The Histories · Old Testament

2 Chronicles 17

2 Chronicles 17: Jehoshaphat sends teachers and grows strong

General context

Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa, strengthens himself against Israel, and places forces in the fenced cities of Judah and garrisons in Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa had taken. The narrator says the Lord is with him because he walks in the first ways of his father David, does not seek Baalim, seeks the Lord God of his father, keeps his commandments and does not follow the doings of Israel. The Lord establishes the kingdom in his hand, all Judah brings presents, and he has riches and honour in abundance. His heart is lifted up in the ways of the Lord, and he removes the high places and groves from Judah. In his third year he sends five princes, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethaneel and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah, with nine named Levites and the priests Elishama and Jehoram; they carry the book of the law of the Lord and go through all the cities teaching the people. The fear of the Lord falls on the surrounding kingdoms, so that none make war on him. Some of the Philistines bring presents and tribute silver, and the Arabians bring seven thousand seven hundred rams and as many he goats. Jehoshaphat grows very great, builds castles and store cities in Judah, and has much business in the cities and men of war in Jerusalem. The chapter closes with the muster by fathers' houses: of Judah, Adnah, Jehohanan and Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord; of Benjamin, Eliada and Jehozabad, with their thousands. These attend the king, apart from those placed in the fenced cities.

Cited passages: 2 Chronicles 17:1, 2 Chronicles 17:2, 2 Chronicles 17:3, 2 Chronicles 17:4, 2 Chronicles 17:5, 2 Chronicles 17:6, 2 Chronicles 17:7, 2 Chronicles 17:8, 2 Chronicles 17:9, 2 Chronicles 17:10, 2 Chronicles 17:11, 2 Chronicles 17:12, 2 Chronicles 17:13, 2 Chronicles 17:14, 2 Chronicles 17:15, 2 Chronicles 17:16, 2 Chronicles 17:17, 2 Chronicles 17:18, 2 Chronicles 17:19

2 Chronicles 17 (KJV)

¹And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

²And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

³And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

⁴But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

⁵Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.

⁶And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

⁷Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

⁸And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.

⁹And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

¹⁰And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

¹¹Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

¹²And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.

¹³And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.

¹⁴And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.

¹⁵And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

¹⁶And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

¹⁷And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

¹⁸And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.

¹⁹These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

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Historical context

The chapter calls Jehoshaphat Asa's son and in the same breath speaks of the first ways of his father David, so father is used both for Asa and for the ancestor David. The cities of Ephraim are said to have been taken by Asa; the book earlier mentioned cities Asa had taken from mount Ephraim without narrating their capture. The statement that Jehoshaphat took away the high places and groves out of Judah sits beside the earlier note that in Asa's time the high places were not taken away out of Israel, and a later chapter says again that the high places were not taken away; the text records these statements without reconciling them. The teaching mission is dated to the third year and its members are named, five princes, nine Levites and two priests, but the book of the law of the Lord they carry is not described. The note that Amasiah willingly offered himself unto the Lord is given without explanation. The Philistine and Arabian gifts are reported as presents, tribute silver and flocks, not as the result of any narrated conflict. The five army figures are stated by fathers' houses and by weapon, and the narrator adds that they exclude the men in the fenced cities. The phrase riches and honour in abundance is repeated at the start of the next chapter, where it introduces the alliance with Ahab.

Cited passages: 2 Chronicles 17:1, 2 Chronicles 17:3, 2 Chronicles 17:2, 2 Chronicles 15:8, 2 Chronicles 17:6, 2 Chronicles 15:17, 2 Chronicles 20:33, 2 Chronicles 17:7, 2 Chronicles 17:8, 2 Chronicles 17:9, 2 Chronicles 17:16, 2 Chronicles 17:11, 2 Chronicles 17:19, 2 Chronicles 17:5, 2 Chronicles 18:1

Literary context

The chapter is an assessment followed by lists. The narrator's verdict is built on contrasts: the first ways of David against Baalim, the Lord God of his father against the doings of Israel, and each good report is paired with its consequence, the Lord establishing the kingdom, presents from Judah, fear on the neighbouring kingdoms. The teaching mission is the chapter's one distinctive action, with princes, Levites and priests named and the book of the law carried from city to city, and the peace that follows is attributed to the fear of the Lord rather than to any battle. The phrase waxed great exceedingly recalls the narrator's opening word on Solomon, whom the Lord magnified exceedingly, and riches and honour in abundance repeats what God promised Solomon at Gibeon. The muster that ends the chapter adds figure to figure and then notes that these are only the men at Jerusalem, so the chapter closes on strength counted, having opened on strength explained. The same phrase of riches and honour will open the next chapter's account of the alliance with Ahab, turning the blessing into the setting for a warning.

Cited passages: 2 Chronicles 17:3, 2 Chronicles 17:4, 2 Chronicles 17:5, 2 Chronicles 17:10, 2 Chronicles 17:9, 2 Chronicles 17:12, 2 Chronicles 1:1, 2 Chronicles 1:12, 2 Chronicles 17:14, 2 Chronicles 17:19, 2 Chronicles 18:1

Key moments

The Lord with Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:3). The narrator credits the Lord's presence to Jehoshaphat walking in David's first ways.
High places removed (2 Chronicles 17:6). Jehoshaphat takes away the high places and groves from Judah.
Teachers sent out (2 Chronicles 17:7). In his third year Jehoshaphat sends princes, Levites and priests to teach in the cities.
The book of the law carried (2 Chronicles 17:9). The teachers go through all the cities of Judah with the book of the law of the Lord.
Fear on the kingdoms (2 Chronicles 17:10). The surrounding kingdoms make no war because the fear of the Lord falls on them.
Tribute from Philistines and Arabians (2 Chronicles 17:11). Philistines bring silver and Arabians bring thousands of rams and goats.
Amasiah offers himself (2 Chronicles 17:16). Among the captains, Amasiah the son of Zichri willingly offers himself to the Lord.

For reflection

The narrator says the fear of the Lord fell on the surrounding kingdoms so that none made war, and then counts more than a million men of war waiting on the king. What does the chapter ask a reader to make of peace credited to teaching set beside an army of that size?