2Ch 17 | MHM | STEP | Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa This section introduces Jehoshaphat as the new king of Judah after Asa. Jehoshaphat was wise and faithful to God. He made his kingdom strong and safe, not by making alliances with foreign nations but by trusting in God and following good examples from the past. He worked to remove idols and false worship and encouraged the people to serve the Lord . He also made sure that everyone in Judah could learn God’s laws by sending teachers throughout the land. Because of this, God blessed him with peace, riches, and honor. Jehoshaphat’s story reminds us that true strength and happiness come from obeying God and helping others to do the same. v. 1 : Jehoshaphat became king after Asa and made Judah strong against Israel. He wanted to protect his kingdom from attacks and prepared his country for any trouble .

‏ 2 Chronicles 17

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

This section introduces Jehoshaphat as the new king of Judah after Asa. Jehoshaphat was wise and faithful to God. He made his kingdom strong and safe, not by making alliances with foreign nations but by trusting in God and following good examples from the past. He worked to remove idols and false worship and encouraged the people to serve the Lord. He also made sure that everyone in Judah could learn God’s laws by sending teachers throughout the land. Because of this, God blessed him with peace, riches, and honor. Jehoshaphat’s story reminds us that true strength and happiness come from obeying God and helping others to do the same.

v. 1: Jehoshaphat became king after Asa and made Judah strong against Israel. He wanted to protect his kingdom from attacks and prepared his country for any trouble .

v. 2: He placed soldiers in all the strong cities of Judah and put garrisons in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. This kept Judah safe and well-defended .

v. 3: The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the good ways of David and did not worship idols like Baalim. He looked to God for guidance in everything .

v. 4: Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and obeyed His commands, not following the wrong practices of Israel. He wanted to serve God as his ancestors had done .

v. 5: Because of this, the Lord made his kingdom strong, and all Judah gave Jehoshaphat gifts. He became wealthy and honored by the people .

v. 6: Jehoshaphat’s heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He removed the high places and the Asherah poles used for idol worship from Judah .

v. 7: In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in the cities of Judah. He wanted everyone to know God’s law and understand what was right .

v. 8: He also sent Levites and priests with the officials to help teach the people. These teachers traveled to many places so that everyone could learn about God .

v. 9: They taught in Judah, carrying the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went to all the towns of Judah and taught the people, making sure everyone understood God’s word .

Jehoshaphat's Prosperity

This section describes the great success and blessings that Jehoshaphat enjoyed as king of Judah. His faithfulness to God brought peace, wealth, and stability to his kingdom. Neighboring nations respected him, and he strengthened Judah’s defenses without needing to fight wars. Jehoshaphat also organized a large, well-trained army. However, the key to his success was not his military strength but the fear of God, which influenced the surrounding nations. This reminds us that a nation’s true strength comes from obeying and honoring God.

v. 10: The fear of the Lord fell on the neighboring nations, so they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. God protected Judah, allowing Jehoshaphat to focus on strengthening his kingdom .

v. 11: Some nations, like the Philistines and the Arabians, brought Jehoshaphat gifts as a sign of their respect and desire for peace. The Arabians even brought him flocks of rams and goats in large numbers .

v. 12: Jehoshaphat grew more powerful and built strong forts and store cities in Judah. These were used to store weapons and supplies, showing his careful planning and concern for the kingdom's safety .

v. 13: He had many resources stored up in the cities of Judah, and his army was well-organized and ready for any danger. Jehoshaphat was a wise and responsible leader.

v. 14-18: Jehoshaphat’s army was divided into five groups, each led by a commander. The total number of soldiers was 1,160,000, a huge army for a kingdom as small as Judah. One of the commanders, Amasiah, willingly dedicated himself to the Lord and served with a heart to glorify God (2 Chronicles 17:16 ^a).

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v. 19: Although Jehoshaphat’s army was large and well-prepared, it was not his military strength that protected Judah. Instead, it was the fear of God that kept the neighboring nations from attacking. This shows that the spiritual health of a nation is more important than its military power (2 Chronicles 17:19 ^b).