The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Second Book of Paralipomena
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Chapter 17
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1
The throne passed to his son Josaphat, who made his territories secure against threat from Israel;
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all the fortified cities of Juda he garrisoned, and kept troops on guard throughout Juda, and in the cities his father Asa had taken from Ephraim.
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Josaphat reigned, and the Lord was with him, because the first years of his father (David)✻ were the example he followed; he put his trust, not in gods of the country-side,
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but in his own father’s God; kept close to the divine commandments, far from the sins of Israel.
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So the Lord gave him a firm hold on the reins of government; from all parts of Juda gifts came to Josaphat, till riches and renown were his in abundance.
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Boldly he upheld the Lord’s commandments, sweeping away hill-shrine and forest sanctuary from Juda.✻
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In the third year of his reign, he would have some of his chief officers go out and give instruction in the townships of Juda, Benhail, Obdias, Zacharias, Nathanael, and Michaeas,
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and with them certain Levites, Semeias, Nathanias, Zabadias, Asael, Semiramoth, Jonathan, Adonias, Tobias and Tob-Adonias, and two priests, Elisama and Joram.
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They took a copy of the Lord’s law with them, the better to instruct the men of Juda, and went round all its cities, teaching the common folk.
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Never a king in all the countries about Juda durst levy war against Josaphat, such terror the Lord had struck into their hearts;
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the very Philistines brought him gifts, and paid a tribute of silver, and the Arabs must bring in their herds, seven thousand seven hundred rams and as many goats.
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Josaphat, then, grew to great magnificence, filling Juda with fortresses and walled towns;
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and all through the cities of Juda he had store in abundance. At Jerusalem, he was surrounded by brave warriors,
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clans thus enrolled: from Juda, three hundred thousand fighting men under the command of Ednas, one of his chieftains;
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two hundred and eighty thousand under Johanan,
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and two hundred thousand under Amasias son of Zechri, that was set apart for the Lord’s service.
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And (from Benjamin)✻ two hundred thousand with bow and spear under brave Eliada,
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and a hundred and eighty thousand, well equipped for battle, under Jozabad.
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All these were close to the king’s side, not counting those he had marshalled in the walled cities from end to end of Juda.
