1 And Jehoshaphat H3092 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead, and strengthened H2388 himself against Israel. H3478
2 And he placed H5414 forces H2428 in all the fenced H1219 cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and set H5414 garrisons H5333 in the land H776 of Judah, H3063 and in the cities H5892 of Ephraim, H669 which Asa H609 his father H1 had taken. H3920
3 And the LORD H3068 was with Jehoshaphat, H3092 because he walked H1980 in the first H7223 ways H1870 of his father H1 David, H1732 and sought H1875 not unto Baalim; H1168
4 But sought H1875 to the LORD God H430 of his father, H1 and walked H1980 in his commandments, H4687 and not after the doings H4639 of Israel. H3478
5 Therefore the LORD H3068 stablished H3559 the kingdom H4467 in his hand; H3027 and all Judah H3063 brought H5414 to Jehoshaphat H3092 presents; H4503 and he had riches H6239 and honour H3519 in abundance. H7230
6 And his heart H3820 was lifted up H1361 in the ways H1870 of the LORD: H3068 moreover he took away H5493 the high places H1116 and groves H842 out of Judah. H3063
7 Also in the third H7969 year H8141 of his reign H4427 he sent H7971 to his princes, H8269 even to Benhail, H1134 and to Obadiah, H5662 and to Zechariah, H2148 and to Nethaneel, H5417 and to Michaiah, H4322 to teach H3925 in the cities H5892 of Judah. H3063
8 And with them he sent Levites, H3881 even Shemaiah, H8098 and Nethaniah, H5418 and Zebadiah, H2069 and Asahel, H6214 and Shemiramoth, H8070 and Jehonathan, H3083 and Adonijah, H138 and Tobijah, H2900 and Tobadonijah, H2899 Levites; H3881 and with them Elishama H476 and Jehoram, H3088 priests. H3548
9 And they taught H3925 in Judah, H3063 and had the book H5612 of the law H8451 of the LORD H3068 with them, and went about H5437 throughout all the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and taught H3925 the people. H5971
10 And the fear H6343 of the LORD H3068 fell upon all the kingdoms H4467 of the lands H776 that were round about H5439 Judah, H3063 so that they made no war H3898 against Jehoshaphat. H3092
11 Also some of the Philistines H6430 brought H935 Jehoshaphat H3092 presents, H4503 and tribute H4853 silver; H3701 and the Arabians H6163 brought H935 him flocks, H6629 seven H7651 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred H3967 rams, H352 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred H3967 he goats. H8495
12 And Jehoshaphat H3092 waxed H1980 great H1432 exceedingly; H4605 and he built H1129 in Judah H3063 castles, H1003 and cities H5892 of store. H4543
13 And he had much H7227 business H4399 in the cities H5892 of Judah: H3063 and the men H582 of war, H4421 mighty men H1368 of valour, H2428 were in Jerusalem. H3389
14 And these are the numbers H6486 of them according to the house H1004 of their fathers: H1 Of Judah, H3063 the captains H8269 of thousands; H505 Adnah H5734 the chief, H8269 and with him mighty men H1368 of valour H2428 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand. H505
15 And next H3027 to him was Jehohanan H3076 the captain, H8269 and with him two hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand. H505
16 And next H3027 him was Amasiah H6007 the son H1121 of Zichri, H2147 who willingly offered H5068 himself unto the LORD; H3068 and with him two hundred H3967 thousand H505 mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428
17 And of Benjamin; H1144 Eliada H450 a mighty man H1368 of valour, H2428 and with him armed men H5401 with bow H7198 and shield H4043 two hundred H3967 thousand. H505
18 And next H3027 him was Jehozabad, H3075 and with him an hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 ready prepared H2502 for the war. H6635
19 These waited H8334 on the king, H4428 beside those whom the king H4428 put H5414 in the fenced H4013 cities H5892 throughout all Judah. H3063
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 17
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
2Ch 17:1-6. Jehoshaphat Reigns Well and Prospers.
1. Jehoshaphat … strengthened himself against Israel—The temper and proceedings of the kings of Israel rendered it necessary for him to prepare vigorous measures of defense on the northern frontier of his kingdom. These consisted in filling all the fortresses with their full complement of troops and establishing military stations in various parts of the country, as well as in the cities of Mount Ephraim, which belonged to Jehoshaphat (2Ch 15:8).
3-5. he walked in the first ways of his father David—He imitated the piety of his great ancestor in the early part of his reign before he made those unhappy lapses which dishonored his character.
and sought not unto Baalim—a term used for idols generally in contradistinction to the Lord God of his father.
4. and not after the doings of Israel—He observed with scrupulous fidelity, and employed his royal influence to support the divine institutions as enacted by Moses, abhorring that spurious and unlawful calf-worship that now formed the established religion in Israel. Being thus far removed, alike from gross idolatry and Israelitish apostasy, and adhering zealously to the requirements of the divine law, the blessing of God rested on his government. Ruling in the fear of God, and for the good of his subjects, "the Lord established the kingdom in his hand."
5. all Judah brought … presents—This was customary with the people generally at the beginning of a reign (1Sa 10:27), and with the nobles and high functionaries yearly afterwards. They were given in the form of voluntary offerings, to avoid the odious idea of a tax or tribute.
6. his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord—Full of faith and piety, he possessed zeal and courage to undertake the reformation of manners, to suppress all the works and objects of idolatry (see on 2Ch 20:33), and he held out public encouragement to the pure worship of God.
2Ch 17:7-11. He Sends Levites to Teach in Judah.
7-11. Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, … to teach in the cities of Judah—The ordinary work of teaching devolved on the priests. But extraordinary commissioners were appointed, probably to ascertain whether the work had been done or neglected. This deputation of five princes, assisted by two priests and nine Levites, was to make a circuit of the towns in Judah. It is the first practical measure we read of as being adopted by any of the kings for the religious instruction of the people. Time and unbroken opportunities were afforded for carrying out fully this excellent plan of home education, for the kingdom enjoyed internal tranquillity as well as freedom for foreign wars. It is conformable to the pious style of the sacred historian to trace this profound peace to the "fear of the Lord having fallen on all kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah."
9. the book of the law—that is, either the whole Pentateuch or only the book of Deuteronomy, which contains an abridgment of it.
11. Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver—either they had been his tributaries, or they were desirous of securing his valuable friendship, and now made a voluntary offer of tribute. Perhaps they were the Philistines who had submitted to the yoke of David (2Sa 8:1; Ps 60:8).
the Arabians—the nomad tribes on the south of the Dead Sea, who, seeking the protection of Jehoshaphat after his conquest of Edom, paid their tribute in the way most suitable to their pastoral habits—the present of so many head of cattle.
2Ch 17:12-19. His Greatness, Captains, and Armies.
14. these are the numbers—The warriors were arranged in the army according to their fathers houses. The army of Jehoshaphat, commanded by five great generals and consisting of five unequal divisions, comprised one million one hundred and sixty thousand men, without including those who garrisoned the fortresses. No monarch, since the time of Solomon, equalled Jehoshaphat in the extent of his revenue, in the strength of his fortifications, and in the number of his troops.