God’s Word Translation
2 Chronicles 17:3
3The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, who lived in the old way like his ancestor David. Jehoshaphat didn’t dedicate his life to serving other gods—the Baals.
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 succeeded him as king. Jehoshaphat strengthened himself ⌞to wage war⌟ against Israel. 2He put troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and placed military posts in Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, who lived in the old way like his ancestor David. Jehoshaphat didn’t dedicate his life to serving other gods—the Baals. 4Instead, he dedicated his life to his ancestor’s God and lived by God’s commands. Jehoshaphat did not do what Israel was doing. 5So the Lord established Jehoshaphat’s power over the kingdom. All the people of Judah gave gifts to Jehoshaphat, and he had a lot of riches and honor.
Read all of 2 Chronicles 172 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 Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all you men from Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you will dedicate your lives to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
- Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. He worked in the house of his Egyptian master.
- Exodus 3:12God answered, “I will be with you. And this will be the proof that I sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”
- Exodus 4:12Now go, and I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
- Joshua 1:5No one will be able to oppose you successfully as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will never neglect you or abandon you.
- Judges 2:18But when the Lord appointed judges for the Israelites, he was with each judge. The Lord rescued them from their enemies as long as that judge was alive. The Lord was moved by the groaning of those who were tormented and oppressed.
- Judges 6:12The Messenger of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, brave man.”
- 2 Samuel 5:10David continued to grow more powerful because the Lord God of Armies was with him.
- 1 Chronicles 22:18⌞David said,⌟ “Isn’t the Lord your God with you? Hasn’t he given you peace with all your neighbors? He put the people who live in this country under my power, and the country has been conquered by the Lord and his people.
- Psalms 46:7The Lord of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
- Isaiah 8:10Make plans for battle, but they will never succeed. Give orders, but they won’t be carried out, because God is with us!
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand.
- Matthew 1:23“The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”
- Matthew 18:20Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.”
- Matthew 28:20Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”
- 2 Timothy 4:22The Lord be with you. His good will be with 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
In the dictionaries
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
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