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2
Chronicles Chapter Seventeen
New King James Version (NKJV)
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 Chronicles 17:10,
the fortified places of his kingdom, his numerous forces and mighty men at the
head of them, 2 Chronicles 17:12.
2 Chronicles
17:1 Then
Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against
Israel.
YLT
1And Jehoshaphat his son
reigneth in his stead, and he strengtheneth himself against Israel,
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.
2 Chronicles
17:2 2 And
he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the
land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken.
YLT
2and putteth a force in all
the fenced cities of Judah, and putteth garrisons in the land of Judah, and in
the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured.
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 Asa his father had taken; see 2 Chronicles 15:8.
2 Chronicles
17:3 3 Now
the Lord
was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David;
he did not seek the Baals,
YLT
3And Jehovah is with
Jehoshaphat, for he hath walked in the first ways of David his father, and hath
not sought to Baalim,
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 he walked in the first ways of his father David; which were
his best; some of his last ways not being good, as in the affair of Uriah and
Bathsheba, and his numbering of the people; Jehoshaphat followed him in the
one, but not in the other: or, "in the ways of David and his father, the
first"; the first of them both; for the latter ways of his father Asa were
not so good as his first, as the preceding chapter shows; and the Septuagint
version leaves out the word "David", and so restrains it to his own
father:
and sought not unto Baalim; as did Ahab king of
Israel, who now reigned there; 1 Kings 15:24.
2 Chronicles
17:4 4 but
sought the God[a] of his
father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel.
YLT
4for to the God of his
father he hath sought, and in His commands he hath walked, and not according to
the work of Israel.
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.
2 Chronicles
17:5 5 Therefore
the Lord
established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to
Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
YLT
5And Jehovah doth establish
the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah give a present to Jehoshaphat, and he
hath riches and honour in abundance,
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 Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; being well
affected to him, as well as it was usual so to do at a prince's accession to
the throne, see 1 Samuel 10:27.
and he had riches and honour in abundance; through the
presents his subjects brought him, and the respect they showed him.
2 Chronicles
17:6 6 And
his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the
high places and wooden images from Judah.
YLT
6and his heart is high in
the ways of Jehovah, and again he hath turned aside the high places and the
shrines out of Judah.
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, in the work of reformation in which he was concerned:
moreover, he took away the high places; such as were
dedicated to idols, but not those in which the true God was worshipped, 2 Chronicles 20:33
and groves out of Judah; where idols were placed;
for though these had been removed by Asa, yet had been renewed in the latter
part of his days, when more negligent of religion.
2 Chronicles 17:7 7 Also in the third year of
his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and
Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
YLT
7And in the third year of
his reign he hath sent for his heads, for Ben-Hail, and for Obadiah, and for
Zechariah, and for Nethaneel, and for Michaiah, to teach in cities of Judah,
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, and to
Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; to see that
they were taught, and oblige them to attend to the instructions that should be
given them, and not mutiny and rebel against their teachers; and to let them
know what was the king's pleasure on this head, and to back with their
authority the priests and Levites, whose proper work it was to instruct, and
who therefore were sent with them, as follows.
2 Chronicles 17:8 8 And with them he sent
Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan,
Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and
Jehoram, the priests.
YLT
8and with them the Levites,
Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and
Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijath, and Tob-Adonijah, the Levites; and with
them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
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 for the work they were sent about:
and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests; whose lips
were to keep knowledge, and at whose mouth the law was to be sought, Malachi 2:7.
2 Chronicles 17:9 9 So they taught in Judah,
and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went
throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
YLT
9And they teach in Judah,
and with them [is] the Book of the Law of Jehovah, and they go round about into
all cities of Judah, and teach among the people.
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 went about throughout all the cities of Judah; not only
their own cities, the Levitical ones, but all others:
and taught the people; the law of the Lord, the
fear and worship of God.
2 Chronicles 17:10 10 And the fear of the Lord fell on all
the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not
make war against Jehoshaphat.
YLT
10And here is a fear of
Jehovah on all kingdoms of the lands that [are] round about Judah, and they
have not fought with Jehoshaphat;
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 observing, that religion was revived in them; for they might
perceive, by former observations made, that the more religious these people
were, the more prosperous and formidable they were:
so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat; to interrupt
him in the work of reformation he was so intent upon.
2 Chronicles 17:11 11 Also some of the
Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the
Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven
thousand seven hundred male goats.
YLT
11and of the Philistines they
are bringing in to Jehoshaphat a present, and tribute silver; also, the
Arabians are bringing to him a flock, rams seven thousand an seven hundred, and
he-goats seven thousand and seven hundred.
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 hundred he goats; with which
their country abounded; and these might be the Scenite Arabs, who fearing lest
Jehoshaphat should fall upon them, and take away their flocks as his father had
done, 2 Chronicles 14:15,
brought these presents to him.
2 Chronicles 17:12 12 So Jehoshaphat became
increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.
YLT
12And Jehoshaphat is going on
and becoming very great, and he buildeth in Judah palaces and cities of store,
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 invasion, or against a time of war.
2 Chronicles 17:13 13 He had much property in
the cities of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in
Jerusalem.
YLT
13and he hath much work in
cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty of valour, [are] in Jerusalem.
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 such a number of men as follows, even
1,160,000, could never be contained in Jerusalem, but must be disposed of in
the territories of it; nor did they wait on the king together; but in course,
see 2 Chronicles 17:19,
by which it appears there is no need to suppose any mistake of the transcriber,
in any or all of the following sums, as has been suggestedF17See
Maitland's History of London, B. 3. ch. 2. p. 543. .
2 Chronicles 17:14 14 These are their
numbers, according to their fathers’ houses. Of Judah, the captains of
thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of
valor;
YLT
14And these [are] their
numbers, for the house of their fathers: Of Judah, heads of thousands, Adnah
the head, and with him mighty ones of valour, three hundred chiefs.
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 with him mighty men of valour, three hundred thousand; such a number
was under his command.
2 Chronicles 17:15 15 and next to him was
Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;
YLT
15And at his hand [is]
Jehohanan the head, and with him two hundred and eighty chiefs.
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; which number
was but 20,000 less than the former.
2 Chronicles 17:16 16 and next to him was
Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord, and with him
two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
YLT
16And at his hand [is]
Amasiah son of Zichri, who is willingly offering himself to Jehovah, and with
him two hundred chiefs, mighty of valour.
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 him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour; the number
was 80,000 less than the former; the whole of Judah amounted to 780,000 men.
2 Chronicles 17:17 17 Of Benjamin: Eliada a
mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and
shield;
YLT
17And of Benjamin: mighty of
valour, Eliada, and with him, armed with bow and shield, two hundred chiefs.
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.
2 Chronicles 17:18 18 and next to him was
Jehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand prepared for war.
YLT
18And at his hand [is]
Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty chiefs, armed ones of the host.
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, whereas Asa only brought into the field 580,000; but it should be
considered there had been a long time of peace, many had come off from the ten
tribes to Judah, and the promise of multiplying the seed of Abraham was
eminently fulfilled.
2 Chronicles 17:19 19 These served the king,
besides those the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
YLT
19These [are] those serving
the king, apart from those whom the king put in the cities of fortress, in all
Judah.
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 should
have occasion for them:
besides those whom the king put into the fenced cities throughout
Judah; and all together, the militia of the kingdom was very numerous
and formidable.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)