2 Chronicles 17

Chapter context

What is happening in 2 Chronicles 17?

templereformprayerjudgment

2 Chronicles 17 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as the kings of Judah. Second Chronicles recounts Solomon’s temple, the Judahite kings, reform movements, the fall of Jerusalem, and Cyrus’s decree of return. Read this chapter with the wider themes of temple, reform, and prayer in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. ² And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. ³ And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; ⁴ But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. ⁵ Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. ⁶ And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. ⁷ Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. ⁸ And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. ⁹ And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. ¹⁰ And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. ¹² And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store. ¹³ And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand. ¹⁵ And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand. ¹⁶ And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour. ¹⁷ And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. ¹⁸ And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war. ¹⁹ These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

Study helps

Glossary

Jehoshaphat Person v. 1, 3, 5, 10-12: Jehovah-judged. (1. ) One of David’s body-guard ( 1 Chr. 11:43 ). (2. ) One of the priests who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 15:24 ).
Asa Person v. 2: Physician, son of Abijah and grandson of Rehoboam, was the third king of Judah.
David Person v. 3: Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25 .
Michaiah Person v. 7: (1. ) The queen-mother of King Abijah ( 2 Chr. 13:2 ). (See MAACAH [4]). (2. ) One of those sent out by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people in the law ( 2 Chr. 17:7 ). (3. ) 2 Kings 22:12 . (4. ) The son of Gemariah.
Nethaneel Person v. 7: Given of God. (1. ) The son of Zuar, chief of the tribe of Issachar at the Exodus ( Num. 1:8 ; 2:5 ). (2. ) One of David’s brothers ( 1 Chr. 2:14 ).
Obadiah Person v. 7: Servant of the Lord. (1. ) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab ( 1 Kings 18:3 ).
Zechariah Person v. 7: Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1. ) A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as.
Adonijah Person v. 8: My Lord is Jehovah. (1. ) The fourth son of David ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ). After the death of his elder brothers, Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne. But Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him.
Asahel Person v. 8: Made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot.
Elishama Person v. 8: Whom God hears. (1. ) A prince of Benjamin, grandfather of Joshua ( Num. 1:10 ; 1 Chr. 7:26 ). (2. ) One of David’s sons ( 2 Sam. 5:16 ). (3. ) Another of David’s sons ( 1 Chr. 3:6 ).
Jehonathan Person v. 8: Whom Jehovah gave. (1. ) One of the stewards of David’s store-houses ( 1 Chr. 27:25 ). (2. ) A Levite who taught the law to the people of Judah ( 2 Chr. 17:8 ). (3. ) Neh. 12:18 .
Jehoram Person v. 8: Jehovah-exalted. (1. ) Son of Toi, king of Hamath, sent by his father to congratulate David on the occasion of his victory over Hadadezer ( 2 Sam. 8:10 ). (2. ) A Levite of the family of Gershom ( 1 Chr. 26:25 ).
Nethaniah Person v. 8: Given of Jehovah. (1. ) One of Asaph’s sons, appointed by David to minister in the temple ( 1 Chr. 25:2 , 12). (2. ) A Levite sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the law ( 2 Chr. 17:8 ). (3. ) Jer. 36:14 . (4. ) 2 Kings 25:23 , 25.
Shemaiah Person v. 8: Whom Jehovah heard. (1. ) A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam ( 1 Kings 12:22-24 ). (2. ) Neh. 3:29 . (3. ) A Simeonite ( 1 Chr. 4:37 ). (4. ) A priest ( Neh. 12:42 ). (5. ) A Levite ( 1 Chr. 9:16 ). (6. ) 1 Chr. 9:14 ; Neh. 11:15 .
Shemiramoth Person v. 8: Most high name. (1. ) A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chr. 17:8 ). (2. ) A Levite in David’s time ( 1 Chr. 15:18 , 20).
Zebadiah Person v. 8: Gift of Jehovah. (1. ) A son of Asahel, Joab’s brother ( 1 Chr. 27:7 ). (2. ) A Levite who took part as one of the teachers in the system of national education instituted by Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chr. 17:7 , 8).
Jerusalem Place v. 13, 19: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Adnah Tribe v. 14: Delight. (1. ) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:20 ). (2. ) A general under Jehoshaphat, chief over 300,000 men ( 2 Chr. 17:14 ).
Jehohanan Person v. 15: Jehovah-granted, Jeroboam II. (1. ) A Korhite, the head of one of the divisions of the temple porters ( 1 Chr. 26:3 ). (2. ) One of Jehoshaphat’s “captains” ( 2 Chr. 17:15 ). (3. ) The father of Azariah ( 2 Chr. 28:12 ).
Zichri Person v. 16: Remembered; illustrious. (1. ) A Benjamite chief ( 1 Chr. 8:19 ). (2. ) Another of the same tribe ( 1 Chr. 8:23 ).
Benjamin Person v. 17: Son of my right hand. (1. ) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel ( Gen. 35:18 ). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place.
Bow Tribe v. 17: The bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase ( Gen. 21:20 ; 27:3 ; 48:22 ). The tribe of Benjamin were famous for the use of the bow ( 1 Chr. 8:40 ; 12:2 ; 2 Chr. 14:8 ; 17:17 ); so also were the Elamites.
Eliada Person v. 17: Whom God cares for. (1. ) One of David’s sons born after his establishment in Jerusalem ( 2 Sam. 5:16 ). (2. ) A mighty man of war, a Benjamite ( 2 Chr. 17:17 ).
Jehozabad Person v. 18: Jehovah-given. (1. ) The son of Obed-edom ( 1 Chr. 26:4 ), one of the Levite porters. (2. ) The son of Shomer, one of the two conspirators who put king Jehoash to death in Millo in Jerusalem ( 2 Kings 12:21 ). (3. ) 2 Chr.