微读圣经

Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

1His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place 1Kg 15:24 and strengthened himself against Israel.

2He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah 2Ch 11:5 and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. 2Ch 15:8

3Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David. Some Hb mss, LXX omit David He did not seek the Baals

4but sought the God of his father and walked by His commands, not according to the practices of Israel. 1Kg 12:28

5So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance. 2Ch 18:1

6His mind rejoiced in the Lord’s ways, and he again 2Ch 14:2-3 removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. 2Ch 15:17

Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan

7In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials — Ben-hail, = Son of Power Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah — to teach in the cities of Judah. 2Ch 15:3; 35:3

8The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Arabic read Zechariah Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites.

9They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them. Dt 6:4-9; 17:18; 28:58,61; 29:21; 30:10; 31:24,26; Jos 1:8; 8:31,34; 23:6; 24:26 They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, 2Ch 14:14 so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat.

11Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 2Ch 9:14; 26:8

Jehoshaphat’s Military Might

12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses 2Ch 27:4 and storage cities in Judah

13and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, brave warriors, in Jerusalem.

14These are their numbers according to their ancestral families. For Judah, the commanders of thousands:

Adnah the commander and 300,000 brave warriors with him;

15next to him, Jehohanan the commander and 280,000 with him;

16next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer Jdg 5:2,9; 1Ch 29:9 of the Lord, and 200,000 brave warriors with him;

17from Benjamin, Eliada, a brave warrior, and 200,000 with him armed with bow and shield;

18next to him, Jehozabad and 180,000 with him equipped for war.

19These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. 2Ch 17:2