Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah
Jehoshaphat takes practical measures to secure Judah, yet the chapter explains his strength by his devotion to the LORD. Because he walks in faithful ways, his kingdom is established, tribute increases, and he removes idolatrous worship sites.
A1sa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. 2He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. 3Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel. 5So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor. 6And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sends officials, Levites, and priests through Judah with the Book of the Law. Their task is to teach the people in the towns throughout the land.
7In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, 8accompanied by certain Levites — Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah — along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.
The nations around Judah refrain from war because dread from the LORD falls on them, and some bring tribute instead. As Jehoshaphat grows stronger, he builds fortresses, store cities, and large reserves across Judah.
10And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks. 12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah 13and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor.
The chapter closes with a register of Jehoshaphat's warriors by family divisions, highlighting the scale of his forces from Judah and Benjamin. These troops stand alongside the men already stationed in the fortified cities.
14These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: 15next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000; 16and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor. 17From Benjamin: 18and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle. 19These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.