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Jehoshaphat Becomes King

17 His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel.[a] He placed troops in all Judah’s fortified cities and posted garrisons[b] throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized.

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor[c] David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign.[d] He did not seek the Baals, but instead sought the God of his ancestors[e] and obeyed[f] his commands, unlike the Israelites.[g] The Lord made his kingdom secure;[h] all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected.[i] He was committed to following the Lord;[j] he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 17:1 tn Heb “and strengthened himself over Israel.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 17:2 tn Or perhaps, “governors.”
  3. 2 Chronicles 17:3 tn Heb “father.”
  4. 2 Chronicles 17:3 tn Heb “for he walked in the ways of David his father [in] the beginning [times].”
  5. 2 Chronicles 17:4 tn Heb “fathers.”
  6. 2 Chronicles 17:4 tn Heb “walked in.”
  7. 2 Chronicles 17:4 tn Heb “and not like the behavior of Israel.”
  8. 2 Chronicles 17:5 tn Heb “established the kingdom in his hand.”
  9. 2 Chronicles 17:5 tn Heb “and he had wealth and honor in abundance.”
  10. 2 Chronicles 17:6 tn Heb “and his heart was high in the ways of the Lord.” Perhaps גָּבַהּ (gavah, “be high”) here means “be cheerful” (HALOT 171 s.v.) or “be encouraged” (BDB 147 s.v. 3.a).

Jehoshaphat’s Reign

17 His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him and strengthened himself against Israel.(A) He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had taken.(B) The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father;[a] he did not seek the Baals but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments and not according to the ways of Israel.(C) Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.(D) His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the sacred poles[b] from Judah.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 17.3 Gk: Heb his father David
  2. 17.6 Or Asherahs