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 Ben-hail, 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 Tob-adonijah, 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.

1And Iehoshaphat his sonne reigned in his stead, and strengthened himselfe against Israel.

2And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Iudah, and set garisons in the land of Iudah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

3And the Lord was with Iehoshaphat, because hee walked in the first wayes of his father Dauid, and sought not vnto Baalim:

4But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandements, and not after the doings of Israel:

5Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdome in his hand, and all Iudah brought to Iehoshaphat presents, and he had riches and honour in abundance.

6And his heart was lift vp in the wayes of the Lord: moreouer hee tooke away the high places and groues out of Iudah.

7 Also in the third yeere of his reigne, hee sent to his princes, euen to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Iudah:

8And with them hee sent Leuites, euen Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Iehonathan, and Adoniiah, and Tobiiah, and Tob-adoniiah, Leuites: and with them, Elishama and Iehoram, Priests.

9And they taught in Iudah, and had the book of the Law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Iudah, and taught the people.

10 And the feare of the Lord fell vpon all the kingdomes of the lands that were round about Iudah, so that they made no warre against Iehoshaphat.

11Also some of the Philistines brought Iehoshaphat presents, and tribute siluer, and the Arabians brought him flocks, seuen thousand and seuen hundred rammes, and seuen thousand and seuen hundred he goats.

12 And Iehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly, and he built in Iudah castles, and cities of store.

13And he had much businesse in the cities of Iudah: and the men of warre, mightie men of valour, were in Ierusalem.

14And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Iudah, the captaines of thousands, Adnah the chiefe, and with him mighty men of valour, three hundred thousand.

15And next to him was Iehohanan the captaine, and with him two hundred and fourescore thousand.

16And next him was Amasiah the sonne of Zichri, who willingly offered himselfe vnto the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand mightie men of valour.

17And of Beniamin, Eliada a mightie man of valour, and with him, armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

18And next him was Iehoshabad, and with him an hundred and foure score thousand, ready prepared for the warre.

19These waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Iudah.

I == 1st Kings 15:24

II == 2nd Chr 15:8

 

 

 

 

 

IV == 1st Kings 12:28

 

V == 1st Sam 10:27 ; 1st Kings 10:25 , 27 ; 2nd 18:1

VI == 1st Kings 22:43 ; 2nd Chr 15:17 ; 19:3 ; 20:33

VII == 2nd Chr 15:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == 2nd Chr 35:3 ; Neh 8:7

 

X == Gen 35:5

 

 

XI == 2nd Sam 8:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVI == Judg 5:2 , 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == 2nd Chr 17:2

 

1 His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king and strengthened his hold against Israel.

2 He placed armed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which his father Asa had taken.

3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, for he walked in the ways his father had pursued in the beginning, and he did not consult the Baals.

4 Rather, he sought the God of his father and observed his commands, and not the practices of Israel.

5 As a result, the LORD made his kingdom secure, and all Judah gave Jehoshaphat gifts, so that he enjoyed great wealth and glory.

6 Thus he was encouraged to follow the LORD'S ways, and again he removed the high places and the sacred poles from Judah.

7 In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

8 With them he sent the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah and Tobijah, together with the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

9 They taught in Judah, having with them the book containing the law of the LORD; they traveled through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

10 Now the fear of the LORD was upon all the kingdoms of the countries surrounding Judah, so that they did not war against Jehoshaphat.

11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and a tribute of silver; and the Arabs also brought him a flock of seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.

12 Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built strongholds and store cities in Judah.

13 He carried out many works in the cities of Judah, and he had soldiers, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem.

14 This was their mustering according to their ancestral houses. Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him three hundred thousand valiant warriors.

15 Next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him two hundred eighty thousand.

16 Next to him, Amasiah, son of Zichri, who offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand valiant warriors.

17 From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant warrior, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and buckler.

18 Next to him, Jozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand equipped for war.

19 These were at the service of the king; in addition were those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

 V 1 Throughout Asa’s life he had trusted the Lord until the treaty with Syria, and again in his old age, in the 39th year of his reign, he became diseased in his feet and tried to rely on physicians to help him instead of calling upon the Lord. He died in his 40th year and had an elaborate funeral, befitting one who had followed the Lord most of his life.
He was laid on a bed of spices but placed in the tomb he had prepared. Some say the “Great burning” in 2 Chron. 16:14 refers to the burning of the spices. because cremation was not practiced by the Jews. It is pointed out that at Herod’s funeral five hundred men bearing spices.
Others say royal cremation was prevalent at the time of the kings, among Jews
Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son reigned in his place, after a co-regency of 2 or 3 years.
For the beginning of the reign of Jehoshaphat, see notes in 2 Chr. 17. The reign of Ahab and the major part of Elijah’s ministry are in 1 Ki. 16:28 -21:29 and we pick up on Jehoshaphat again in 1 Ki 22 and 2 Chr. 18.

v 2-6. In defense against Israel, Jehoshaphat not only fortified cities, but he walked in close obedience to the Lord and removed idols. As a result the Lord blessed him with riches and honor.

v 7-9. In the third year of his reign, probably after the death of Asa, he sent priests, Levites and officials throughout the land teaching people the law of the Lord. Reminds one of circuit riders or traveling evangelists. (The Obadiah and Zechariah here are long before the prophets, writers of the books by their names.)

v 10-12. God blessed his faithfulness by putting fear on all nations around so he could live in peace, even Philistines bringing presents and tribute to him. Arabians brought him a vast number of animals, and he built cities for storage and commerce.

 

v 13-19. This is a summary of his soldiers and their captains in Jerusalem, besides others stationed in the fortified cities.