2 Chronicles 17 - 19
In summary:
King Jehoshaphat serves as another example of devotion to Yahweh… and a warning against allying oneself with His enemies.
King Jehoshaphat serves as another example of devotion to Yahweh… and a warning against allying oneself with His enemies.
In more detail:
In King Jehoshaphat we see another example of the devotion that the Chronicler recommends. He builds cities (2 Chronicles 17:2) and seeks Yahweh (2 Chronicles 17:4); once again, Yahweh responds: “Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor” (2 Chronicles 17:5).
The Chronicler also notes two more aspects of his devotion to Yahweh. First: “In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah… And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people” (2 Chronicles 17:7, 9). Yahweh approves of this devotion and
blesses him in a way that extends beyond Judah’s borders: “And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats” (2 Chronicles 17:10-11). Notice that his policy is strikingly different from Asa’s in yesterday’s reading. Asa impoverished his people by making alliances with Gentiles to guarantee his protection; Jehoshaphat instead teaches his own people devotion to Yahweh, and Yahweh gives him peace with his Gentile neighbors to the point that they enrich Jehoshaphat.
Second: Besides sending teachers, Jehoshaphat himself visited the people and affirmed their instruction: “Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city” (2 Chronicles 19:4-5). These judges must be examples of integrity – they are not to be an authority unto themselves but rather submitted to Yahweh’s just dominion: “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality of taking bribes” (2 Chronicles 19:6-7). Of course the Chronicler would wish that these examples of education and justice would resonate in the post-exilic community that is rebuilding Jerusalem and Judah.
For more on Ahab and Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 18, review the explanation of 1
Kings 20 – 22 here.
In King Jehoshaphat we see another example of the devotion that the Chronicler recommends. He builds cities (2 Chronicles 17:2) and seeks Yahweh (2 Chronicles 17:4); once again, Yahweh responds: “Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor” (2 Chronicles 17:5).
The Chronicler also notes two more aspects of his devotion to Yahweh. First: “In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah… And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people” (2 Chronicles 17:7, 9). Yahweh approves of this devotion and
blesses him in a way that extends beyond Judah’s borders: “And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats” (2 Chronicles 17:10-11). Notice that his policy is strikingly different from Asa’s in yesterday’s reading. Asa impoverished his people by making alliances with Gentiles to guarantee his protection; Jehoshaphat instead teaches his own people devotion to Yahweh, and Yahweh gives him peace with his Gentile neighbors to the point that they enrich Jehoshaphat.
Second: Besides sending teachers, Jehoshaphat himself visited the people and affirmed their instruction: “Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city” (2 Chronicles 19:4-5). These judges must be examples of integrity – they are not to be an authority unto themselves but rather submitted to Yahweh’s just dominion: “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality of taking bribes” (2 Chronicles 19:6-7). Of course the Chronicler would wish that these examples of education and justice would resonate in the post-exilic community that is rebuilding Jerusalem and Judah.
For more on Ahab and Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 18, review the explanation of 1
Kings 20 – 22 here.
