2 Chronicles 22:1-12 The Next King of Judah, Ahaziah [a.k.a. Jehoahaz]

 

The Next King of Judah, Ahaziah, [a.k.a. Jehoahaz] [Because of many similar names, check to see whose son they are.]

2 Chronicles 22:1-12                  2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

[Jerusalem’s] inhabitants made his youngest son, Ahaziah, [a.k.a. Jehoahaz,] king in his [place.] [Because] the band of men [who] came with the Arabians to the camp, had slain all the eldest [sons.]

[2 Chronicles 21:16-17 [Also,] the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, Arabians & Ethiopians [who] were near.

And they came up into Judah & broke into it & carried away all [Jehoram’s possessions] that [were] found in the king’s house & his sons & also his wives.  So [no sons] were left [to] him, [except] for Jehoahaz, [a.k.a. Ahaziah,] the youngest of his sons.] So, Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram, [Judah’s] king [ruled.]

Ahaziah was 42 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 1 year in Jerusalem. Also, his mother’s name was Athaliah, [Omri’s grand-daughter.] [Ahaziah] also [followed] in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.

[For this reason,] he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for after the death of his father, they were his counselors to his destruction.           [1 Kings 16:30-32 And Ahab, [Omri’s] son, did evil in the sight of the Lord above all [who] were before him.

And it [happened,] as if it had been a [little] thing for him to [follow] in the sins of Jeroboam, [Nebat’s] son, [Ahab married] Jezebel, the daughter of EthBaal, the [Zidonian’s] king, & went & served Baal & worshiped him. And [Ahab put] up an altar for Baal, in the house of Baal, [that] he had built in Samaria.]

[Ahaziah] also [followed] their counsel & went with Jehoram, [a.k.a. Joram,] the son of Ahab, [Israel’s] king, to war against Hazael, [Syria’s] king, at Ramoth Gilead.

And the Syrians [wounded] Joram, [a.k.a. Jehoram.]  [Joram] returned to be healed in Jezreel, because of the wounds [he received] at Ramah, when he fought [against] Hazael, [Syria’s] king.

And Azariah, the son of Jehoram, [Judah’s] king, went down to see Jehoram, [Ahab’s] son, because he was [ill.] And the destruction of Ahaziah, was of God, [for going] to Joram.

For when [Ahaziah had] come, he went out with Jehoram, against Jehu, [Nimshi’s] son, whom the Lord had anointed to [destroy Ahab’s family.]

And it [happened,] when Jehu [executed] judgment on the [family] of Ahab & found the princes [a.k.a. officials] of Judah & the [relatives] of Ahaziah [who had] ministered [& counseled] Ahaziah, [Jehu killed] them.

[Jehu searched for] Ahaziah & caught him, (for he was [hidden] in Samaria,) & [he was] brought to Jehu. And when they had [killed Ahaziah,] they buried him: Because they said, He is the [descendant] of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.

So the [family] of Ahaziah had no power to still keep the kingdom. When Ataliah, [Ahaziah’s] mother, saw that her son was dead, she arose & destroyed all the royal [heirs] of the [family] of Judah.

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash, the son of Ahaziah & [snuck] him [away] from among the king’s sons [who were killed] & put him & his nurse in the [bedroom.]

So, Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram [& was] the wife of Jehoiada, the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) [she] hid [Joash] from Athaliah, so she [couldn’t kill] him. And [Joash] was [hidden] with them in the house of God, 6 years. And Athaliah, [Ahaziah’s mother, ruled] over the land.

2 Chronicles 21:1-20 After Jehoshaphat’s Death

 

After Jehoshaphat’s Death

2 Chronicles 21:1-20                       2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Now, Jehoshaphat, [died] & slept with his [forefathers] & was buried with [them] in the city of David. His son, Jehoram, [ruled] in his [place.]

These were [Jehoram’s brothers,] the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, [a.k.a. Azariahu,] Michael & Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel.

Their father gave them great gifts of: silver, gold, precious things, with fenced cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.

Now, when Jehoram was [established] in his [father’s] kingdom, he strengthened himself & [he killed] all his [brothers & some] other princes of Israel, with the sword. Jehoram was 32 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 8 years in Jerusalem.

And [Jehoram followed] in the [path] of the kings of Israel, like the [family of king] Ahab did: for [Jehoram’s] wife [was] the daughter of Ahab & he [fasioned what] was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

[1 Kings 16:30-33 And Ahab, [Omri’s] son, did evil in the sight of the Lord above all [who] were before him. And it [happened,] as if it were a [small] thing for [Ahab] to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, [Nebat’s] son, that [Ahab married] Jezebel, the daughter of EthBaal, the [Zidonian’s] king.

And [Ahab] went & served Baal & worshiped him. And [Ahab put] up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove & Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.]

[But] the Lord wouldn’t destroy the house of David, because of the covenant [contract] that He had made with David & promised to give a light to him & to his sons forever.

[2 Samuel 7:11-13 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over, My people, Israel & have caused you to rest from your enemies. Also, the Lord tells you, [David,] that He will make you a house. *And when your days [are] fulfilled & you shall sleep with your [forefathers,] I will set up your [descendants] after you, [who] shall proceed from your [body] & I will establish his kingdom. *He shall build a house for My Name & I will [establish] the throne of his kingdom forever.]

In [Jehoram’s life] the Edomites [rebelled] from under the [control] of Judah & made themselves a king. Then, Jehoram went [out] with his princes & all his chariots with him. And [Jehoram] rose up [at] night & [attacked] the Edomites, [who had surrounded] him & the captains of his chariots [within.]

So, the Edomites [have] revolted from under [Judah’s] hand [until] this day. Also, [at] the same time, Libnah [revolted] from under [Jehoram’s] hand, because he had [abandoned] the Lord God of his [forefathers.]

[Additionally, Jehoram] made high places in the mountains of Judah & caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to [to be unfaithful to the Lord God,] and [Jehoram] compelled Judah [to do the same.]

[Jehoram got a letter] from Elijah, the prophet, saying, The Lord God of David, your [forefather says this,] Because you haven’t [followed] in the ways of Jehoshaphat, your father, nor in the ways of Asa, [Judah’s] king.

But [you] have walked in the [path] of the kings of Israel & have made Judah & the inhabitants of Jerusalem to [behave unfaithfully, like] the whoredoms of the house of Ahab & [you have] also slain your [brothers] of your father’s house, which were better [that you are.]

[Watch,] with a great plague, the Lord will [strike] your people, your children, your wives & all your [possessions.] And you shall have great sickness by bowel disease, until your bowels fall out day by day, [because] of your sickness.

[Also] the Lord stirred up against Jehoram, the spirit of the Philistines, Arabians & the Ethiopians [who] were near. And they came up to Judah & [broke] into it & carried away all the [possessions] that [were] found in the king’s house & also his sons & his wives.

So [no] sons [were] left [to] him, [except] Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. And after all this, the Lord [struck Jehoram] with an incurable disease in his bowels. And it [happened,] after the end of 2 years, his bowels fell out [due to] his sickness. So he died of [a terrible disease.]

And his people [didn’t make] a burning for him, like the burning [for] his [forefathers.] [Jehoram] was 32 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 8 years in Jerusalem & departed without being desired. They [still] buried him in the city of David, but not in the [tombs] of the kings.

2 Chronicles 20:1-37 When Attackers Approached Jehoshaphat & All Judah Returned to the Lord

 

When Attackers Approached Jehoshaphat & All Judah Returned to the Lord

2 Chronicles 20:1-37                    2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

It [happened] after this, that also the children [people] of Moab & Ammon, with others [in addition to] the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. [When] Jehoshaphat was told, A [large] multitude [has come] against you, [from] beyond the sea on this side [of] Syria.

[Look, they’re from] Hazazon Tamar, which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat [was afraid & prepared] himself to seek the Lord & proclaimed a fast throughout all [of] Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask [for the Lord’s] help. They came to seek the Lord, even out of all the cities of Judah.

And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah & Jerusalem, in the [Lords] house, [in front of] the new [courtyard] & said, O Lord God of our [forefathers], aren’t You, God, in heaven?

[Don’t] You rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in Your hand, isn’t there power & might, so that none [are] able to [stand against] You? Aren’t You our God, Who [drove] out the inhabitants of this land [in front of] Your people, Israel & gave it to [the descendants] of Abraham, Your friend forever?

And they have [lived in it] & have built You a sanctuary [in there] for Your Name, saying, When evil comes upon us [like:] the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine & if we stand [in front of] this house, in Your presence, (for Your Name is in this house,) & cry [out] to You in our affliction, then You will hear & help [us.]

And now [see,] the children [people] of Ammon, Moab & Mount Seir, whom You wouldn’t let Israel invade, when [the Israelites] came out of the land of Egypt, but the [Israelites] turned from them & [didn’t] destroy them.

I say, [Look,] how they reward us. [They’ve] come to cast us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit. O our God, won’t You judge them? For we have no [strength] against this [large] company that comes against us. Neither do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.

And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives & their children. Then, in the midst of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, [Zechariah’s] son. [Zechariah was] the son of Benaiah. [Beniah was] the son of Jeiel. [Jeiel was] the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the [descendants] of Asaph.

And [Jahaziel] said, [Listen,] all you inhabitants of Judah & Jerusalem & king Jehoshaphat. The Lord [says this] to you, [Don’t] be afraid, nor [worried, because] of this [large] multitude; for the battle isn’t yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, go down against them.

[Look,] they [will] come up the Cliff of Ziz & you shall find them at the end of the brook, [in front of] the Wilderness of Jeruel. You shall not need to fight in this battle. [Position] yourselves & stand still & see the Salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah & Jerusalem. [Don’t be fearful, nor worried.]

Tomorrow, go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head [facing] the ground & all Judah & the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord & [worshiped] the Lord.

And the Levites, of the children [people] of the Kohathites, the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And they [rose] early in the morning & went [forward] into the Wilderness of Tekoa.

And as they went [forward,] Jehoshaphat stood & said, Hear me, O Judah & inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so you shall be established. Believe His prophets, so you shall prosper.

And when [Jehoshaphat] had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to the Lord, [so they could] praise the beauty of [God’s] holiness, [while] they went out, in front of] the army & [said,] Praise the Lord; for His mercy endures forever.

And when they began to sing & to praise, the Lord set [ambushes] against the children [people] of Ammon, Moab & Mount Seir, [who had] come against Judah & they were [defeated.]

For the [people] of Ammon & Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, [totally slaying & destroying] them. And when they had [finished killing] the inhabitants of [Mount] Seir, they [destroyed each other.]

And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked [at] the multitude & [saw] they were [all] dead bodies, fallen to the [ground] & none escaped.

When Jehoshaphat & his people came to take away the [plunder from] them, they found among the dead bodies, an abundance of riches & precious jewels, which they [took] for themselves, more than they could carry away.

[There] was so much [plunder,] they were [there] 3 days gathering the [plunder.] And on the 4th day, they assembled themselves in the Valley of Berachah, [a.k.a. Blessing;] for they blessed the Lord [God] there. [That’s why] the name of the same place was called, The Valley of Berachah, to this day.

Jehoshaphat [was in the front of] them, [when] every man of Judah & Jerusalem returned again to Jerusalem with joy. For the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies.

[Nehemiah 12:43 Also, that day, they offered great sacrifices & rejoiced with great joy. The wives & also the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was even heard [far away.]

And they came to Jerusalem with [lyres,] harps & trumpets to the [Lord’s] house. And the fear [respect] of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they heard that the Lord [God had] fought against the enemies of Israel.

So, [Jehoshaphat’s kingdom] was quiet: for his God gave him [peace around him.] And Jehoshaphat [ruled] over Judah. He was 35 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 25 years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

And [Jehoshaphat] walked in the [paths] of his father, Asa & [didn’t] depart from doing [what] was right in the sight of the Lord. [Still] the high places weren’t taken away yet, for the people hadn’t prepared their hearts to the God of their [forefathers.]

[1 Kings 22:43 And [Jehoshaphat followed] in all the ways of Asa, his father & he [didn’t] turn aside from doing [what] was right in the eyes of the Lord. [However,] the high places weren’t taken away, [because] the people [still] offered & burnt incense in the high places.]

Now, the rest of [Jehoshaphat’s actions,] 1st & last, written in the book of Jehu, [Hanani’s] son, who is mentioned in the Book of [the] Kings of Israel. And after this, Jehoshaphat, [Judah’s] king, [joined] with Ahaziah, [Israel’s] king, who did very wickedly.

And [Jehoshaphat] joined himself with [Ahaziah] to make ships go to Tarshish & they made ships in Ezion Gaber, [a.k.a. Ezion Geber.]

[1 Kings 10:22 For the king had a navy at sea of Tharshish, [a.k.a. Tarshish] with the navy of Hiram, [that] came once [every] 3 years & the navy of [Tarshish] came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes & peacocks.]

Then, Eliezer, [Dodavah’s] son, [from] Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord will [destroy what you have made] & the ships were broken, [so] that they weren’t able to go to Tarshish.

2 Chronicles 19:1-11 King Jehoshaphat Returns from the War

 

King Jehoshaphat Returns from the War

2 Chronicles 19:1-11                       2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Jehoshaphat, [Judah’s] king, returned to his house in Jerusalem in peace. And Jehu, [Hanani’s] son, the seer went out to meet him. [1 Samuel 9:9 ([Before this time] in Israel, when a man went to [inquire] of God, he [said this,] Come & let’s go to the Seer: for he [who] is now called a Prophet, was [before this time] called a Seer.)]

[Hanani] said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the ungodly & love [those who] hate the Lord? Therefore, the [Lord’s anger] is upon you. [Still] there are good [qualities] found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land.

[2 Chronicles 17:5-6 Therefore, the Lord [established] the kingdom in [Jehoshaphat’s] hand. And all [of] Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents & he had [an] abundance [of] riches & honor. And his heart was [uplifted] in the ways of the Lord. [Additionally, Jehoshaphat] took away the high places & the groves out of Judah.]

And [you] prepared your heart to seek God. And Jehoshaphat [lived] in Jerusalem & he went [throughout] the people from BeerSheba to Mount Ephraim & brought them back to the Lord God of their [forefathers.]

And [Jehoshaphat put] judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city. And [Jehoshaphat] said to the judges, [Be careful] what you do. For you [don’t] judge for man, but for the Lord, Who is with you in judgment. [For this reason,] let the fear [respect] of the Lord now be upon you.

[Pay attention] & do it. For the Lord our God [doesn’t sin,] nor respect [people’s status,] nor taking [bribes.] [Also,] when they returned to Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat [appointed] the Levites, priests & the [leaders of the forefathers’ families] of Israel, [as judges for] the Lord & for controversies.

And [Jehoshaphat] charged them [with this responsibility:] You shall do [this] in the fear [respect] of the Lord, faithfully & with a perfect heart.

And you shall warn even [those of whatever type of case] shall come to you [from] your brethren, [who live] in their cities, between blood [relatives,] between Law & [commandments, mandates] & judgments, that they [shouldn’t sin] against the Lord, so [no anger comes] upon you & upon your brethren.

Do this & you shall not [sin.] [Look,] Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all matters of the Lord. And Zebadiah, [Ishmael’s] son, [is] the ruler of the [family] of Judah, for all the king’s matters. Also, the Levites shall be officers before you. [Behave] courageously & the Lord shall be with the good.

2 Chronicles 18:1-34 King Ahab Asks if He Should Go to Battle

 

King Ahab Asks Micaiah if He Should Go to Battle

2 Chronicles 18:1-34                       2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Jehoshaphat now had [an] abundance of riches & honor & [had made an alliance] with Ahab. And after [some years, Jehoshaphat] went down to Ahab [in] Samaria. And Ahab killed [an] abundance of sheep & oxen for [Jehoshaphat] & the people he had with him.

And [Ahab] persuaded [Jehoshaphat] to go with him up to Ramoth Gilead. And Ahab, [Israel’s] king, said to Jehoshaphat, [Judah’s] king, Will you go to Ramoth Gilead with me?

And [Jehoshaphat] answered, I am as you are & my people [are like] your people & we will be with you in the war. And Jehoshaphat said to [Israel’s] king, I pray [that] you [inquire for] the Word of the Lord today.

[Therefore,] king [Ahab] of Israel, gathered 400 prophets together & said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle or shall I [hold back from doing so?] And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.

But Jehoshaphat [asked,] Isn’t there [still] a prophet of the Lord besides [them, so] that we might [inquire] of him? And [Ahab, Israel’s] king said, There is [still] one man, by whom we may [inquire] of the Lord, but I hate him. For he never [prophesies] good to me, but always [bad.] [It’s] Micaiah, [Imla’s] son.

And Jehoshaphat said, [Don’t] let the king say so. And [Ahab, Israel’s] king, called for one of his officers & said, Quickly [get & bring] Micaiah, Imla’s] son.

And [Ahab, Israel’s] king & Jehoshaphat, [Judah’s] king, [each] sat on [their own] throne, clothed in their robes. And they sat in [an empty] place at the [entrance] gate of Samaria & all the prophets prophesied [in front of] them.

And Zedekiah, [Chenaanah’s] son, had made him horns of iron & said, The Lord says [this,] With these [horns] you shall push Syria until the [are destroyed.] And all the [other] prophets prophesied saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead & prosper. For the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

And the messenger [who] went to Micaiah [said] to [Micaiah,] The words of the prophets [are united in declaring] good to the king. Therefore, let your word be like theirs & [say] good.

And Micaiah said, as the Lord lives, I will [only say] what my God [says.] And when [Micaiah came] to the king, [Ahab] said, Michaiah, shall we go to battle [in] Ramoth Gilead or shall we [refrain?]

And [Micaiah] said, You go up & prosper & they shall be delivered into your hand. And king [Ahab] said to [Micaiah,] How many times shall I [make you swear] that you say nothing, but the truth to me in the Name of the Lord?

Then, [Micaiah] said, I did see all [of] Israel scattered on the mountains [like] sheep that haven’t [any] shepherd. And the Lord said, These have no master, therefore let every man return to his house in peace. And king [Ahab] of Israel, said to Jehoshaphat, [Didn’t] I tell you he wouldn’t prophesy good to me, [only bad?]

Again, [Micaiah] said, Therefore, hear the Word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne & all the host of heaven standing on His right hand [side] & on His left. And the Lord said, Who shall [convince] Ahab, [Israel’s] king, [so] that he may go up & fall at Ramoth Gilead?

[The host of heaven said one thing and another.] Then, a spirit came out & stood [in front of] the Lord & said, I will [convince] him. The Lord [asked, How?] And [the spirit] said, I will go out & be a lying spirit in the [mouths] of all [Ahab’s] prophets. And the Lord said, [You shall convince] him & you shall prevail. Go out & do so.

Therefore, now [see,] the Lord has put a lying spirit in your [prophet’s mouths] & the Lord has [declared disaster] against you. Then Zedekiah, [Chenaanah’s] son, came [close & hit] Micaiah on [his] cheek & said, Which way [did] the Spirit of the Lord [go] from me to speak to you?

And Micaiah said, [Watch,] you shall see on the day, when you shall go & hide [yourself] in an inner [room.] Then, King [Ahab] of Israel said, Take Micaiah & carry him back to Ammon, the [city’s] governor & to Joash, the king’s son.

Say, The king said [this,] Put this [man] in the prison & feed him with the bread & water of affliction, until I return in peace. And Micaiah said, If you return in peace, then the Lord hasn’t spoken by me. And [Micaiah] said, [Pay attention,] all you people.

So, [Ahab, Israel’s] king & Jehoshaphat, [Judah’s] king, went up to Ramoth Gilead. And [Ahab, Israel’s] king said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself & will go to battle, but you put on your [royal robe.]

So, [Ahab, Israel’s] king disguised himself & they went to the battle. Now, [Syria’s] king had commanded the chariot captains with him, saying, [Don’t] fight with [the] small or [the important, but] only [Ahab, Israel’s] king.

And it [happened,] when the chariot captains saw Jehoshaphat, they said, It’s the king of Israel. Therefore, they [surrounded] him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out & the Lord helped him & God moved [the soldiers to leave] from [Jehoshaphat.]

For it [happened,] when the chariot captains [realized] it wasn’t [Israel’s] king, they [stopped] pursuing him. And a certain man drew a bow [on a hunch & struck Israel’s] king between the joints of [his armor’s] harness.

Therefore, [Ahab] said to his chariot man, [Return] your hand, so you may carry me out of the [army;] for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day. [However, Israel’s] king [propped] himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the [evening:] & about the time of the [sunset, Ahab] died.

2 Chronicles 17:1-19 During Jehoshaphat’s Rule

 

During Jehoshaphat’s Rule

2 Chronicles 17:1-19                    2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

[Asa’s] son, Jehoshaphat [ruled] in his [place] & strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed [troops] in all the fenced cities of Judah & put [military posts] in the land of Judah & the cities of Ephraim, which his father, Asa, had [captured.]

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he first walked in the [earlier paths] of David, [his forefather] & [didn’t turn to] Baalim. [Jehoshaphat] sought the Lord God of his father & [followed] in His commandments & [didn’t follow the actions] of Israel.

[1 Kings 12:28-29 [Upon this] the king took counsel & made 2 calves of gold & said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem [to sacrifice.] [See,] your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the Land of Egypt. And he [put] the one in BethEl & he put the other in Dan.]

Therefore, the Lord [established] the kingdom in [Jehoshaphat's] hand. And all [of] Judah brought Jehoshaphat presents & he had [an] abundance of riches & honor. An [Jehoshaphat’s] heart was [uplifted] in the ways of the Lord. [Also,] he took away the high places & groves out of Judah.

[Deuteronomy 12:2-3 You shall [totally] destroy all the places, [in which] these nations, [that] you shall possess, served their gods, upon the high mountings & upon the hills & under every green tree. And you shall overthrow their altars & break [down] their pillars & burn their groves with fire. And you shall [cut] down the [carved] images of their gods & destroy the names of them out of that place.]

In the 3rd year [Jehoshaphat ruled,] he sent to his princes & even: BenHail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethaneel & Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.         [2 Chronicles 15:3 Now for a long [time,] Israel had been without the true God & without a teaching priest & without the Law.]

He sent Levites with them, even: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah & Tob Adonijah, Levites. And with them priests: Elishama & Jehoram.

And they taught in Judah & had the book of the [Lord’s] Law with them. [They] went throughout all the cities of Judah & taught the people. And the fear [respect] of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the land [around] Judah, so they [didn’t] make [any] war [against] Jehoshaphat.

Also, some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents & silver as tribute. And the Arabians brought him flocks [with] 7,700 rams & 7,700 [male] goats. And Jehoshaphat [grew] exceedingly great & he built in Judah: castles & [storage] cities & he had [many] businesses in [Judah’s] cities.

And the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. These are the numbers of [those] according to the [families] of their [forefathers.] [From] Judah, the captains of 1,000’s: Adnah [was] the leader & 300,000 mighty men of valor with him.

Next to him was Jehohanan, the [leader] & 280,000 with him. And next to him was Amasiah, [Zichri’s] son, who willingly offered himself to the Lord & with him [were] 200,000 mighty men of valor.

And of Benjamin; Eliada, a mighty man of valor & 200,000 men armed with bow & shield with him.

And next to him was Jehozabad & 180,000 ready [men,] prepared for war with him. These waited on the king, [in addition to] those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout Judah.