2 Chronicles 17
About 2 ChroniclesWritten by AI
Second Chronicles carries Israel's story from Solomon's temple to the fall of Jerusalem, and then one step further, to the decree that let the exiles go home. First and Second Chronicles were once a single book. Jewish tradition credits Ezra as the writer; many scholars simply call the author "the Chronicler," writing for the returned exiles some time after 450 BC.
This is not a copy of Kings. It follows only Judah and David's line, and it keeps asking one question: what happens when God's people seek Him, and what happens when they forsake Him? Watch how often a king is in trouble, humbles himself, and is heard. Chapter 7 gives the pattern: “if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray.”
Watch for the temple, true worship, and repentance. Chronicles gives more room than Kings to reformers like Hezekiah and Josiah, and it tells of wicked Manasseh turning back to God. It ends not in ruin but with an open door.
Before you read 2 Chronicles 17Written by AI
Jehoshaphat begins his reign seeking the God of his father and refusing the Baals. In his third year he sends officials, Levites, and priests through Judah to teach from the Book of the Law. The fear of the LORD falls on the nations around, and Judah grows strong.
Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah
Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel. So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor. And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.
And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.
Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor. These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers:
From Judah, the commanders of thousands:
Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;
next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;
and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor.
From Benjamin:
Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;
and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle.
These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.