1 Josafá, filho de Asa, foi o seu sucessor e fortaleceu-se contra Israel.
2 Posicionou tropas em todas as cidades fortificadas de Judá e pôs guarnições em Judá e nas cidades de Efraim que seu pai, Asa, tinha conquistado.
3 O Senhor esteve com Josafá porque, em seus primeiros anos, ele andou nos caminhos que seu pai Davi tinha seguido. Não consultou os baalins,
4 mas buscou o Deus de seu pai e obedeceu aos seus mandamentos, e não imitou as práticas de Israel.
5 O Senhor firmou o reino de Josafá, e todo o Judá lhe trazia presentes, de maneira que teve grande riqueza e honra.
6 Ele seguiu corajosamente os caminhos do Senhor; além disso, retirou de Judá os altares idólatras e os postes sagrados.
7 No terceiro ano de seu reinado, ele enviou seus oficiais Bene-Hail, Obadias, Zacarias, Natanael e Micaías para ensinarem nas cidades de Judá.
8 Com eles foram os levitas Semaías, Netanias, Zebadias, Asael, Semiramote, Jônatas, Adonias, Tobias, Tobe-Adonias e os sacerdotes Elisama e Jeorão.
9 Eles percorreram todas as cidades do reino de Judá, levando consigo o Livro da Lei do Senhor e ensinando o povo.
10 O temor do Senhor caiu sobre todos os reinos ao redor de Judá, de forma que não entraram em guerra contra Josafá.
11 Alguns 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.
12 Josafá foi se tornando cada vez mais poderoso; construiu fortalezas e cidades-armazéns em Judá,
13 onde guardava enorme quantidade de suprimentos. Também mantinha em Jerusalém homens de combate experientes.
14 A 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;
15 em seguida, o líder Joanã, com 280. 000;
16 depois, Amasias, filho de Zicri, que se apresentou voluntariamente para o serviço do Senhor, com 200. 000.
17 De Benjamim: Eliada, um guerreiro valente, com 200. 000 homens armados com arcos e escudos;
18 Jeozabade, com 180. 000 homens armados para a batalha.
19 Esses eram os homens que serviam o rei, além dos que estavam posicionados nas cidades fortificadas em todo o Judá.
1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 And 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. 3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; 4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
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. 8 And 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. 9 And 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. 11 Also 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. 13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem. 14 And 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. 15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand. 16 And 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. 17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. 18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war. 19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.