Jehoshaphat’s power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.

Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns; thickets and weeds will grow ¹  in her fortified cities. Jackals will settle there; ostriches will live there. ² 

He will then turn his attention to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall, not to be found again.

He will attack ¹  mighty fortresses, aided by ²  a foreign deity. To those who recognize him he will grant considerable honor. He will place them in authority over many people, and he will parcel out land for a price. ³ 

What he will honor is a god of fortresses – a god his fathers did not acknowledge he will honor with gold, silver, valuable stones, and treasured commodities.

The roar of battle will rise against your people; all your fortresses will be devastated, just as Shalman devastated ¹  Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.

He built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

So I will set Gaza’s city wall ¹  on fire; fire ²  will consume her fortresses.

So I will set fire to Tyre’s city wall; ¹  fire ²  will consume her fortresses.”

So I will set Teman ¹  on fire; fire ²  will consume Bozrah’s ³  fortresses.”

So I will set Judah on fire, and it will consume Jerusalem’s fortresses.” ¹ 

All your fortifications will be like fig trees ¹  with first-ripe fruit: ²  If they are shaken, ³  their figs ⁴  will fall ⁵  into the mouth of the eater! ⁶ 

He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine.

So I will set Hazael’s house ¹  on fire; fire ²  will consume Ben Hadad’s ³  fortresses.

The Lord stretched out his hand over the sea, ¹  he shook kingdoms; he ²  gave the order to destroy Canaan’s fortresses. ³ 

Foreigners lose their courage; ¹  they shake with fear ²  as they leave ³  their strongholds. ⁴ 

foreigners lose their courage; ¹  they shake with fear ²  as they leave ³  their strongholds. ⁴ 

This is the person who will live in a secure place; ¹  he will find safety in the rocky, mountain strongholds; ²  he will have food and a constant supply of water.

“They do not know how to do what is right.” (The Lord is speaking.) “They store up ¹  the spoils of destructive violence ²  in their fortresses.

Therefore,” says the sovereign Lord, “an enemy will encircle the land. ¹  He will take away your power; ²  your fortresses will be looted.”