Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary2 Chronicles 17

Jehoshaphat Succeeds AsaThis section introduces Jehoshaphat as the new king of Judah after Asa. Jehoshaphat was wise and faithful to God. He made his kingdom strong and safe, not by making alliances with foreign nations but by trusting in God and following good examples from the past. He worked to remove idols and false worship and encouraged the people to serve the Lord

v. 2: He placed soldiers in all the strong cities of Judah and put garrisons in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. This kept Judah safe and well-defended .

v. 3: The Lord

v. 4: Jehoshaphat sought the Lord

v. 5: Because of this, the Lord

v. 6: Jehoshaphat’s heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord

v. 7: In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in the cities of Judah. He wanted everyone to know God’s law and understand what was right .

v. 8: He also sent Levites and priests with the officials to help teach the people. These teachers traveled to many places so that everyone could learn about God .

v. 9: They taught in Judah, carrying the Book of the Law of the Lord

Jehoshaphat's ProsperityThis section describes the great success and blessings that Jehoshaphat enjoyed as king of Judah. His faithfulness to God brought peace, wealth, and stability to his kingdom. Neighboring nations respected him, and he strengthened Judah’s defenses without needing to fight wars. Jehoshaphat also organized a large, well-trained army. However, the key to his success was not his military strength but the fear of God, which influenced the surrounding nations. This reminds us that a nation’s true strength comes from obeying and honoring God.v. 10: The fear of the Lord

v. 11: Some nations, like the Philistines and the Arabians, brought Jehoshaphat gifts as a sign of their respect and desire for peace. The Arabians even brought him flocks of rams and goats in large numbers .

v. 12: Jehoshaphat grew more powerful and built strong forts and store cities in Judah. These were used to store weapons and supplies, showing his careful planning and concern for the kingdom's safety .

v. 13: He had many resources stored up in the cities of Judah, and his army was well-organized and ready for any danger. Jehoshaphat was a wise and responsible leader.

v. 14-18: Jehoshaphat’s army was divided into five groups, each led by a commander. The total number of soldiers was 1,160,000, a huge army for a kingdom as small as Judah. One of the commanders, Amasiah, willingly dedicated himself to the Lord

v. 19: Although Jehoshaphat’s army was large and well-prepared, it was not his military strength that protected Judah. Instead, it was the fear of God that kept the neighboring nations from attacking. This shows that the spiritual health of a nation is more important than its military power (2 Chronicles 17:19 ).