17:7-9The people of Judah were biblically illiterate. They had never taken time to listen to and discuss God’s law and understand how it could change them. Jehoshaphat realized that knowing God’s commands was the first step to getting people to live as they should, so he initiated a nationwide religious education program. He reversed the religious decline that had occurred at the end of Asa’s reign by putting God first in the people’s minds and instilling in them a sense of commitment and mission. Because of this action, the nation began to follow God. Churches and Christian schools today need solid Christian education programs. Exposure to good Bible teaching through Sunday school, church, Bible study, and personal and family devotions is essential for living as God intended.
Life Application Study Bible2 ChroniclesChapter 17
2 Chronicles 17
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 687, 688
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Jehoshaphat Rules in Judah
1Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel. 2He stationed troops in all the fortified towns of Judah, and he assigned additional garrisons to the land of Judah and to the towns of Ephraim that his father, Asa, had captured. 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years* and did not worship the images of Baal. 4He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. 5So the LORD established Jehoshaphat'’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. SHe was deeply committed to* the ways of the LORD. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah. 7In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. 9He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishamaand Jehoram. °They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people. 10Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat. 11Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 120 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. 12He stored numerous supplies in Judah's towns and stationed an army of seasoned troops at Jerusalem. 14His army was enrolled according to ancestral clans. From Judah there were 300,000 troops organized in units of 1,000, under the command of Adnah. Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops. 16Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the LORD’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command. 17From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier. 18Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men. 19These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah.
Textual footnotes
- 17:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts read the example of his father, David.
- 17:6 Hebrew His heart was courageous in,
Life Application Notes 1 note
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Personality profile · page 687
Profile: Jehoshaphat
Are children more likely to learn from their parents’ mistakes or to simply repeat them? In the lives of the people in the Bible, we find that the effects of parental examples are powerful and long lasting. For much of his life, Jehoshaphat seems to have been a son who learned from his father Asa’s mistakes and followed his positive actions. But on several occasions, his decisions reveal the negative aspects of his father’s example. When the challenges were obvious, like the need for religious education of the people or the threat of war with a vast army, Jehoshaphat turned to God for guidance and made the right choices. His dependence on God was consistent when the odds were clearly against him. It was in depending on God for the day-to-day plans and actions that Jehoshaphat was weak. He allowed his son to marry Athaliah, the daughter of the wicked Ahab and Jezebel of Israel, who did her best to be as evil as her parents. Jehoshaphat was almost killed when, without asking God, he made an alliance with Ahab. Later, he got involved in an unwise ship- building venture with Ahab’s son, Ahaziah—a venture that was shipwrecked by God. God's faithfulness when the issues are clear and the enemy overwhelming is more than enough reason to seek his guidance when the issues are unclear and the enemy unseen. Jehoshaphat knew this, yet he made little use of that knowledge. We repeat Jehoshaphat’s error when we relegate God to the background in the “easy” decisions of life. Then, when things get out of hand, we want him to get us out of the mess we got ourselves into. God wants us to give him not only the major decisions but also our daily lives—the things we are most often fooled into believing we can control. Perhaps there is noth- ing major facing you today. Have you paused long enough to give your day to God anyway? Strengths and ¢ A bold follower of God, he reminded the people of the early years accomplishments of his father, Asa
• Carried out a national program of religious education
• Had many military victories
• Developed an extensive legal structure throughout the kingdom Weaknesses ¢ Failed to recognize the long-term results of his decisions and mistakes e Did not completely destroy idolatry in the land
• Became entangled with evil King Ahab through alliances
• Allowed his son Jehoram to marry Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter
• Became Ahaziah’s business partner in an ill-fated shipping venture
Vital statistics @ Where: Jerusalem
• Occupation: King of Judah
• Relatives: Father: Asa. Mother: Azubah. Son: Jehoram. Daughter- in-law: Athaliah
• Contemporaries: Ahab, Jezebel, Micaiah, Ahaziah, Jehu Key verses “Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight. During his reign, how- ever, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the.people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors” (2 Chronicles 20:32, 33). Jehoshaphat’s story is told in 1 Kings 15:24—-22:50 and 2 Chronicles 17:1—21:1. He is also mentioned in 2 Kings 3:1—-14 and Joel 3:2, 12.
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Study feature · page 688
BATTLE WITH ARAM King Jehoshaphat made an alliance with evil King Ahab of Israel. Together they decided to attack Ramoth-gilead and rout the Arameans who had occupied the city. But Jehoshaphat first wanted to seek the advice of a prophet. Ahab's prophets predicted victory, but Micaiah predicted defeat. The two kings were defeated, and Ahab was killed.