2 Chronicles 17: Jehoshaphat strengthens Judah and sends teachers through the cities
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What happens?
Jehoshaphat, Asa's son, reigns in his father's place, strengthens himself against Israel, and puts forces and garrisons in the cities of Judah and Ephraim. Yahweh is with him because he walks in the first ways of David and seeks the God of his father, and he takes away the high places and Asherah poles. In his third year he sends princes, Levites and priests with the book of Yahweh's law to teach in the cities of Judah. The fear of Yahweh falls on the surrounding kingdoms, gifts come in from the Philistines and Arabians, and the chapter lists his commanders with their numbers of mighty men.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter, and no one is quoted speaking in it. Verses 3 to 6, that Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat and established his kingdom, and verse 10, that the fear of Yahweh fell on the kingdoms around, are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.
In plain English: His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.
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2He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
In plain English: He put an army in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
Good to know: says Asa had captured cities "from the hill country of Ephraim". This verse says the cities of Ephraim were ones "which Asa his father had taken". The text does not say more about when or how.
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3Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,
In plain English: Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first (or: former) ways of his ancestor David and did not seek the Baals,
The Hebrew word: "First" is rishon, which the dictionary gives as "first, in place, time or rank". This Bible says "first" or a longer form in 123 of the 174 verses that use the word and "former" or a longer form in 28.
What changes: Read as "first", Jehoshaphat walked in the earlier ways of David. Read as "former", he walked in the ways David followed in the past. The text does not say which part of David's life is meant.
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4but sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel.
In plain English: but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the deeds of Israel.
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5Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
In plain English: So Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah gave tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had wealth and honor in great number.
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6His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.
In plain English: His heart was lifted up (or: lofty) in the ways of Yahweh. And he took away the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
The Hebrew word: "Lifted up" is gavah, which the dictionary gives as "to soar, i.e. be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty". This Bible says "lifted" or a longer form in 8 of the 33 verses that use the word.
What changes: Read as "lifted up" or "lofty", his heart was raised in the ways of Yahweh. The dictionary also gives "haughty" for this word, which would mean pride. The text does not say which.
Good to know: says the high places were not removed "from Israel" in Asa's days, and says "the high places were not taken away" in Jehoshaphat's. This verse says Jehoshaphat took them away from Judah. The text does not explain how these fit.
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7Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
In plain English: In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah,
Good to know: "Ben Hail" is Ben-Chayil, which the dictionary gives as "Ben-Chail, an Israelite". The two parts are the common words for "son" and "strength" (the second is the word in "mighty men of valor" in verse 13). The text does not say whether it is one man's name or a title.
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8and with them Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
In plain English: and with them the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah, the Levites, and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
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9They taught in Judah, having the book of Yahweh’s law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
In plain English: They taught in Judah, having the book of Yahweh's law with them. They went round through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
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10The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
In plain English: The dread of Yahweh was on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, and they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.
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11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
In plain English: Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute and silver as a load. The Arabs also brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
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12Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.
In plain English: Jehoshaphat kept growing greater and greater (word for word: going and becoming great, up to above), and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.
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13He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
In plain English: He had much property (or: many works) in the cities of Judah, and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
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14This was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: From Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;
In plain English: These were their numbers by their fathers' houses. Of Judah, commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;
Good to know: The text gives a number for each commander and does not add them up: Adnah three hundred thousand, Jehohanan two hundred eighty thousand, Amasiah two hundred thousand (verses 14 to 16, Judah), Eliada two hundred thousand and Jehozabad one hundred eighty thousand (verses 17 and 18, Benjamin). gives Asa's army as three hundred thousand from Judah and two hundred eighty thousand from Benjamin. The text does not explain how the lists compare.
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15and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;
In plain English: and next to him Jehohanan the commander, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;
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16and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
In plain English: and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered himself to Yahweh, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
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17From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
In plain English: From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
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18and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready and prepared for war.
In plain English: and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand equipped for war.
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19These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
In plain English: These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
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