Howbeit the high places … the people had not prepared. The statements so precisely made in this verse evidently serve the purpose of distinguishing between the wishes and orders of the king and the unequal conduct of his people. read more
The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat , etc. These "acts of Jehoshaphat" are said in this verse to find their record in the book of Jehu … mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel . The parallel has, "in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah." For our "mentioned," note margin, literal, made to ascend and Revised Version "inserted." The "book of the kings of Israel" may (note also the remarkable apparent misnomers of our writer, as illustrated by 2 Chronicles 12:6 ; 2... read more
The latter clause of this verse helps to reconcile the first clause with the statement that Jehoshaphat “took away the high places” (see 2 Chronicles 15:17 note). read more
Who is mentioned ... - Words which are now generally thought to mean “whose work was inserted into the Book of the Kings.”Of Israel - “Israel” is probably used here inexactly for “Judah” (compare2 Chronicles 12:6; 2 Chronicles 12:6; 2 Chronicles 21:2, 2 Chronicles 21:4). read more
2 Chronicles 20:33. Howbeit, the high places were not taken away Not universally; the fault was not in Jehoshaphat, but in the people, who, though they did worship the true God, yet would not be confined to the temple; but, for their own convenience, or from their affection to their ancient customs, chose to worship him in the high places. read more
The reign of Jehoshaphat (17:1-20:37)Jehoshaphat carried on the reform that Asa began, by destroying all the Baal shrines that remained in Judah (17:1-6; cf. 15:17). Positively, he educated the people in the law of God by forming an official group of instructors whom he sent around Judah’s towns and villages. The group consisted of civil leaders, priests and Levites (7-9). He also fortified Judah’s defences and enlarged its army, so that neighbouring countries feared to attack it... read more
Asa his father. Some codices, with six early printed editions, read "his father Asa". read more
not taken away. See note on 2 Chronicles 17:6 . read more
book = words. Jehu. Compare 2 Chronicles 19:2 . read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:31-37
The biography of Jehoshaphat. I. JEHOSHAPHAT 'S PARENTAGE . 1 . His father. Asa, a good king who enjoyed a long and honoured reign. Though good fathers have sometimes bad sons, as in the case of Jehoshaphat himself, yet there is a presumption in favour of a parent's piety being reproduced in the son. "Lord! I find the genealogy of my Saviour strangely checkered with four remarkable changes in four immediate generations. I see, Lord, from hence that my father's piety cannot be... read more