2 Chronicles 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

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.