2 Chronicles 17 - Easy To Read Version Easy To Read Version
2 Chronicles 17

¹ Jehoshaphat was the new king of Judah in Asa’s place. Jehoshaphat was Asa’s son. Jehoshaphat made Judah strong so they could fight against Israel.

² He put groups of soldiers in all the towns of Judah that were made into fortresses. {\cf2\super [204]} Jehoshaphat built fortresses in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa captured.

³ The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because in Jehoshaphat’s young life he did the good things his ancestor {\cf2\super [205]} David did. Jehoshaphat did not follow the Baal idols.

⁴ Jehoshaphat looked for the God his ancestors {\cf2\super [206]} followed. He followed God’s commands. He did not live the same way the people of Israel lived.

⁵ The Lord made Jehoshaphat a strong king over Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. So Jehoshaphat had much wealth and honor.

⁶ Jehoshaphat’s heart found pleasure in the ways of the Lord. He took away the high places, {\cf2\super [207]} and the Asherah poles {\cf2\super [208]} out of the country of Judah.

⁷ Jehoshaphat sent his leaders to teach in the towns of Judah. That happened in the third year of Jehoshaphat’s rule. {\cf2\super [209]} Those leaders were Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.

⁸ Jehoshaphat also sent Levites with these leaders. These Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, and Tobijah. Jehoshaphat also sent the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

⁹ Those leaders and Levites and priests taught the people in Judah. They had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went through all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

¹⁰ The nations near Judah were afraid of the Lord. That is why they did not start a war against Jehoshaphat.

¹¹ Some of the Philistine people brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. They also brought silver to Jehoshaphat because they knew he was a very powerful king. Some Arabian people brought flocks to Jehoshaphat. They brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats to him.

¹² Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses {\cf2\super [210]} and storage towns in the country of Judah.

¹³ He kept many supplies in the storage towns. And Jehoshaphat kept trained soldiers in Jerusalem.

¹⁴ Those soldiers were listed in their family groups. This is the list of those soldiers in Jerusalem:

¹⁵ Jehohanan was the general of 280,000 soldiers.

¹⁶ Amasiah was the general of 200,000 soldiers. Amasiah was Zicri’s son. Amasiah was happy to give himself to serve the Lord.

¹⁷ From the family group of Benjamin these were the generals: Eliada had 200,000 soldiers who used bows, arrows, and shields. Eliada was a very brave soldier.

¹⁸ Jehozabad had 180,000 men ready for war.

¹⁹ All those soldiers served King Jehoshaphat. The king also had other men in the fortresses {\cf2\super [211]} in all the country of Judah.