1. Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place and took firm hold of his position against Israel.
2. He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3. Adonai was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baalim
4. but sought the God of his father, and walked in His mitzvot rather than the deeds of Israel.
5. So Adonai established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat so that he had great riches and honor.
6. His heart was devoted to the ways of Adonai. Furthermore he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
7. Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials—Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah—to teach in the towns of Judah.
8. With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-adonijah and with them Elishama and Jehoram the kohanim.
9. They taught throughout Judah, having with them a Torah scroll of Adonai. They went throughout all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10. Now the fear of Adonai fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.