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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 put 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 captured. |
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 it came to pass, that, Yahweh, was with Jehoshaphat,–because he walked in the first ways of David his father, 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 for, unto the God of his father, he sought, and, in his commandments, he walked,–and not according to the doing of Israel. |
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| 5 Therefore did Yahweh establish the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah gave a present unto Jehoshaphat,–and he came to have 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
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| 6 And his heart was encouraged, in the ways of Yahweh,–and he, yet further, took away the high places and the Sacred Stems, 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 And, in the third year of his reign, he sent to his rulers, even to Ben-hail and to Obadiah and to Zechariah, and to Nethanel, and to Micaiah,–that they were to teach throughout 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, Levites, Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan, and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tob-adonijah, Levites,–and, with them, Elishama and Jehoram, priests; |
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| 9 and they taught throughout Judah, and, with them, was the book of the law of Yahweh,–so they went round throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. |
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| 10 And it came to pass, that, the dread of Yahweh, was upon all the kingdoms of the countries, that were round about Judah,–and they warred not 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, from among the Philistines, were they bringing in unto Jehoshaphat a present, and silver as tribute,–even the Arabians, were bringing in unto 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 so it came to pass that, Jehoshaphat, went on waxing surpassingly great,–and he built, throughout Judah, fortresses and cities for store; |
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| 13 and, much business, had he, throughout the cities of Judah,–but, the men of war, the heroes of valour, were in Jerusalem. |
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| 14 And, these, are the numbers of them, by their ancestral house,–To Judah, pertained rulers of thousands, Adnah the chief, and, with him, mighty men of valour, three hundred thousand; |
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| 15 and, under his direction, was Jehohanan the chief,–and, with him, two hundred and eighty thousand; |
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| 16 and, under his direction, Amasiah son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Yahweh,–and, with him, two hundred thousand heroes of valour. |
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| 17 And, out of Benjamin, a hero of valour, Eliada,–and, with him, armed with bow and buckler, two hundred thousand; |
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| 18 and, under his direction, Jehozabad,–and, with him, a hundred and eighty thousand, equipped for war. |
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| 19 These, were they who were waiting upon the king,–besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities, throughout all Judah. |
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