2 Chronicles 17

ANd Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel Against the King and People of Israel, who had molested the Kingdom of Judah with Wars all the days of Asa after that Sin of his mentioned, ch. 16. 2, &c..

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

And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David Which David walked in before he fell into those horrid Sins of Murder and Adultery. Or, in the ways of David, and his Fathers first ways: For the beginning of Asa's Reign was Laudable, as we have seen, though he declined at last. For it seems more probable that this Passage is a Ref... ection upon Asa, whose last ways were much his worst, and of whose Repentance we have no Evidence, than upon David, who, though he fell dreadfully in the Matter of Uriah, yet did manifestly repent of it and return to his first and holy course of Life, in which also he continued until death; having this Character given him by the Holy Ghost after his death, that he did right in all things, saving that of Uriah, 1 King. 15. 5., and sought not unto Baalim.

But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel i. e. Their Worship of the Calves or other Idols.:

There... ore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents As Subjects in those times and Places used to do to their Kings, as a Token of their Respect and Subjection to them. See 1 Sam. 10. 27, 28. 1 King. 10. 25. 2 Chron. 32. 23., and he had riches and honour in abundance.

And his heart was lift up Above all discouragements and difficulties and fears, by which mens Hearts use to be cast down: He was Valiant and Resolute for God and his Ways. in the ways of the LORD: moreover, he took away the high places and groves To wit, such only wherein Idols were worshipped, as appears by comparing this with ch. 20. 33. And though Asa had done this before, yet either he did not do it thoroughly; or the Jews (who were many of them mad upon their Idols) had secretly made new Ones in the latter part of his Reign when he grew more infirm in Body and more remiss in Gods cause. out of Judah.

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 Michajah, to teach To inform the People of their Duty and of the Kings Pleasure. As Judges or Justices of Peace teach or instruct the People in the Laws of the Land when they deliver their Charges upon the Bench, so did these Princes in the Kings Name admonish and require the People to observe and obey the Laws of God, which were the Municipal Laws of that Land: The particular Explication and Inforcement whereof they left to the Levites and Priests here following, who were sent for this End, and accordingly taught the People, v. 9. in the cities of Judah.

And with them he sent Levites, even Shemajah, 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.

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.

And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah Justly concluding from this singular Piety that God would eminently appear for him and against all those who had Ill W... ll to him, which was their Case. For even the Heathens could not but observe that the Kings of Judah were either Prosperous or Unhappy accordingly as they served God or forsook him., so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

Also some of the Philistins Who had been Subjects to this Kingdom ever since Davids Time, but, it seems, had neglected this Duty in the Times of his Predecessors, but now were moved by their own Fears to perform it. brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute-silver; and the Arabians Either because he had upon some just occasion waged War against them and subdued them; though the Particulars of it... e not described in Scripture Or because, they voluntarily put themselves under his Protection, in Recompence whereof they sent him those Presents: Or only as a free Acknowledgment of their Respects to him. brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.

And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.

And he had much business in the cities of Judah Partly to repair and fortifie them, and furnish them with all necessary Provisions: and partly to purge out all the Reliques and Seeds of Idolatry and Injustice which were more secretly and subtilly managed in the Cities than in the Country, and which were first and most in the Cities, and thence spread their Infection into the Country about them. See Ier. 2. 28.: and the men of war mighty men of valour were in Jerusalem.

And these are the number 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.

And next to him Either 1. After his death, as his Successor in the same Command. And the like is supposed concerning Jehozabad, v. 18. Or, rather 2. Next to him in Place and Authority; or, at least, in Power and the Numbers of his Host. was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

And next him, was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself As Voluntiers and Auxiliaries to be ready upon Occasion as the Service of God and the King should require. Possibly these or most of them were the Strangers which had come out of Israel into the Kingdom of Judah in Asa's days, and probably since that in his Time. unto the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

And of Benjamin, Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield, two hundred thousand.

And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand, ready prepared for the war.

These waited on the king These above mentioned were the Trained Bands or Auxiliaries: whose Chief Officers waited upon the King to receive his Commands, and to raise and bring in all or part of their Forces to the Service of the King and Kingdom, as need required., besides those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.