| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| |
|
| 1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigneth in his stead, and he strengtheneth 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
|
| 2 and 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. |
Set garrisons – He fortified its various boundaries, especially toward the land of Israel, Judah's nearest neighbor. R4730:2
|
| 3 And Jehovah is with Jehoshaphat, for he hath walked in the first ways of David his father, and hath not sought to 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
|
| 4 for to the God of his father he hath sought, and in His commands he hath walked, and not according to the work of Israel. |
|
| 5 And Jehovah doth establish the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah give a present to Jehoshaphat, and he hath riches and honour 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
|
| 6 and his heart is high in the ways of Jehovah, and again he hath turned aside the high places and the shrines 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
|
| |
|
| 7 And 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, |
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
|
| 8 and 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. |
|
| 9 And 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. |
|
| |
|
| 10 And here is a fear of Jehovah on all kingdoms of the lands that [are] round about Judah, and they have not fought with Jehoshaphat; |
Fear of the LORD – The world recognizes in a general way that there is some truth in Christianity. R2365:5
|
| 11 and 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. |
Presents, and tribute – Neighboring nations sought Judah's favor and paid tribute until Jehoshaphat's kingdom was very prosperous. R4730:2
|
| 12 And Jehoshaphat is going on and becoming very great, and he buildeth in Judah palaces and cities of store, |
|
| 13 and he hath much work in cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty of valour, [are] in Jerusalem. |
|
| 14 And 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. |
|
| 15 And at his hand [is] Jehohanan the head, and with him two hundred and eighty chiefs. |
|
| 16 And at his hand [is] Amasiah son of Zichri, who is willingly offering himself to Jehovah, and with him two hundred chiefs, mighty of valour. |
|
| 17 And of Benjamin: mighty of valour, Eliada, and with him, armed with bow and shield, two hundred chiefs. |
|
| 18 And at his hand [is] Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty chiefs, armed ones of the host. |
|
| 19 These [are] those serving the king, apart from those whom the king put in the cities of fortress, in all Judah. |
|