All Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat . These presents were, of course, voluntary gifts, though, like not a few others, custom may have taken off from them something of the bloom of spontaneousness ( 1 Samuel 10:27 ; 2 Samuel 8:2 ; 1 Kings 4:21 ; 1 Kings 10:25 ; Psalms 72:10 ). read more
The 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; 2 Chronicles 15:0.Baalim - On the plural form, see 1 Kings 18:18 note. read more
The doings of Israel - i. e. the especially idolatrous doings of the time - the introduction and establishment of the worship of Baal and the groves. read more
Presents - i. e. “free-will offerings,” in addition to the regular taxes. See 1 Samuel 10:27. read more
2 Chronicles 17:3-4. He walked in the first ways of his father David His ways before he fell so foully, in the matter of Uriah, which were good ways. David, indeed, recovered from that fall, but, perhaps, never, while he lived, fully retrieved the spiritual strength and comfort which he had lost. Jehoshaphat followed David as far as he followed God, and no farther. St. Paul himself thus limits our imitation of him, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Follow me, as I follow Christ, and not otherwise. The ... read more
2 Chronicles 17:5-6. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand Those stand firm that have the presence of God with them. If the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, that will stablish the work of our hands, and establish us in our integrity. And all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents As subjects, in those times and places, used to do to their kings, in token of their respect and subjection to them. The more there is of true religion among a people, the more... 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
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . was with. Thus approving his strengthening himself against idolaters and idolatry. the first ways: i.e. David's earlier ways were of faith. read more
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . Israel. The worship of the calves, and Baal. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 17:4
After the doings of Israel . This expression probably marks the doings of the northern kingdom, as both the more typical throughout its whole history of the wrong, and also as the systematic beginning, "by a law," of idolatrous worship and images in the matter of the calves and so on. read more