2 Chronicles · chapter 17 of 36
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2 Chronicles 17 introduces Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, who strengthens Judah, walks in the ways of David and seeks the God of his father rather than the Baals. The Lord establishes his kingdom and gives him riches and honor. In the third year he sends officials, Levites and priests with the book of the law to teach in the cities of Judah, and the neighboring kingdoms fear him and bring tribute.
With Jehoshaphat begins one of the best-regarded reigns in Chronicles. The chronicler devotes this chapter to showing why God blessed him: he sought the Lord, removed the idols and carried the teaching of the law to all the people. The previous chapter ended with the death of Asa; this one opens a period of strength and spiritual education, before an unfortunate decision appears in chapter 18.
Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, reigns in his place and strengthens himself against Israel. He places garrisons in all the fortified cities of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had taken. The Lord is with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David and did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, not according to the practices of Israel.
The Lord establishes the kingdom in his hand, all Judah brings him tribute, and he has great riches and honor. His heart is courageous in the ways of the Lord, and he also removes the high places and the Asherim from Judah. In the third year of his reign he sends his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, and with them Levites and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They teach in Judah, having the book of the law of the Lord with them, and go around through all the cities teaching the people.
The fear of the Lord falls on all the kingdoms around Judah, and they make no war against Jehoshaphat. Some Philistines bring him presents and silver as tribute, and the Arabs bring him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats. Jehoshaphat grows great. He builds fortresses and store cities in Judah and has abundant supplies. He has mighty men of valor in Jerusalem, with armies organized under Adnah, Jehohanan, Amasiah, Eliada and Jehozabad, numbering hundreds of thousands of men, besides those the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of David and sought the God of his father, not following the Baals. Again it stands out that seeking God, not military strength, is the key to the kingdom.
Jehoshaphat's heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord, and he removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah. His enthusiasm for God turns into concrete action against idolatry.
The teachers taught in Judah with the book of the law of the Lord and went around the cities teaching the people. Jehoshaphat's reform does not stop at the temple: it takes the Word to every corner of the kingdom.
The fear of the Lord fell on the neighboring kingdoms and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. The kingdom's peace does not come from its army but from God's reputation and backing.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David and sought the God of his father, not following the Baals. — 2 Chronicles 17:3-4
Answer: The high places and the Asherim. — 2 Chronicles 17:6
Answer: In the third year. — 2 Chronicles 17:7
Answer: The book of the law of the Lord. — 2 Chronicles 17:9
Answer: The fear of the Lord fell on them and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. — 2 Chronicles 17:10
Answer: The Philistines brought presents and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought flocks. — 2 Chronicles 17:11
Jehoshaphat understands that a strong people is not sustained by weapons and alliances alone but by knowledge of the Word. He sends teachers through the cities with the book of the law. In a Sunday school class we can think about how we are carrying Bible teaching into homes, to children and to young people. The church still needs people who devote themselves to teaching with clarity and patience.
It also highlights that seeking the Lord is a path and not a moment. The chronicler says his heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord, that is, it grew in them. We can ask God for a heart that is eager to obey him and is not content with the minimum.
2 Chronicles 17 leaves Jehoshaphat at the height of his strength, with a numerous army, riches and a people taught in the law. In 2 Chronicles 18 something unexpected happens: Jehoshaphat joins himself by marriage to King Ahab of Israel and is drawn into a war in which a faithful prophet announces the truth.
He was the fourth king of Judah after the division, son of Asa. He reigned about twenty-five years and is remembered as one of the most faithful kings of the south. The chronicler highlights his seeking of God, his reform of teaching and his organization of the kingdom.
Baal means lord and was the name of the fertility and storm deities worshiped by the Canaanites. The Baals represent the idolatry that constantly tempted Israel. Jehoshaphat rejected them and sought the God of Israel.
Because Israel's faith rested on the covenant and the word of God, and the people needed to know them to live by them. Teaching with the book of the law showed that the reform was not only about rituals but about instruction and obedience. It is a model of the importance of teaching the Bible in the church.