2 Chronicles 17

2 Chronicles 17:1

JjlND Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. The first thing he did after he came to the crown, was to put his kingdom in a good posture of defence against the king and people of Israel; who had given disturbance to his father, (xvi. 1, &c.)

2 Chronicles 17:2

And he placedforces 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. He fortified his frontier cities, and increased the garrisons, in the rest of the country, and in those cities which his father took from Israel. “We do riot read, indeed, of any cities that Asa took, but Abijah possessed himself of several, which Asa kept and took for his own, (xiii. 19.) and Jehoshaphat put such forces in them as might secure them to himself.

2 Chronicles 17:3

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat. Tho Targum, according to the usual language of that paraphrast, saith, The Word of the Lord was his helper. Because he walked in the first ways of his father David.] Before he committed those foul sins^ in the matter of Uriah. But some read it, of his father, and of David. For Asa in the beginning of his reign was very pious, as David was. And thus it is some reflection upon Asa, for his offences in the laftcr end of his life: his son being noted CHAP* XVII.’] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. to have followed him as he was in his first days, not in his And sought not tint o Baalim.] Which were the gods worshipped in all the eastern countries rbund about them,

2 Chronicles 17:4

But Sought the Lord God’ of his father, and’walked in his commandments, and not after the doings r df Israel^ As he worshipped not the gods of Other’ countries; So he did not join with the Israelites in worshipping’-God by the calves.’ \ T 6*. 5. Tlierefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; andallJUdah brought up Jehoshaphdt presents.] As they used to do in those countries, in the beginning of their king s reign. (See 1 Sam. x. 27, 28. 1 King^^o.) And he had riches and honour in abundance.] Riches procure men honour; when they make such a good use of them as he-did.’ "

2 Chronicles 17:6

And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He had very generous resolutions, as Strigelius renders it, to promote the true worship of God, and all goodness; his mind being raised above all fear and discouragement. >’’’ Moreover, he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.] The meaning is plain; that those high places whferein they sacrifided to idols he destrbyedi ^as’Asa had done in the beginning of his reign: but, in the latter end, sOm£ had restored them again. There is no need, thdre* fore, of their amendment, who fancy that, ahciently> instead of veoth, moreover, there was velo, he did not) that ^o. it may agree with 1 Kings xxii. 43. and with the twentieth chapter of this book, ver. 33. As if the meaning was, that though he was courageous above all that had been before him; yet the people were so accustomed to sacrifices in high places, that he durst not take them away. This is true, that where they offered to the true God he did not take them away: but those wherein idols were worshipped were abolished.

2 Chronicles 17:7

Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zethariah, and to Nethdneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of JudahJ. He sent some that were of his council, ^to see the people taught; by removing all impediments, and making the people come to bear the priests and the Levites! For it had been to.little purpose to take’ away their idols, if they had not been withal better instructed: and the priests and the Levites would not have had much authority among the people, if they had not been backed’by such great persons as are here mentioned. Grotius, indeed, mil have it; that these great men did themselves instruct the people: for, as the Jews observe, it was not proper to the priests and Levites, but all learned men might teach the people’: and these who were of the king s council werfc certainly learned in the law. But the two next verses tell us, that priests and Levites were sent along withthem, who taught iu Judah. And therefore I take the theaning to be, that Jehoshaphat, being very desirous to have the people understand thfcir duty, took this singular and extraordinary course to send some princes, together with the priests and’Levites, upon this weighty business. Tho latter, that they might teach the people, the former to see them do it carefully, and require the people to come and receive ihstruction, and to be obedient to what they heard. Thus Jarchi and other interpreters explain it: " It belonged to the priests’ and Levites to inform the people of their duty, as it is written, Deut. xxiv. 8. and these political persons went along with them, to quicken the people to hear them, and compel them to obey them, and do according to their commands.” (See Nehem. viii. 9.) Campegius Vitringa hath a large discourse to this purpose in his Synag. Vet par. ii. lib. k cap. 9. where he’ takes this to be an indication that the people in those times had little solemn public instruction; and thinks it a good proof that there were no synagogues in the -country in those days, as there were in aftertimes, wherein the people Were constantly instructed in the sense of the Divine law. Mr. Thorndike, indeed, rightly observes, that the words of Moses, Deut.*xxiv. 8. are not rightly alleged by Jarchi to this purpose. But thereus another place/ Deut. *vi. 18. from whence he also concludes, (Religious Assemblies,p. 23.) that this teaching consisted in declaring the obligation of the law. by the judges of it, the priests and Levites; and the princes were officers with power to enforce tlie # execution of it. (Sec Malachi ii; 7.) 4 Vet. 8. And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethahidh, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob~Adonijah, Levites.] These, no doubt, %Vere Eminent men among the Levites, as the two priests, Elishama and Jehbram, were, who werejoined with them.

2 Chronicles 17:9

; And’ they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them. That’ they might teach with the greater authority, by reciting the very words of that sacred fcdok, But from hence Vitringa argues, th&t the bo6ks of- Moses were scarce among the people in those days; for ifthere had been then public synagogues, wherein the Iiaw had been read (as it was afterward, every sabbath-day), there had been ho need of carrying acopy of the l£w with them; which they might have had in every synagogue. And’ went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.] Which is too plain an argument, that there were not settled teachers in every city, who on all occasions instructed the people; nor doth it appear by this history, that these great men who were sent to see the people instructed, settledsuch constant teachers in every city/; to 7 instruct them when theywere gone. The priests arid Levites, no doubt, were ready to teach the people in their cities where they dwelt j knd there is good reason to think, that most part of the prophets, who were the gTeat instructors of the people, were priests and Levites. But it is asr certain, that the charge of teaching the people belonged t6 thdse prophets “who were not priests and Levites, as mtich as to those that were, as Mr. Thorndike observes in the same place!’ ;. i.( <: j

2 Chronicles 17:10

And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the king doms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.* God took care to prevent any disturbance, while they were about this pious work, by striking a’terror into, all their neighbours; who, it is likely, were sensible that it was in vain to assault them, while they continued firm in their religion. For they could not but observe^ how much their prosperity depended on that; and that they never fell into their enemies* hands, but when they fell off from God.

2 Chronicles 17:11

Also Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat. presents, and tribute-silver. They were so far from giving him any disturbance, that some of his neighbours compli-