2 Chronicles 17

1 Asa’s son [descendant, offspring] Jehoshaphat [Jehova judged, God has judged] reigned [to advise or counsel, to rule as king] in his place [underneath, as a successor], and he strengthened [to be strong or courageous, to seize] himself [his position, his kingdom] against [upon, in opposition to] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 2 He stationed troops [forces, armies] in every fortified [strong, fenced] city of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] and put garrisons [military posts, soldiers] in the land [territory, region] of Judah and in the cities [towns, settlements] of Ephraim [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph’s son and the tribe] that his father Asa [a king of Judah] had captured [seized, taken control of]. word study 3 Now the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] was with Jehoshaphat because he walked [followed, obeyed] in the earlier [first, primary] ways of his father [ancestor, predecessor] David. He did not seek out [inquire of, worship] the Baals [false gods, idols], word study 4 but he sought [to worship and inquire of] the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of his father [figurative ancestor, spiritual heritage] and walked [lived, conducted his life] by His commandments [divine laws, ordinances] rather than [in contrast to, not like] the practices [customs, deeds, sins] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 5 So the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] established [set up, appointed] the kingdom [ruler’s power or territory] in his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share], and all [everything] Judah [the tribe descended from Judah] brought him tribute [gifts, offerings], so that he had an abundance [great quantity] of riches [wealth, treasures] and honor [great esteem, glory]. word study 6 And his heart [the seat of his emotions, will, and intellect] took delight [was lifted up, exulted] in the ways [path, manner of life] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; furthermore [still, moreover], he removed [turned aside, took away] the high places [elevations, cultic platforms] and Asherah poles [a wooden pole or grove of the goddess Asherah] from Judah [the region, tribe of Judah]. word study 7 In the third [specific, appointed] year of his reign [kingly rule, royal authority], Jehoshaphat sent [dispatched, commissioned] his officials [rulers, leaders] Ben-hail [son of strength], Obadiah [servant of the Lord], Zechariah [Jehovah remembers], Nethanel [given of God], and Micaiah [who is like God] to teach [instruct, guide] in the cities [towns, populated areas] of Judah [praise, the region of Judah], word study 8 accompanied by certain Levites [descendants of Levi, serving God]—Shemaiah [heard by God], Nethaniah [given by Jehovah], Zebadiah [endowment of Jehovah], Asahel [God-made], Shemiramoth [exalted by the people], Jehonathan [Jehovah has given], Adonijah [my Lord is Jehovah], Tobijah [Jehovah is good], and Tob-adonijah [Jehovah’s goodness to us]—along with the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators between God and people] Elishama [my God has heard] and Jehoram [Jehovah is exalted]. word study 9 They taught [instructed, guided] throughout Judah [the tribe and region], taking with them the Book [scroll, written document] of the Law [instruction, torah] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. They went [traveled, turned] throughout the towns [cities, settlements] of Judah and taught [instructed, guided] the people [nation, community]. word study 10 And the dread [fear, terror] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] fell upon all [every one of] the kingdoms [domains, territories] of the lands [countries, regions] that surrounded [were round about, encompassed] Judah, so that they did not [were unable to, would not] make war [fight, battle] against Jehoshaphat [Jehovah has judged, the king of Judah]. word study 11 Some [certain, specific] Philistines [inhabitants of Philistia, a region in southwest Israel] also brought [presented, offered] gifts [presents, tributes] and silver [money, wealth] as tribute [a payment or offering] to Jehoshaphat [the king of Judah, a righteous leader], and the Arabs [people from the region of Arabia, known for their nomadic lifestyle] brought him [a large number, a multitude] 7,700 rams [male sheep] and [a large number, a multitude] 7,700 goats [he-goats, a type of livestock] from their flocks [herds of sheep or goats, a source of provision]. word study 12 Jehoshaphat [became exceedingly great, prospered] grew stronger and stronger [in power and influence, waxed great], and he built [established, constructed] fortresses [strongholds, castles] and store cities [cities of supply, storage towns] in Judah [the region of the tribe of Judah] word study 13 and kept vast [many, abundant] supplies in the cities [towns, settlements] of Judah [the tribe, region]. He also had warriors [men of war, experienced soldiers] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital] who were mighty men [strong, valiant] of valor [strength, power, Helech]. word study 14 These [specific, particular] are their numbers [count, total] according to the houses [families, lineages] of their fathers [ancestors, heritage]: From Judah [the tribe of Judah], the commanders [captains, leaders] of thousands [large groups, companies]: Adnah [a leader, captain] the commander [chief, ruler], and with him [together, in his company] [a vast army, numerous] 300,000 mighty men of valor [strong, courageous warriors, champions]; word study 15 next to him [at his side, with him], Jehohanan [Jehovah has graced] the commander [ruler, captain], and with him [together, in his company] 280,000 [two hundred and eighty thousand, a large multitude]; word study 16 and next to him, Amasiah [a willing volunteer] son of Zichri, the volunteer [who willingly offered himself] for the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and with him 200,000 [two hundred thousand] mighty men [strong warriors, valiant soldiers] of valor [great strength, courage, or bravery]. word study 17 From [the tribe of] Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty [mighty warrior, strong and brave] man of valor [strength, power, and courage], and with [together, in accompaniment] him 200,000 [two hundred thousand, a large company] armed [equipped, prepared] with bows [the weapon, symbolizing strength] and shields [protection, defense]; word study 18 and next to him, Jehozabad [at his side, with him], and with him [together, as a companion] 180,000 [a hundred and eighty thousand, a large army] armed [equipped, prepared] for battle [war, combat, spiritual warfare]. word study 19 These [specific, appointed] were the men who served [ministered to, attended] the king [royal person, monarch], besides [in addition to, apart from] those he stationed [placed, assigned] in the fortified [strong, walled] cities [towns, settlements] throughout [all of, in every part of] Judah [the tribe, region]. word study