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2 Chronicles Chapter Seventeen

 

2 Chronicles 17 Outline of Contents

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah (v.1~19)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 17

This chapter relates the accession of Jehoshaphat to the throne his settlement on it his piety and reformation in religion 2 Chronicles 17:1 his care to instruct the people in the law of God 2 Chronicles 17:7 the respect shown him by neighbouring nations 2 Chronicles 17:10 the fortified places of his kingdom his numerous forces and mighty men at the head of them 2 Chronicles 17:12.

 

2 Chronicles 17:1  Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.

   YLT  1And Jehoshaphat his son reigneth in his stead and he strengtheneth himself against Israel

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead .... In the stead of Asa his father:

and strengthened himself against Israel; the ten tribes by fortifying his cities building castles raising and keeping a large standing army as the latter part of this chapter shows and the next verse.

 

2 Chronicles 17:2  2 And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken.

   YLT  2and putteth a force in all the fenced cities of Judah and putteth garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured.

And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah .... A considerable number of soldiers to defend them should they be attacked:

and set garrisons in the land of Judah: on the frontiers and borders of it to protect it:

and in the cities of Ephraim; soldiers to keep garrison there:

which Asa his father had taken; see 2 Chronicles 15:8.

 

2 Chronicles 17:3  3 Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals

   YLT  3And Jehovah is with Jehoshaphat for he hath walked in the first ways of David his father and hath not sought to Baalim

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat .... Guiding and directing prospering and succeeding him in all things; he had no doubt his gracious presence in spiritual things as well as his powerful and directing presence in things civil; the Targum is "the Word of the Lord was for his help;"

because he walked in the first ways of his father David; which were his best; some of his last ways not being good as in the affair of Uriah and Bathsheba and his numbering of the people; Jehoshaphat followed him in the one but not in the other: or "in the ways of David and his father the first"; the first of them both; for the latter ways of his father Asa were not so good as his first as the preceding chapter shows; and the Septuagint version leaves out the word "David" and so restrains it to his own father:

and sought not unto Baalim; as did Ahab king of Israel who now reigned there; 1 Kings 15:24.

 

2 Chronicles 17:4  4 but sought the God[a] of his father and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel.

   YLT  4for to the God of his father he hath sought and in His commands he hath walked and not according to the work of Israel.

But sought to the Lord God of his fathers .... Prayed to him worshipped and served him:

and walked in his commandments; observed and kept them moral ceremonial and judicial:

and not after the doings of Israel: who worshipped the golden calves at Dan and Bethel.

 

2 Chronicles 17:5  5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat and he had riches and honor in abundance.

   YLT  5And Jehovah doth establish the kingdom in his hand and all Judah give a present to Jehoshaphat and he hath riches and honour in abundance

Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand .... Piety is the best prop of government; the throne is best supported and established by truth righteousness and mercy; by the exercise of these Jehoshaphat was settled in his kingdom and had a place in the hearts of his people:

and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; being well affected to him as well as it was usual so to do at a prince's accession to the throne see 1 Samuel 10:27.

and he had riches and honour in abundance; through the presents his subjects brought him and the respect they showed him.

 

2 Chronicles 17:6  6 And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah.

   YLT  6and his heart is high in the ways of Jehovah and again he hath turned aside the high places and the shrines out of Judah.

And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord .... It was engaged in them was bent and set upon them; he walked in them with great pleasure and cheerfulness being inspired with zeal and courage; he was fearless and intrepid and regarded not any opposition he might have or expect to have in the work of reformation in which he was concerned:

moreover he took away the high places; such as were dedicated to idols but not those in which the true God was worshipped 2 Chronicles 20:33

and groves out of Judah; where idols were placed; for though these had been removed by Asa yet had been renewed in the latter part of his days when more negligent of religion.

 

2 Chronicles 17:7  7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders Ben-Hail Obadiah Zechariah Nethanel and Michaiah to teach in the cities of Judah.

   YLT  7And in the third year of his reign he hath sent for his heads for Ben-Hail and for Obadiah and for Zechariah and for Nethaneel and for Michaiah to teach in cities of Judah

Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes .... That dwelt in the several parts of the kingdom; or he sent them being with him some of the principal men of his court; for ל may be a sign of the accusative case as it sometimes is:

even to Benhail and to Obadiah and to Zechariah and to Nethaneel and to Michaiah to teach in the cities of Judah; to see that they were taught and oblige them to attend to the instructions that should be given them and not mutiny and rebel against their teachers; and to let them know what was the king's pleasure on this head and to back with their authority the priests and Levites whose proper work it was to instruct and who therefore were sent with them as follows.

 

2 Chronicles 17:8  8 And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah Nethaniah Zebadiah Asahel Shemiramoth Jehonathan Adonijah Tobijah and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram the priests.

   YLT  8and with them the Levites Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan and Adonijah and Tobijath and Tob-Adonijah the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram the priests.

And with them he sent Levites .... With the five princes he sent nine Levites:

even Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tobadonijah Levites; of whom we nowhere else read; no doubt they were principal persons and fit for the work they were sent about:

and with them Elishama and Jehoram priests; whose lips were to keep knowledge and at whose mouth the law was to be sought Malachi 2:7.

 

2 Chronicles 17:9  9 So they taught in Judah and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

   YLT  9And they teach in Judah and with them [is] the Book of the Law of Jehovah and they go round about into all cities of Judah and teach among the people.

And they taught in Judah .... The people their duty to God and man:

and had the book of the law of the Lord with them; as the rule of their instruction and the people's obedience; out of this they taught them and by it confirmed what they taught and enforced it with the divine authority:

and went about throughout all the cities of Judah; not only their own cities the Levitical ones but all others:

and taught the people; the law of the Lord the fear and worship of God.

 

2 Chronicles 17:10  10 And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

   YLT  10And here is a fear of Jehovah on all kingdoms of the lands that [are] round about Judah and they have not fought with Jehoshaphat;

And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah .... Upon the ten tribes and on foreign nations about them as Moabites Edomites Syrians Egyptians Arabs and Philistines; this fear as it came from the Lord so might be raised and increased by observing that religion was revived in them; for they might perceive by former observations made that the more religious these people were the more prosperous and formidable they were:

so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat; to interrupt him in the work of reformation he was so intent upon.

 

2 Chronicles 17:11  11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

   YLT  11and of the Philistines they are bringing in to Jehoshaphat a present and tribute silver; also the Arabians are bringing to him a flock rams seven thousand an seven hundred and he-goats seven thousand and seven hundred.

Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and tribute silver .... Perhaps those of Gerar and the parts adjacent Asa took and spoiled and made tributary 2 Chronicles 14:14

and the Arabians brought him flocks seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats; with which their country abounded; and these might be the Scenite Arabs who fearing lest Jehoshaphat should fall upon them and take away their flocks as his father had done 2 Chronicles 14:15 brought these presents to him.

 

2 Chronicles 17:12  12 So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.

   YLT  12And Jehoshaphat is going on and becoming very great and he buildeth in Judah palaces and cities of store

And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly .... In wealth and riches power and authority in his forces and fortifications:

and he built in Judah castles and cities of stores; castles for the defence of his kingdom and store cities to lay up corn and wine and all provisions in case of an invasion or against a time of war.

 

2 Chronicles 17:13  13 He had much property in the cities of Judah; and the men of war mighty men of valor were in Jerusalem.

   YLT  13and he hath much work in cities of Judah; and men of war mighty of valour [are] in Jerusalem.

And he had much business in the cities of Judah .... Partly in fortifying them and partly in reforming the inhabitants of them:

and the men of war mighty men of valour were in Jerusalem; or by or near unto it so the particle is rendered Joshua 5:13 they encamped in places adjacent to it; for such a number of men as follows even 1 160 000 could never be contained in Jerusalem but must be disposed of in the territories of it; nor did they wait on the king together; but in course see 2 Chronicles 17:19 by which it appears there is no need to suppose any mistake of the transcriber in any or all of the following sums as has been suggestedF17See Maitland's History of London B. 3. ch. 2. p. 543. .

 

2 Chronicles 17:14  14 These are their numbers according to their fathers’ houses. Of Judah the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;

   YLT  14And these [are] their numbers for the house of their fathers: Of Judah heads of thousands Adnah the head and with him mighty ones of valour three hundred chiefs.

And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers .... Both of the tribe of Judah and of Benjamin: and first

of Judah the captains of thousands; some had 1000 men under them and some one hundred:

Adnah the chief; he was the principal commander or general of them:

and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand; such a number was under his command.

 

2 Chronicles 17:15  15 and next to him was Jehohanan the captain and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;

   YLT  15And at his hand [is] Jehohanan the head and with him two hundred and eighty chiefs.

And next to him was Jehohanan the captain .... Being of the same rank as to office but having a lesser number of men under him; and it may respect not any kind of subordination only nearness of place as the Targum "he that encamped next to him"

and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand; which number was but 20 000 less than the former.

 

2 Chronicles 17:16  16 and next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri who willingly offered himself to the Lord and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

   YLT  16And at his hand [is] Amasiah son of Zichri who is willingly offering himself to Jehovah and with him two hundred chiefs mighty of valour.

And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri .... He encamped next to him as the Targum:

who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; to fight the Lord's battles and without any stipend as some think; or as Kimchi he offered gold and silver to the treasures of the house of the Lord:

and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour; the number was 80 000 less than the former; the whole of Judah amounted to 780 000 men.

 

2 Chronicles 17:17  17 Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield;

   YLT  17And of Benjamin: mighty of valour Eliada and with him armed with bow and shield two hundred chiefs.

And of Benjamin Eliada a mighty man of valour .... Was the chief commander:

and with armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand; which were the armour of the tribe of Benjamin they were best skilled in 2 Chronicles 14:8.

 

2 Chronicles 17:18  18 and next to him was Jehozabad and with him one hundred and eighty thousand prepared for war.

   YLT  18And at his hand [is] Jehozabad and with him a hundred and eighty chiefs armed ones of the host.

And next to him was Jehozabad .... According to the Targum he encamped next him:

and with him one hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for war; being able bodied men well disciplined valiant and well armed; these numbers of Judah and Benjamin put together amount to 1 160 000 men whereas Asa only brought into the field 580 000; but it should be considered there had been a long time of peace many had come off from the ten tribes to Judah and the promise of multiplying the seed of Abraham was eminently fulfilled.

 

2 Chronicles 17:19  19 These served the king besides those the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

   YLT  19These [are] those serving the king apart from those whom the king put in the cities of fortress in all Judah.

These waited on the king .... Not this vast number of men at one time but in course as David's military men waited on him 1 Chronicles 27:1 or each of these captains with a proper number of men under them detached from the body; and they were all ready to obey the king's orders whenever he should have occasion for them:

besides those whom the king put into the fenced cities throughout Judah; and all together the militia of the kingdom was very numerous and formidable.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 17:4 Septuagint reads Lord God.