2 Chronicles 17:1 – 19 Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah (1 Kings 15:23-24)
“Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier waysa of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals, but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel. So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor. And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.
And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.
Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah and kept a large amount of supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers:
From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;
next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000; and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor.
From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields; and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle. These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.”
Although King Asa made a good start to his reign, by the end of his 41 years as king, he rejected Hanani the Seer and oppressed some people. Now Asa’s son Jehoshaphat has succeeded him, and things are looking up in Judah. Unlike Asa, Jehoshaphat takes the spiritual needs of his kingdom very seriously. Jehoshaphat fortifies a number of cities, assigning garrisons to each of these cities. Jehoshaphat turns his back on the Baals, choosing to faithfully follow the God of Israel and to take delight in the ways of the Lord. Jehoshaphat even does away with the high places and the remaining Asherah poles that his father failed to remove.
In the third year of Jehoshaphat’s reign, he even sends several officials and teaching priests throughout Judah and Benjamin to teach the people the Law of the Lord. When Jehoshaphat honors God in this fashion, God allows the fear of Him to fall on the surrounding nations so that they leave Judah and Benjamin alone. The Lord responds by establishing Jehoshaphat’s kingdom and giving him favor with neighboring countries. Some of these rulers even begin sending Jehoshaphat rich gifts.
Jehoshaphat also assembles groups of warriors totaling 1,160,000 seasoned men in addition to those he stationed in the fortified cities of Judah. The nation of Judah is doing very well as Jehoshaphat continues to honor the Lord.
APPLICATION: After the disappointments of the last part of Asa’s reign, this description of Jehoshaphat is refreshing. God really blesses Jehoshaphat, and there are several reasons. Jehoshaphat truly honors the Lord and also insists that his citizens learn the Law of the Lord as well. Sending teachers of the Law throughout the kingdom is a step that no king has ever done before, including David.
Yet another point to note is the protection that God gives Jehoshaphat from surrounding marauding nations. Jehoshaphat is being protected by his continuing to regularly worship the Lord himself. Contrast Jehoshaphat’s attitude with the attitudes of previous Solomon and Rehoboam, both of whom viewed worship to be the duty of the priests. Jehoshaphat, on the other hand, delights in the Lord and obviously has a personal relationship with Him.
God is always searching for those who will honor Him and delight in Him. When we seek to know God, He will certainly respond, communicating with us in ways we can understand. As we study Jehoshaphat further, we will realize that eventually he and his country will face dangers; however, Jehoshaphat remains faithful and God delivers them.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are many people who don’t believe that You care for them or that You even know that they exist. Please speak to these people’s hearts and make Yourself known to them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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