1 His son Yehoshafat succeeded him as king, and took firm hold of Yisrael.
א וַיִּמְלֹךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָט בְּנוֹ תַּחְתָּיו וַיִּתְחַזֵּק עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
3 Hashem was with Yehoshafat because he followed the earlier ways of his father David, and did not worship the Baalim,
ג וַיְהִי יְהֹוָה עִם־יְהוֹשָׁפָט כִּי הָלַךְ בְּדַרְכֵי דָּוִיד אָבִיו הָרִאשֹׁנִים וְלֹא דָרַשׁ לַבְּעָלִים׃
4 but worshiped the God of his father and followed His commandments—unlike the behavior of Yisrael.
ד כִּי לֵאלֹהֵי אָבִיו דָּרָשׁ וּבְמִצְוׂתָיו הָלָךְ וְלֹא כְּמַעֲשֵׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
5 So Hashem established the kingdom in his hands, and all Yehuda gave presents to Yehoshafat. He had wealth and glory in abundance.
ה וַיָּכֶן יְהֹוָה אֶת־הַמַּמְלָכָה בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ כָל־יְהוּדָה מִנְחָה לִיהוֹשָׁפָט וַיְהִי־לוֹ עֹשֶׁר־וְכָבוֹד לָרֹב׃
6 His mind was elevated in the ways of Hashem. Moreover, he abolished the shrines and the sacred posts from Yehuda.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officers Ben-hail, Ovadya, Zecharya, Nethanel, and Michaihu throughout the cities of Yehuda to offer instruction.
10 A terror of Hashem seized all the kingdoms of the lands around Yehuda, and they did not go to war with Yehoshafat.
vai-HEE PA-khad a-do-NAI AL kol mam-l’-KHOT ha-a-ra-TZOT a-SHER s’-vee-VOT y’-hu-DAH v’-LO nil-kha-MU im y’-ho-sha-FAT
י וַיְהִי פַּחַד יְהֹוָה עַל כָּל־מַמְלְכוֹת הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבוֹת יְהוּדָה וְלֹא נִלְחֲמוּ עִם־יְהוֹשָׁפָט׃
11 From Philistia a load of silver was brought to Yehoshafat as tribute. The Arabs, too, brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 he-goats.
יא וּמִן־פְּלִשְׁתִּים מְבִיאִים לִיהוֹשָׁפָט מִנְחָה וְכֶסֶף מַשָּׂא גַּם הָעַרְבִיאִים מְבִיאִים לוֹ צֹאן אֵילִים שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת וּתְיָשִׁים שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת׃
12 Yehoshafat grew greater and greater, and he built up fortresses and garrison towns in Yehuda.
יב וַיְהִי יְהוֹשָׁפָט הֹלֵךְ וְגָדֵל עַד־לְמָעְלָה וַיִּבֶן בִּיהוּדָה בִּירָנִיּוֹת וְעָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֹת׃
13 He carried out extensive works in the towns of Yehuda, and had soldiers, valiant men, in Yerushalayim.
14 They were enrolled according to their clans. Yehuda: chiefs of thousands, Adnah the chief, who had 300,000 valiant men;
יד וְאֵלֶּה פְקֻדָּתָם לְבֵית אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם לִיהוּדָה שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים עַדְנָה הַשָּׂר וְעִמּוֹ גִּבּוֹרֵי חַיִל שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת אָלֶף׃
15 next to him was Yehochanan the captain, who had 280,000;
טו וְעַל־יָדוֹ יְהוֹחָנָן הַשָּׂר וְעִמּוֹ מָאתַיִם וּשְׁמוֹנִים אָלֶף׃
16 next to him was Amasiah son of Zichri, who made a freewill offering to Hashem. He had 200,000 valiant men.
טז וְעַל־יָדוֹ עֲמַסְיָה בֶן־זִכְרִי הַמִּתְנַדֵּב לַיהֹוָה וְעִמּוֹ מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף גִּבּוֹר חָיִל׃
17 Binyamin: Eliada, a valiant man, who had 200,000 men armed with bow and buckler;
יז וּמִן־בִּנְיָמִן גִּבּוֹר חַיִל אֶלְיָדָע וְעִמּוֹ נֹשְׁקֵי־קֶשֶׁת וּמָגֵן מָאתַיִם אָלֶף׃
18 next to him was Jehozabad, who had 180,000 armed men.
יח וְעַל־יָדוֹ יְהוֹזָבָד וְעִמּוֹ מֵאָה־וּשְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף חֲלוּצֵי צָבָא׃
17:10 A terror of Hashem seized all the kingdoms
Yehoshafat is one of the greatest kings of the kingdom of Yehuda. He continues to remove idol worship from the kingdom and ensures that the people engage in Torah study. In response, the nations who surround Yehuda fear the God of Israel and do not wage war on His people. Furthermore, the Philistines even send gifts to Yehoshafat. This demonstrates that the combination of the People of Israel studying the Torah in the Land of Israel brings respect from their adversaries, and brings faith and peace to the world.4 comments