CHAPTER 17

(912 B.C.)

JEHOSHAPHAT SUCCEEDS ASA

¹And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. (Jehoshaphat is a Godly man, yet with one glaring weakness forming alliances with heathenistic Israel. Strangely enough, he would fortify himself greatly in a military sense against Israel, but, yet he will compromise his spiritual stand by forming an alliance with the same people.

Far too often, the modern Church begins by opposing evil, and then compromises with evil.)

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 (the greatest thing that could ever be said of any man), because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim (it is believed by some Scholars that the name of David is wrongly inserted here; as well, it is not in the Septuagint; most probably, the reference is to Asa, the father of Jehoshaphat; inasmuch as the terminology does not exactly fit David, it is my personal opinion also that the translation is incorrect here, with Asa being the correct name);

⁴But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in His Commandments, and not after the doings of Israel (idolatry).

⁵Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance (blessings follow obedience!).

REVIVAL UNDER JEHOSHAPHAT

⁶And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. (As previously stated, the people were not sacrificing to idols at these high places and groves, but were sacrificing to Jehovah. Yet, this was against the Law of God inasmuch as they were supposed to sacrifice in Jerusalem. Almost invariably, the Sacrifices to Jehovah would eventually degenerate into sacrifices to idols. The reason for the one place of Sacrifice, and we speak of the Temple, is because there was to be but one Calvary.)

⁷Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah (not the Prophet), and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah (this proclaims Jehoshaphat doing something that had never been done before the teaching of the Law throughout 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 (this was the first great teaching mission instituted by any king of Israel; the Law of Moses was taken from city to city and taught to the people; the Law of the LORD was the Pentateuch Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; fidelity to the Word of God is the key to all blessing from God).

JEHOSHAPHATS POWER AND PROSPERITY

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 (all of this shows that the Lord was immensely pleased with this which Jehoshaphat was doing; this Passage shows that God can stop enemies from making war, or He can cause them to make war; all depends on our faith and our consecration).

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 (this is the way it should be! Instead of Satan taking what we have, we should take what he has).

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

¹³And he had much business (substance) 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 (very similar to Davids mighty men!).