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17:1 Jehosh'aphat his son reigned in his stead, 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 E'phraim which Asa his father had taken. 17:3 The LORD was with Jehosh'aphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father;he did not seek the Ba'als, 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;and all Judah brought tribute to Jehosh'aphat;and he had great riches and honor. 17:6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD;and furthermore he took the high places and the Ashe'rim out of Judah. 17:7 In the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail, Obadi'ah, Zechari'ah, Nethan'el, and Micai'ah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 17:8 and with them the Levites, Shemai'ah, Nethani'ah, Zebadi'ah, As'ahel, Shemi'ramoth, Jehon'athan, Adoni'jah, Tobi'jah, and Tobadoni'jah;and with these Levites, the priests Eli'shama and Jeho'ram. 17:9 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. 17:10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, and they made no war against Jehosh'aphat. 17:11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehosh'aphat presents, and silver for tribute;and the Arabs also brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats. 17:12 And Jehosh'aphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store-cities, 17:13 and he had great stores in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. 17:14 This was the muster of them by fathers' houses: Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with three hundred thousand mighty men of valor, 17:15 and next to him Jehoha'nan the commander, with two hundred and eighty thousand, 17:16 and next to him Amasi'ah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 17:17 Of Benjamin: Eli'ada, a mighty man of valor, with two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield, 17:18 and next to him Jeho'zabad with a hundred and 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.