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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 17:1-2

Spiritual fortification. Jehoshaphat did well to "strengthen himself against Israel." One that ought to be in the closest possible relationship to us but that is formally separated from us and that is likely to be jealous of our power is most to be feared by us. The avowed enemy is not so hostile as the envious rival, as the unfriendly "neighbour." And there was nothing of untrustfulness in this procedure of the king's. Had he gone to Syria as his father did ( 2 Chronicles 16:2 ) for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 17:1-6

The accession of Jehoshaphat. I. THE DATE OF HIS CORONATION . 1 . The thirty-fifth year of his age. He was thus born in the sixth year of Asa's reign ( 2 Chronicles 16:14 ), during the ten years of quiet. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi ( 1 Kings 22:42 ). A man of mature years when he ascended the throne, he was better qualified to bear the load of responsibility his father's decease had, in God's providence, cast upon him. 2 . The fourth year of Ahab... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 17:1-9

The first chapter of Jehoshaphat's career. Although to the end Jehoshaphat was neither an unfaithful king nor an unfaithful man, and certainly no apostate, yet the first chapter of his career reads the best. The mounting of the sun was fine, but clouds hung about the noonday sun, and the setting was not a sky of perfect western glory. The unfolding of the bud looked towards a perfect flower, but some blight seemed to visit it, and some worm was in the fruit. The three chief features of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 17:2

He placed forces ; literally, he gave ( Genesis 1:17 ) forces, or a force, or host, or army: חַיִל ( Exodus 14:28 ; 2 Samuel 24:2 ). And set garrisons ; again literally, he gave garrisons ( נְאִיבִים ) ; i.e. either the persons "set over," prefects or officers ( 1 Kings 4:19 ), or the military garrison itself "stationed" ( 1 Samuel 10:5 ; 1 Samuel 13:3 ). A village in Judah also had the name Nezeb ( Joshua 15:45 ). In the cities of Ephraim (see 2... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 17:3

The first ways of his father David . Although there would be no difficulty in reconciling this statement with history, yet probably the name David should not stand here. It is not in the Septuagint. The most natural and sufficient reference is to Asa . And sought not unto Ballim; literally, to the Baalim; i.e. to the various false gods of surrounding peoples ( 2:11 ), Baal-berith ( 8:33 ; 9:4 , 9:46 ), Baal-zebub ( 2 Kings 1:2 ), Baal-peor ( Numbers 23:28 , etc.; Numbers... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 17:3-6

The wise choice and the happy course. We have before us here the king who made the wise choice, and who consequently ran through a very happy course. In him we have an example; in it a promise for ourselves. I. THE WISE CHOICE , WHICH IS AN EXAMPLE TO US . Jehoshaphat: 1 . Preferred the true God to the false deities; he "sought to the Lord God of his father," and he "sought not unto Baalim." Moreover, he set before him, as that which he should copy: 2 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 17:5

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 17:1

Jehoshaphat ascended the throne in the fourth year of Ahab 1 Kings 22:41, probably after that monarch had contracted his alliance with the royal family of Sidon, and before he was engaged in war with Syria. It was thus not unnatural that Jehoshaphat should begin his reign by strengthening himself against a possible attack on the part of his northern neighbor. read more

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