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 Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 AS... [ Continue Reading ]
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 H... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 JUD... [ Continue Reading ]
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, i... [ Continue Reading ]
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,... [ Continue Reading ]
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 fo... [ Continue Reading ]
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 WE... [ Continue Reading ]
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 observ... [ Continue Reading ]
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 HU... [ Continue Reading ]
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 invasio... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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 WI... [ Continue Reading ]
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;... [ Continue Reading ]
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 HI... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, where... [ Continue Reading ]
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 shoul... [ Continue Reading ]