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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Here begin the life and reign of Jehoshaphat, who was one of the first
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three among the royal worthies, one of the best that ever swayed the
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sceptre of Judah since David's head was laid. He was the good son of a
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good father, so that, as this time, grace ran in the blood, even in the
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blood-royal. Happy the son that had such a father, to lay a good
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foundation in him and for him. Happy the father that had such a son, to
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build so wall upon the foundation he had laid! Happy the kingdom that
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was blessed with two such kings, two such reigns, together! In this
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chapter we have,
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I. His accession to and establishment in the throne,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:1,2,5">ver. 1, 2, 5</A>.
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II. His persona piety,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:3,4,6">ver. 3, 4, 6</A>.
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III. The course he took to promote religion in his kingdom,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:7-9">ver. 7-9</A>.
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IV. The mighty sway he bore among the neighbours,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:10,11">ver. 10, 11</A>.
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V. The great strength of his kingdom, both in garrisons and standing
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forces,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:12-19">ver. 12-19</A>.
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Thus was his prosperity the reward of his piety and his piety the
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brightest grace and ornament of his prosperity.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 914.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and
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strengthened himself against Israel.
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2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and
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set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim,
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which Asa his father had taken.
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3 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the
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first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
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4 But sought to the <I>L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT></I> God of his father, and walked in his
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commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
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5 Therefore the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> stablished the kingdom in his hand; and
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all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and
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honour in abundance.
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6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: moreover
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he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
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7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes,
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<I>even</I> to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to
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Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
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8 And with them <I>he sent</I> Levites, <I>even</I> Shemaiah, and
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Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and
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Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites;
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and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
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9 And they taught in Judah, and <I>had</I> the book of the law of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> with them, and went about throughout all the cities of
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Judah, and taught the people.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we find concerning Jehoshaphat,</P>
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<P>
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I. What a wise man he was. As soon as he came to the crown he
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<I>strengthened himself against Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Ahab, an active warlike prince, had now been three years upon the
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throne of Israel, the vigour of his beginning falling in with the decay
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of Asa's conclusion. It is probable that the kingdom of Israel had, of
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late, got ground of the kingdom of Judah and began to grow formidable
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to it; so that the first thing Jehoshaphat had to do was to make his
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part good on that side, and to check the growing greatness of the king
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of Israel, which he did so effectually, and without bloodshed, that
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Ahab soon courted his alliance, so far was he from giving him any
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disturbance, and proved more dangerous as a friend than he could have
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been as an enemy. Jehoshaphat strengthened himself not to act
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offensively against Israel or invade them, but only to maintain his
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own, which he did by fortifying the cities that were on his frontiers,
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and putting garrisons, stronger than had been, in the cities of
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Ephraim, which he was master of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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He did not strengthen himself, as his father did, by a league with the
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king of Syria, but by fair and regular methods, on which he might
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expect the blessing of God and in which he trusted God.</P>
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<P>
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II. What a good man he was. It is an excellent character that is here
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given him.
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1. He <I>walked in the ways of his father David.</I> In the characters
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of the kings, David's ways are often made the standard, as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:3,11,2Ki+14:3,18:3">1 Kings xv. 3, 11;
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2 Kings xiv. 3; xvi. 2; xviii. 3</A>.
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But the distinction is nowhere so strongly marked as here between his
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first ways and his last ways; for the last were not so good as the
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first. His ways, before he fell so foully in the matter of Uriah (which
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is mentioned long afterwards as the bar in his escutcheon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:5">1 Kings xv. 5</A>),
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were good ways, and, though he happily recovered from that fall, yet
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perhaps he never, while he lived, fully retrieved the spiritual
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strength and comfort he lost by it. Jehoshaphat followed David as far
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as he followed God and no further. Paul himself thus limits our
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imitation of him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+11:1">1 Cor. xi. 1</A>):
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<I>Follow me, as I follow Christ,</I> and not otherwise. Many good
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people have had their first ways, which were their best ways, their
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first love, which was their strongest love; and in every copy we
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propose to write after, as we must single out that only which is good,
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so that chiefly which is best. The words here will admit another
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reading; they run thus: <I>He walked in the ways of David his father
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(Hareshonim), those first ways,</I> or those <I>ancient ways.</I> He
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proposed to himself, for his example, the primitive times of the royal
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family, those purest times, before the corruptions of the late reigns
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came in. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+6:16">Jer. vi. 16</A>.
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The LXX. leaves out David, and so refers it to Asa: <I>He walked in the
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first ways of his father,</I> and did not imitate him in what was amiss
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in him, towards the latter end of his time. It is good to be cautious
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in following the best men, lest we step aside after them.
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2. He <I>sought not to Baalim, but sought to the Lord God of his
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father,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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The neighbouring nations had their Baalim, one had one Baal and another
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had another; but he abhorred them all, had nothing to do with them. He
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<I>worshipped the Lord God of his father</I> and him only, prayed to
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him only and enquired of him only; both are included in seeking him.
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3. That he <I>walked in God's commandments,</I> not only worshipped the
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true God, but worshipped him according to his own institution, <I>and
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not after the doings of Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Though the king of Israel was his neighbour and ally, yet he did not
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learn his way. Whatever dealings he had with him in civil matters, he
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would not have communion with him, nor comply with him in his religion.
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In this he kept close to the rule.
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4. <I>His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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or <I>he lifted up his heart.</I> He brought his heart to his work, and
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lifted up his heart in it; that is, he had a sincere regard to God in
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it. <I>Unto thee, O Lord! do I lift up my soul.</I> His heart was
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enlarged in that which is good,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:32">Ps. cxix. 32</A>.
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He never thought he could do enough for God. He was lively and
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affectionate in his religion, <I>fervent in spirit, serving the
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Lord,</I> cheerful and pleasant in it; he went on in his work with
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alacrity, as Jacob, who, after his vision of God at Bethel, <I>lifted
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up his feet,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:1">Gen. xxix. 1</A>,
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<I>margin.</I> He was bold and resolute in the ways of God and went on
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with courage. His heart was lifted up above the consideration of the
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difficulties that were in the way of his duty; he easily got over them
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all, and was not frightened with <I>winds and clouds</I> from <I>sowing
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and reaping,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+11:4">Eccl. xi. 4</A>.
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Let us walk in the same spirit.</P>
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<P>
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III. What a useful man he was, not only a good man, but a good king. He
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not only was good himself, but did good in his generation, did a great
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deal of good.
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1. He took away the teachers of lies, so images are called
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:18">Hab. ii. 18</A>),
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the <I>high places</I> and <I>the groves,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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It is meant of those in which idols were worshipped; for those that
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were dedicated to the true God only were not taken away,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+20:33"><I>ch.</I> xx. 33</A>.
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It was only idolatry that he abolished. Nothing debauched the nation
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more than those idolatrous groves or images which he took away.
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2. He sent forth teachers of truth. When he enquired into the state of
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religion in his kingdom he found his people generally very ignorant:
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they <I>knew not that they did evil.</I> Even in the last good reign
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there had been little care taken to instruct them in their duty; and
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therefore Jehoshaphat resolves to begin his work at the right end,
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deals with them as reasonable creatures, will not lead them blindfold,
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no, not into a reformation, but endeavours to have them well taught,
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knowing that that was the way to have them well cured. In this good
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work he employed,
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(1.) His princes. Those about him he sent forth; those in the country
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he sent <I>to teach in the cities of Judah,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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He ordered them, in the administration of justice, not only to correct
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the people when they did ill, but to teach them how to do better, and
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to give a reason for what they did, that the people might be informed
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of the difference between good and evil. The princes or judges upon the
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bench have a great opportunity of teaching people their duty to God and
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man, and it is not out of their province, for the laws of God are to be
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looked upon as laws of the land.
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(2.) The <I>Levites</I> and <I>priests</I> went <I>with the
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princes,</I> and <I>taught in Judah, having the book of the law with
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them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
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They were teachers by office,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:10">Deut. xxxiii. 10</A>.
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Teaching was part of the work for which they had their maintenance. The
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priests and the Levites had little else to do. But, it seems, they had
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neglected it, pretending perhaps that they could not get the people to
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hear them. "Well," says Jehoshaphat, "you shall go along with the
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princes, and they with their authority shall oblige the people to come
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and hear you; and then, if they be not well instructed, it is your
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fault." What an abundance of good may be done when Moses and Aaron thus
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go hand in hand in the doing of it, when princes with their power, and
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priests and Levites with their scripture learning, agree to teach the
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people the good knowledge of God and their duty! These itinerant judges
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and itinerant preachers together were instrumental to diffuse a blessed
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light throughout the cities of Judah. But it is said, <I>They had the
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book of the law of the Lord with them.</I>
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[1.] For their own direction, that thence they might fetch all the
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instructions they gave to the people, and not <I>teach for doctrines
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the commandments of men.</I>
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[2.] For the conviction of the people, that they might see that they
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had a divine warrant for what they said and delivered to them that only
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which they received from the Lord. Note, Ministers, when they go to
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teach the people, should have their Bibles with them.</P>
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<P>
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IV. What a happy man he was.
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1. How happy he was in the favour of his God, who signally owned and
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blessed him: <I>The Lord was with him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>);
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the word of the Lord was his helper</I> (so the Chaldee paraphrase);
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<I>the Lord established the kingdom in his hand,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Those stand firmly that have the presence of God with them. If the
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<I>beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,</I> that will <I>establish
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the work of our hands</I> and establish us in our integrity.
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2. How happy he was in the affections of his people
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>All Judah brought him presents,</I> in acknowledgment of his
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kindness in sending preachers among them. The more there is of true
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religion among a people the more there will be of conscientious
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loyalty. A government that answers the end of government will be
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supported. The effect of the favour both of God and his kingdom was
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that he had <I>riches and honour in abundance.</I> It is undoubtedly
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true, though few will believe it, that religion and piety are the best
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friends to outward prosperity. And, observe, it follows immediately,
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<I>His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord.</I> Riches and
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honour in abundance prove to many a clog and a hindrance in the ways of
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the Lord, an occasion of pride, security, and sensuality; but they had
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a quite contrary effect upon Jehoshaphat: his abundance was oil to the
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wheels of his obedience, and the more he had of the wealth of this
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world the more was his heart <I>lifted up in the ways of the
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Lord.</I></P>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch17_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jehoshaphat's Prosperity.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 911.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>10 And the fear of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> fell upon all the kingdoms of the
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lands that <I>were</I> round about Judah, so that they made no war
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against Jehoshaphat.
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11 Also <I>some</I> of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents,
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and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven
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thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven
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hundred he goats.
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12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in
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Judah castles, and cities of store.
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13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men
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|
of war, mighty men of valour, <I>were</I> in Jerusalem.
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14 And these <I>are</I> the numbers of them according to the house
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|
of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the
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chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
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15 And next to him <I>was</I> Jehohanan the captain, and with him
|
|
two hundred and fourscore thousand.
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16 And next him <I>was</I> Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly
|
|
offered himself unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and with him two hundred thousand
|
|
mighty men of valour.
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|
17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him
|
|
armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
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|
18 And next him <I>was</I> Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and
|
|
fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
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19 These waited on the king, beside <I>those</I> whom the king put
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|
in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
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|
</FONT></P>
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|
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|
<P>
|
|
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|
We have here a further account of Jehoshaphat's great prosperity and
|
|
the flourishing state of his kingdom.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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 <I>the fear of the Lord fell so upon
|
|
them</I> (that is, God so influenced and governed their spirits) that
|
|
they had all a reverence for him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
And,
|
|
|
|
1. <I>None of them made war against him.</I> 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 <I>did not pursue after them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+35:5">Gen. xxxv. 5</A>,
|
|
|
|
and see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+34:24">Exod. xxxiv. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Many of them brought presents to him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:14,15"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He had a very considerable stores laid up in the cities of Judah.
|
|
He pulled down his barns, and built larger
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>castles and cities of store,</I> 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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He had the militia in good order. It was never in better since
|
|
David modelled it. Five <I>lord-lieutenants</I> (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, <I>Amasiah,</I> that <I>he willingly offered himself unto
|
|
the Lord</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:26">1 Chron. xxvi. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:3"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
Asa not 600,000
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:8"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:19"><I>ch.</I> xv. 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>)
|
|
|
|
as officers of his court, privy-counsellors, and ministers of
|
|
state.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
But, <I>lastly,</I> 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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
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.</P>
|
|
|
|
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