17:3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor 1 David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. 2 He did not seek the Baals, 17:4 but instead sought the God of his ancestors 3 and obeyed 4 his commands, unlike the Israelites. 5 17:5 The Lord made his kingdom secure; 6 all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. 7 17:6 He was committed to following the Lord; 8 he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
17:7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. 17:8 They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 17:9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the Lord. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
1 tn Heb “father.”
2 tn Heb “for he walked in the ways of David his father [in] the beginning [times].”
3 tn Heb “fathers.”
4 tn Heb “walked in.”
5 tn Heb “and not like the behavior of Israel.”
6 tn Heb “established the kingdom in his hand.”
7 tn Heb “and he had wealth and honor in abundance.”
8 tn Heb “and his heart was high in the ways of the