171 Asa's son Jehoshaphat was the next king; he started out by working on his defense system against Israel. 2 He put troops in all the fortress cities of Judah and deployed garrisons throughout Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. 3 God was on Jehoshaphat's side because he stuck to the ways of his father Asa's early years. He didn't fool around with the popular Baal religion - 4 he was a seeker and follower of the God of his father and was obedient to him; he wasn't like Israel. 5 And God secured the kingdom under his rule, gave him a firm grip on it. And everyone in Judah showed their appreciation by bringing gifts. Jehoshaphat ended up very rich and much honored. 6 He was single-minded in following God; and he got rid of the local sex-and-religion shrines. 7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials - excellent men, every one of them - Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah on a teaching mission to the cities of Judah. 8 They were accompanied by Levites - Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah; the priests Elishama and Jehoram were also in the company. 9 They made a circuit of the towns of Judah, teaching the people and using the Book of The Revelation of God as their text.
10 There was a strong sense of the fear of God in all the kingdoms around Judah - they didn't dare go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines even brought gifts and a load of silver to Jehoshaphat, and the desert bedouin brought flocks - 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats. 12 So Jehoshaphat became stronger by the day, and constructed more and more forts and store-cities - an age of prosperity for Judah! 13 He also had excellent fighting men stationed in Jerusalem. 14 The captains of the military units of Judah, classified according to families, were: Captain Adnah with 300,000 soldiers; 15 his associate Captain Jehohanan with 280,000; 16 his associate Amasiah son of Zicri, a volunteer for God, with 200,000. 17 Officer Eliada represented Benjamin with 200,000 fully equipped with bow and shield; 18 and his associate was Jehozabad with 180,000 armed and ready for battle. 19 These were under the direct command of the king; in addition there were the troops assigned to the fortress cities spread all over Judah.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 17:1-20
Chapter Contents
Jehoshaphat promotes religion in Judah, His prosperity.
Jehoshaphat found his people generally very ignorant, and therefore endeavoured to have them well taught. The public teaching of the word of God forms, in all ages, the great method of promoting the power of godliness. Thereby the understanding is informed, the conscience is awakened and directed. We have a particular account of Jehoshaphat's prosperity. But it was not his formidable army that restrained the neighbouring nations from attempting any thing against Israel, but the fear of God which fell upon them, when Jehoshaphat reformed his country, and set up a preaching ministry in it. The ordinances of God are more the strength and safety of a kingdom, than soldiers and weapons of war. The Bible requires use to notice the hand of God in every event, yet this is little regarded. But let all employ the talents they have: be faithful, even in that which is little. Set up the worship of God in your houses. The charge of a family is important. Why should you not instruct them as Jehoshaphat did his subjects, in the book of the law of the Lord. But be consistent. Do not recommend one thing, and practise another. Begin with yourselves. Seek to the Lord God of Israel, then call upon children and servants to follow your example.