17:1 His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel. 1 17:2 He placed troops in all of Judah’s fortified cities and posted garrisons 2 throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized.
17:3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor 3 David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. 4 He did not seek the Baals, 17:4 but instead sought the God of his ancestors 5 and obeyed 6 his commands, unlike the Israelites. 7 17:5 The Lord made his kingdom secure; 8 all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. 9 17:6 He was committed to following the Lord; 10 he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
17:7 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. 17:8 They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
1 tn Heb “and strengthened himself over Israel.”
2 tn Or perhaps, “governors.”
3 tn Heb “father.”
4 tn Heb “for he walked in the ways of David his father [in] the beginning [times].”
5 tn Heb “fathers.”
6 tn Heb “walked in.”
7 tn Heb “and not like the behavior of Israel.”
8 tn Heb “established the kingdom in his hand.”
9 tn Heb “and he had wealth and honor in abundance.”
10 tn Heb “and his heart was high in the ways of the