1And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. 3And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;17.3 of…: or, of his father, and of David 4But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.17.5 brought: Heb. gave 6And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.17.6 was…: that is, was encouraged
7¶ Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. 8And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. 9And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
10¶ And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.17.10 fell: Heb. was 11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
12¶ And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.17.12 castles: or, palaces 13And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem. 14And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand. 15And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.17.15 next…: Heb. at his hand 16And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour. 17And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. 18And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war. 19These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
O Reinado de Josafá, Rei de Judá
1Josafá, filho de Asa, foi o seu sucessor e fortaleceu-se contra Israel. 2Posicionou tropas em todas as cidades fortificadas de Judá e pôs guarnições em Judá e nas cidades de Efraim que seu pai, Asa, tinha conquistado.
3O Senhor esteve com Josafá porque, em seus primeiros anos, ele andou nos caminhos que seu predecessor Davi tinha seguido. Não consultou os baalins, 4mas buscou o Deus de seu pai e obedeceu aos seus mandamentos, e não imitou as práticas de Israel. 5O Senhor firmou o reino de Josafá, e todo o Judá lhe trazia presentes, de maneira que teve grande riqueza e honra. 6Ele seguiu corajosamente os caminhos do Senhor; além disso, retirou de Judá os altares idólatras e os postes sagrados.
7No terceiro ano de seu reinado, ele enviou seus oficiais Bene-Hail, Obadias, Zacarias, Natanael e Micaías para ensinarem nas cidades de Judá. 8Com eles foram os levitas Semaías, Netanias, Zebadias, Asael, Semiramote, Jônatas, Adonias, Tobias, Tobe-Adonias e os sacerdotes Elisama e Jeorão. 9Eles percorreram todas as cidades do reino de Judá, levando consigo o Livro da Lei do Senhor e ensinando o povo.
10O temor do Senhor caiu sobre todos os reinos ao redor de Judá, de forma que não entraram em guerra contra Josafá. 11Alguns filisteus levaram presentes a Josafá, além da prata que lhe deram como tributo, e os árabes levaram-lhe rebanhos: sete mil e setecentos carneiros e sete mil e setecentos bodes.
12Josafá tornou-se cada vez mais poderoso; construiu fortalezas e cidades-armazéns em Judá, 13onde guardava enorme quantidade de suprimentos. Também mantinha em Jerusalém homens de combate experientes. 14A lista desses homens, por famílias, era a seguinte:
De Judá, líderes de batalhões de 1.000:
o líder Adna, com 300.000 homens de combate;
15em seguida, o líder Joanã, com 280.000;
16depois, Amasias, filho de Zicri, que se apresentou voluntariamente para o serviço do Senhor, com 200.000.
17De Benjamim:
Eliada, um guerreiro valente, com 200.000 homens armados com arcos e escudos;
18Jeozabade, com 180.000 homens armados para a batalha.
19Esses eram os homens que serviam ao rei, além dos que estavam posicionados nas cidades fortificadas em todo o Judá.
