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

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

God is in its fortresses; he reveals himself as its defender. ¹ 

Consider its defenses! ¹  Walk through ²  its fortresses, so you can tell the next generation about it! ³ 

May there be peace inside your defenses, and prosperity ¹  inside your fortresses! ² 

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 

I will destroy the cities of your land, and tear down all your fortresses.

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

Wild dogs will yip in her ruined fortresses, jackals will yelp in the once-splendid palaces. ¹  Her time is almost up, ²  her days will not be prolonged. ³ 

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

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 

Her towns ¹  will be captured. Her fortresses will be taken. At that time the soldiers of Moab will be frightened like a woman in labor. 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.

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.

A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses.

“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.”