2 Chronicles 17:3

2 Chronicles 17:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
• New International Version (NIV)The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals
• English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals,

Context of 2 Chronicles 17:3

1Asa's son Jehoshaphat became the next king of Judah. He made his kingdom strong to fight against Israel. 2He put soldiers in all Judah's cities that had walls around them and in other places in Judah. He also put soldiers in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had taken power over. Jehoshaphat obeyed the Lord as his ancestor David had done when he first ruled as king. So the Lord was with him to help him. Jehoshaphat did not worship the idols of Baal. 4Instead, he served the God that his father had served. He obeyed the Lord's commands. He did not do the wrong things that Israel's people did. 5The Lord gave Jehoshaphat power over the kingdom of Judah. All Judah's people brought gifts to him. So Jehoshaphat became rich and people respected him.

2 Chronicles 17:3 word by word

וַיְהִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה עִם־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט כִּ֣י הָלַ֗ךְ בְּדַרְכֵ֞י דָּוִ֤יד אָבִיו֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א דָרַ֖שׁ לַבְּעָלִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• was with Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
• because he walkedהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• in the firstרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · first: previousH7223
• waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• of his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• and soughtדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• not unto Baalimבַּעַלba‛al · BaalH1168

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 17:3

• 2 Chronicles 15:2Azariah went to meet King Asa. He said to him, ‘Listen to me Asa and all you people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The Lord will be with you while you are faithful to him. If you ask him for help, he will answer you. But if you turn away from him, he will turn away from you.
• Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, so that good things happened to him. Joseph lived in the house of Potiphar, his Egyptian master.
• Exodus 3:12God said to Moses, ‘Be sure of this: I will be with you. After you have led the people out of Egypt you will all worship me here, on this mountain. That will show you that I myself have sent you to do this.’
• Exodus 4:12Now go! I will help you to speak well. I will teach you what you must say.’
• Joshua 1:5No one can stop you from taking this land as long as you live. As I was with Moses, I will always be with you. I will never leave you alone.
• Judges 2:18Every time that the Lord chose a judge to lead them, the Lord helped the leader to rescue them from their enemies. While the leader was still alive, the Lord was kind to them. When the Israelites called out to the Lord for help, he was sorry for them. He saw the cruel things that their enemies were doing to give them pain.
• Judges 6:12The Lord's angel appeared to Gideon. He said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, brave fighter.’
• 2 Samuel 5:10David became more and more powerful because the Lord God Almighty was with him.
• 1 Chronicles 22:18He said to them, ‘You know that the Lord your God is with you. He has kept you safe from all your enemies. He has put the people who live in this region under my authority. So now the Lord and his people rule over all those nations.
• Psalms 46:7The Lord Almighty is there to help us. The God of Jacob keeps us safe. Selah.
• Isaiah 8:10Decide how you will fight the battle, but your plans will fail! What you decide to do will never happen. God is with us!
• Isaiah 41:10I am with you, so do not be afraid. I am your God, so do not be upset. I will make you strong and I will help you. My powerful right hand will keep you safe.”
• Matthew 1:23The prophet had said, ‘A young woman who has never had sex will have a baby boy. People will call her son Immanuel.’ This name means ‘God is with us’.
• Matthew 18:20Two or more people may meet together because they believe in me. If they do that, I will be there with them.’
• Matthew 28:20Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will be with you until the end of time.’
• 2 Timothy 4:22I pray that the Lord will continue to make you strong in your spirit. I pray that he will be kind to all of you.

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 17:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The Lord was with Jehoshaphat - "The Word of the Lord was Jehoshaphat's Helper." - Targum.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3The first ways of his father David - The Septuagint and several Hebrew manuscripts omit “David,” which has probably crept in from the margin, for David‘s “first ways” are nowhere else contrasted with his later ways. The real meaning of the writer is, that Jehoshaphat followed the example set by his father Asa in his earlier years 2 Chronicles 14:1-15; 15. Baalim - On the plural form, see 1 Kings 18:18 note.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4For the first time, the Chronicler compares Judah's practices with those of northern Israel. He shows awareness that the Baal cult from Tyre had been introduced into northern worship (see 1 Kings 16:31–32).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-53-5. he walked in the first ways of his father David--He imitated the piety of his great ancestor in the early part of his reign before he made those unhappy lapses which dishonored his character. and sought not unto Baalim--a term used for idols generally in contradistinction to the Lord God of his father.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Chronicles 17:3

• Blessing
• Children
• Jehoshaphat
• Obedience
• Religion
• Rulers
• Seekers

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jehoshaphat
• Chronicles, Books of
• Jehoshaphat (2)
• Priests and Levites

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings