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2 Chronicles 17:12-19 King James Version (KJV)

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 valor, 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 valor 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 valor.

17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valor, 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.


2 Chronicles 17:12-19 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

12 And Jehoshaphat H3092 waxed H1980 great H1432 exceedingly; H4605 and he built H1129 in Judah H3063 castles, H1003 and cities H5892 of store. H4543

13 And he had much H7227 business H4399 in the cities H5892 of Judah: H3063 and the men H582 of war, H4421 mighty men H1368 of valour, H2428 were in Jerusalem. H3389

14 And these are the numbers H6486 of them according to the house H1004 of their fathers: H1 Of Judah, H3063 the captains H8269 of thousands; H505 Adnah H5734 the chief, H8269 and with him mighty men H1368 of valour H2428 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand. H505

15 And next H3027 to him was Jehohanan H3076 the captain, H8269 and with him two hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand. H505

16 And next H3027 him was Amasiah H6007 the son H1121 of Zichri, H2147 who willingly offered H5068 himself unto the LORD; H3068 and with him two hundred H3967 thousand H505 mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428

17 And of Benjamin; H1144 Eliada H450 a mighty man H1368 of valour, H2428 and with him armed men H5401 with bow H7198 and shield H4043 two hundred H3967 thousand. H505

18 And next H3027 him was Jehozabad, H3075 and with him an hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 ready prepared H2502 for the war. H6635

19 These waited H8334 on the king, H4428 beside those whom the king H4428 put H5414 in the fenced H4013 cities H5892 throughout all Judah. H3063


2 Chronicles 17:12-19 American Standard (ASV)

12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.

13 And he had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

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;

15 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand;

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.

17 And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;

18 and next to him Jehozabad and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for war.

19 These were they that waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.


2 Chronicles 17:12-19 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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.


2 Chronicles 17:12-19 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

12 And Jehoshaphat waxed exceeding great; and he built in Judah castles and store-cities.

13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah; and men of war, strong and valiant, in Jerusalem.

14 And these are the numbers of them according to their fathers' houses. Of Judah the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valour;

15 and next to him was Johanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;

16 and next to him, Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Jehovah; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

17 And of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valour, and with him two hundred thousand, armed with bow and shield;

18 and next to him was Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready prepared for war.

19 These were they that waited on the king, besides those that the king had put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.


2 Chronicles 17:12-19 World English Bible (WEB)

12 Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.

13 He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

14 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;

15 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;

16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

17 Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;

18 and next to him Jehozabad and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready prepared for war.

19 These were those who waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.


2 Chronicles 17:12-19 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

12 Jehoshaphat became greater and greater, and made strong towers and store-towns in Judah.

13 He had much property in the towns of Judah; he had forces of armed men, great and strong, in Jerusalem.

14 This is the number of them, listed by their families, the captains of thousands of Judah: Adnah, the captain, and with him three hundred thousand men of war;

15 Second to him Jehohanan, the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;

16 After him Amasiah, the son of Zichri, who freely gave himself to the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand men of war;

17 And the captains of Benjamin: Eliada, a great man of war, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bows and body-covers;

18 And after him Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand trained for war.

19 These were the men who were waiting on the king, in addition to those placed by the king in the walled towns through all Judah.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 17

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 17 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 17

Here begin the life and reign of Jehoshaphat, who was one of the first three among the royal worthies, one of the best that ever swayed the sceptre of Judah since David's head was laid. He was the good son of a good father, so that, at this time, grace ran in the blood, even in the blood-royal. Happy the son that had such a father, to lay a good foundation in him and for him. Happy the father that had such a son, to build so wall upon the foundation he had laid! Happy the kingdom that was blessed with two such kings, two such reigns, together! In this chapter we have,

  • I. His accession to and establishment in the throne (v. 1, 2, 5).
  • II. His persona piety (v. 3, 4, 6).
  • III. The course he took to promote religion in his kingdom (v. 7-9).
  • IV. The mighty sway he bore among the neighbours (v. 10, 11).
  • V. The great strength of his kingdom, both in garrisons and standing forces (v. 12-19).

Thus was his prosperity the reward of his piety and his piety the brightest grace and ornament of his prosperity.

2Ch 17:1-9

Here we find concerning Jehoshaphat,

  • I. What a wise man he was. As soon as he came to the crown he strengthened himself against Israel, v. 1. Ahab, an active warlike prince, had now been three years upon the throne of Israel, the vigour of his beginning falling in with the decay of Asa's conclusion. It is probable that the kingdom of Israel had, of late, got ground of the kingdom of Judah and began to grow formidable to it; so that the first thing Jehoshaphat had to do was to make his part good on that side, and to check the growing greatness of the king of Israel, which he did so effectually, and without bloodshed, that Ahab soon courted his alliance, so far was he from giving him any disturbance, and proved more dangerous as a friend than he could have been as an enemy. Jehoshaphat strengthened himself not to act offensively against Israel or invade them, but only to maintain his own, which he did by fortifying the cities that were on his frontiers, and putting garrisons, stronger than had been, in the cities of Ephraim, which he was master of, v. 2. He did not strengthen himself, as his father did, by a league with the king of Syria, but by fair and regular methods, on which he might expect the blessing of God and in which he trusted God.
  • II. What a good man he was. It is an excellent character that is here given him.
    • 1. He walked in the ways of his father David. In the characters of the kings, David's ways are often made the standard, as 1 Ki. 15:3, 11; 2 Ki. 14:3; 16:2; 18:3. But the distinction is nowhere so strongly marked as here between his first ways and his last ways; for the last were not so good as the first. his ways, before he fell so foully in the matter of Uriah (which is mentioned long afterwards as the bar in his escutcheon, 1 Ki. 15:5), were good ways, and, though he happily recovered from that fall, yet perhaps he never, while he lived, fully retrieved the spiritual strength and comfort he lost by it. Jehoshaphat followed David as far as he followed God and no further. Paul himself thus limits our imitation of him (1 Co. 11:1): Follow me, as I follow Christ, and not otherwise. Many good people have had their first ways, which were their best ways, their first love, which was their strongest love; and in every copy we propose to write after, as we must single out that only which is good, so that chiefly which is best. The words here will admit another reading; they run thus: He walked in the ways of David his father (Hareshonim), those first ways, or those ancient ways. He proposed to himself, for his example, the primitive times of the royal family, those purest times, before the corruptions of the late reigns came in. See Jer. 6:16. The Septuagint leaves out David, and so refers it to Asa: He walked in the first ways of his father, and did not imitate him in what was amiss in him, towards the latter end of his time. It is good to be cautious in following the best men, lest we step aside after them.
    • 2. He sought not to Baalim, but sought to the Lord God of his father, v. 3, 4. The neighbouring nations had their Baalim, one had one Baal and another had another; but he abhorred them all, had nothing to do with them. he worshipped the Lord God of his father and him only, prayed to him only and enquired of him only; both are included in seeking him.
    • 3. That he walked in God's commandments, not only worshipped the true God, but worshipped him according to his own institution, and not after the doings of Israel, v. 4. Though the king of Israel was his neighbour and ally, yet he did not learn his way. Whatever dealings he had with him in civil matters, he would not have communion with him, nor comply with him in his religion. In this he kept close to the rule.
    • 4. His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord (v. 6), or he lifted up his heart. He brought his heart to his work, and lifted up his heart in it; that is, he had a sincere regard to God in it. Unto thee, O Lord! do I lift up my soul. His heart was enlarged in that which is good, Ps. 119:32. He never thought he could do enough for God. He was lively and affectionate in his religion, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, cheerful and pleasant in it; he went on in his work with alacrity, as Jacob, who, after his vision of God at Bethel, lifted up his feet, Gen. 29:1, margin. He was bold and resolute in the ways of God and went on with courage. His heart was lifted up above the consideration of the difficulties that were in the way of his duty; he easily got over them all, and was not frightened with winds and clouds from sowing and reaping, Eccl. 11:4. Let us walk in the same spirit.
  • III. What a useful man he was, not only a good man, but a good king. He not only was good himself, but did good in his generation, did a great deal of good.
    • 1. He took away the teachers of lies, so images are called (Hab. 2:18), the high places and the groves, v. 6. It is meant of those in which idols were worshipped; for those that were dedicated to the true God only were not taken away, ch. 20:33. It was only idolatry that he abolished. Nothing debauched the nation more than those idolatrous groves or images which he took away.
    • 2. He sent forth teachers of truth. When he enquired into the state of religion in his kingdom he found his people generally very ignorant: they knew not that they did evil. Even in the last good reign there had been little care taken to instruct them in their duty; and therefore Jehoshaphat resolves to begin his work at the right end, deals with them as reasonable creatures, will not lead them blindfold, no, not into a reformation, but endeavours to have them well taught, knowing that that was the way to have them well cured. In this good work he employed,
      • (1.) His princes. Those about him he sent forth; those in the country he sent to teach in the cities of Judah, v. 7. He ordered them, in the administration of justice, not only to correct the people when they did ill, but to teach them how to do better, and to give a reason for what they did, that the people might be informed of the difference between good and evil. The princes or judges upon the bench have a great opportunity of teaching people their duty to God and man, and it is not out of their province, for the laws of God are to be looked upon as laws of the land.
      • (2.) The Levites and priests went with the princes, and taught in Judah, having the book of the law with them, v. 8, 9. They were teachers by office, Deu. 33:10. Teaching was part of the work for which they had their maintenance. The priests and the Levites had little else to do. But, it seems, they had neglected it, pretending perhaps that they could not get the people to hear them. "Well,' says Jehoshaphat, "you shall go along with the princes, and they with their authority shall oblige the people to come and hear you; and then, if they be not well instructed, it is your fault.' What an abundance of good may be done when Moses and Aaron thus go hand in hand in the doing of it, when princes with their power, and priests and Levites with their scripture learning, agree to teach the people the good knowledge of God and their duty! These itinerant judges and itinerant preachers together were instrumental to diffuse a blessed light throughout the cities of Judah. But it is said, They had the book of the law of the Lord with them.
        • [1.] For their own direction, that thence they might fetch all the instructions they gave to the people, and not teach for doctrines the commandments of men.
        • [2.] For the conviction of the people, that they might see that they had a divine warrant for what they said and delivered to them that only which they received from the Lord. Note, Ministers, when they go to teach the people, should have their Bibles with them.
  • IV. What a happy man he was.
    • 1. How happy he was in the favour of his God, who signally owned and blessed him: The Lord was with him (v. 3); the word of the Lord was his helper (so the Chaldee paraphrase); the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, v. 5. Those stand firmly that have the presence of God with them. If the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, that will establish the work of our hands and establish us in our integrity.
    • 2. How happy he was in the affections of his people (v. 5): All Judah brought him presents, in acknowledgment of his kindness in sending preachers among them. The more there is of true religion among a people the more there will be of conscientious loyalty. A government that answers the end of government will be supported. The effect of the favour both of God and his kingdom was that he had riches and honour in abundance. It is undoubtedly true, though few will believe it, that religion and piety are the best friends to outward prosperity. And, observe, it follows immediately, His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. Riches and honour in abundance prove to many a clog and a hindrance in the ways of the Lord, an occasion of pride, security, and sensuality; but they had a quite contrary effect upon Jehoshaphat: his abundance was oil to the wheels of his obedience, and the more he had of the wealth of this world the more was his heart lifted up in the ways of the Lord.

2Ch 17:10-19

We have here a further account of Jehoshaphat's great prosperity and the flourishing state of his kingdom.

  • I. He had good interest in the neighbouring princes and nations. Though he was not perhaps so great a soldier as David (which might have made him their terror), nor so great a scholar as Solomon (which might have made him their oracle), yet the fear of the Lord fell so upon them (that is, God so influenced and governed their spirits) that they had all a reverence for him, v. 10. And,
    • 1. None of them made war against him. God's good providence so ordered it that, while the princes and priests were instructing and reforming the country, none of his neighbours gave him any molestations, to take him off from that good work. Thus when Jacob and his sons were going to worship at Bethel the terror of God was upon the neighbouring cities, that they did not pursue after them, Gen. 35:5, and see Ex. 34:24.
    • 2. Many of them brought presents to him (v. 11), to secure his friendship. Perhaps these were a tribute imposed upon them by Asa, who made himself master of the cities of the Philistines, and the tents of the Arabians, ch. 14:14, 15. With the 7700 rams, and the same number of he-goats, which the Arabians brought, there was probably a proportionable number of ewes and lambs, she-goats and kids.
  • II. He had a very considerable stores laid up in the cities of Judah. He pulled down his barns, and built larger (v. 12), castles and cities of store, for arms and victuals. He was a man of business, and aimed at the public good in all his undertakings, either to preserve the peace or prepare for war.
  • III. He had the militia in good order. It was never in better since David modelled it. Five lord-lieutenants (if I may so call them) are here named, with the numbers of those under their command (the serviceable men, that were fit for war in their respective districts), three in Judah, and two in Benjamin. It is said of one of these great commanders, Amasiah, that he willingly offered himself unto the Lord (v. 16), not only to the king, to serve him in this post, but to the Lord, to glorify him in it. He was the most eminent among them for religion, he accepted the place, not for the honour, or power, or profit of it, but for conscience' sake towards God, that he might serve his country,. It was usual for great generals then to offer of their spoils to the Lord, 1 Chr. 26:26. But this good man offered himself first to the Lord, and then his dedicated things. The number of the soldiers under these five generals amounts to 1,160,000 men, a vast number for so small a compass of ground as Judah's and Benjamin's lot to furnish out and maintain. Abijah could bring into the field but 400,000 (ch. 13:3), Asa not 600,000 (ch. 14:8), yet Jehoshaphat has at command almost 1,200,000. But it must be considered,
    • 1. That God had promised to make the seed of Abraham like the sand of the sea for number.
    • 2. There had now been a long peace.
    • 3. We may suppose that the city of Jerusalem was very much enlarged.
    • 4. Many had come over to them from the kingdom of Israel (ch. 15:19), which would increase the numbers of the people.
    • 5. Jehoshaphat was under a special blessing of God, which made his affairs to prosper greatly. The armies, we may suppose, were dispersed all the country over, and each man resided for the most part on his own estate; but they appeared often, to be mustered and trained, and were ready at call whenever there was occasion. The commanders waited on the king (v. 19) as officers of his court, privy-counsellors, and ministers of state.
  • But, lastly, observe, It was not this formidable army that struck a terror upon the neighbouring nations, that restrained them from attempting any thing against Israel, or obliged them to pay tribute, but the fear of God which fell upon them when Jehoshaphat reformed his country and set up a preaching ministry in it, v. 10. The ordinances of God are more the strength and safety of a kingdom than its military force-its men of God more than its men of war.