2 Chronicles 17 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place and strengthened his position against Israel.

He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and placed garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the earlier ways of his ancestor David and did not seek out the Baals.

Instead, he sought out the God of his father and followed his commands, rather than the practices of Israel.

So Yahweh established the kingdom firmly in his hand. All of Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he gained both great wealth and honor.

His commitment to the ways of Yahweh grew even stronger, and he also removed the hilltop shrines and the Asherah poles from Judah.

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.

With them were the Levites — Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah — and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

They taught throughout Judah, carrying the book of the Law of Yahweh with them. They went through all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, and they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and a load of silver as tribute. The Arabs also brought him flocks — seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

Jehoshaphat grew increasingly powerful. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.

He had large operations in the cities of Judah, and battle-ready warriors in Jerusalem.

Here is their muster by ancestral houses: From Judah, the commanders of thousands — Adnah the commander, with three hundred thousand battle-ready warriors;

next to him, Jehohanan the commander, with two hundred eighty thousand;

next to him, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered himself for Yahweh's service, with two hundred thousand battle-ready warriors.

From Benjamin: Eliada, a battle-ready warrior, with two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;

next to him, Jehozabad, with one hundred eighty thousand equipped for war.

These were the ones serving the king, besides those Jehoshaphat had stationed in the fortified cities throughout all of Judah.