7 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. 17:8 With them were the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 17:9 They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; they went around through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. 17:10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, and they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 17:11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; and the Arabs also brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats. 17:12 Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. 17:13 He carried out great works in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty warriors, in Jerusalem. 17:14 This was the muster of them by ancestral houses: Of Judah, the commanders of the thousands: Adnah the commander, with three hundred thousand mighty warriors, 17:15 and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with two hundred eighty thousand, 17:16 and next to him Amasiah son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with two hundred thousand mighty warriors. 17:17 Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty warrior, with two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield, 17:18 and next to him Jehozabad with one hundred eighty thousand armed for war. 17:19 These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.