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| 1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. |
Jehoshaphat his son – Who had the great advantage that his parents were Godly people. R4730:1
Reigned – While Ahab was king of Israel Jehoshaphat succeeded to the throne of Judah. R4730:1
Against Israel – The iniquity and idolatry of Israel reacted favorably by driving the most saintly characters of all the tribes to Judah, including the priests and Levites who were still loyal to God. R4730:1
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| 2 And he placed forces 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. |
Set garrisons – He fortified its various boundaries, especially toward the land of Israel, Judah's nearest neighbor. R4730:2
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| 3 And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim, |
Was with Jehoshaphat – Jehoshaphat's fidelity to the Lord was rewarded with prosperity for his kingdom. R4730:2
Does not mean that all prosperous persons and nations are in divine fellowship. R4730:2
Of his father David – Copying after David's earliest course of devotion to the Lord. R2365:1
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| 4 but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. |
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| 5 Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance. |
He had riches – Prosperity is not always a sign of divine favor, but to Jehoshaphat and his kingdom it was because Judah still represented God's chosen nation in a special manner. R4730:3
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| 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Jehovah: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherahs out of Judah. |
Heart was lifted up – Not in pride and self-adulation, but with encouragement, as recognizing the fulfillment of the divine promises in the blessings enjoyed. R2365:1
Ways of the LORD – As Ahab exceeded his father Omri as an evil-doer, so Jehoshaphat exceeded his father Asa as an upholder of the divine Law. R4730:2
The high places – The young king began a general crusade against every idolatrous place and custom in the kingdom. R4730:2
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| 7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; |
Teach in the cities – Perceiving the necessity of knowledge as a basis for faith, the king instituted a general system of instruction in the Word of the Lord throughout his kingdom. R2365:2
In proportion as the Lord's people are intimately acquainted with his Word, they are made free from earthly affairs and realize their obligations to the King of kings. R2365:3
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| 8 and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites: and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. |
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| 9 And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Jehovah with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people. |
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| 10 And the fear of Jehovah fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. |
Fear of the LORD – The world recognizes in a general way that there is some truth in Christianity. R2365:5
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| 11 And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats. |
Presents, and tribute – Neighboring nations sought Judah's favor and paid tribute until Jehoshaphat's kingdom was very prosperous. R4730:2
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| 12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store. |
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| 13 And he had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. |
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| 14 And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand; |
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| 15 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand; |
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| 16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Jehovah; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. |
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| 17 And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; |
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| 18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him a hundred eighty thousand ready prepared for war. |
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| 19 These were they that waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. |
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