2 Chronicles 17: A King Who Teaches the Law
Jehoshaphat walks in David's faithful ways, sends officials to teach God's law in every city, and the fear of the LORD secures his kingdom.
2 Chronicles 17 (WEB)
1 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.
2 He 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.
3 Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,
4 but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5 Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance.
6 His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.
7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
8 and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
9 They taught in Judah, having the book of Yahweh’s law with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.
10 The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats.
12 Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.
13 He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
14 This was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand;
15 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;
16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
17 Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
18 and next to him Jehozabad and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready prepared for war.
19 These were those who waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
2 Chronicles 17 (KJV)
1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben–hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
8 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob–adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.
13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.
16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.
17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
2 Chronicles 17 (ASV)
1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
2 And he 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.
3 And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim,
4 but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5 Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance.
6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Jehovah: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
8 and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
9 And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Jehovah with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.
10 And the fear of Jehovah fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
11 And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.
12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.
13 And he had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
14 And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand;
15 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand;
16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Jehovah; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
17 And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for war.
19 These were they that waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
Summary
Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa and strengthens his kingdom, and the LORD is with him because he walks in the early, faithful ways of his father David and does not seek the Baals. He seeks the God of his father and walks in his commandments rather than following the practices of the northern kingdom. Therefore the LORD establishes the kingdom in his hand, and Judah brings him tribute so that he has riches and honor in abundance. His heart is encouraged in the ways of the LORD, and he removes the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. In the third year of his reign he sends his princes, accompanied by Levites and priests, to teach throughout the cities of Judah, carrying the book of the law of the LORD with them and instructing the people. As a result, the fear of the LORD falls on the surrounding kingdoms, so they make no war against Jehoshaphat; some even bring him tribute. Jehoshaphat grows steadily greater, building fortresses and store cities and commanding a vast, well-organized army of valiant men. The chapter portrays a ruler whose devotion to God overflows into a deliberate effort to teach God's word to the whole nation, and whose obedience brings peace and prosperity.
Main Characters
- Jehoshaphat — King of Judah who seeks the LORD rather than the Baals, removes idols, and commissions teachers to take God's law to every city.
- The teaching officials and Levites — Princes, Levites, and priests sent throughout Judah with the book of the law to instruct the people in the ways of God.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who is with Jehoshaphat, establishes his kingdom, and causes the surrounding nations to fear so that they make no war.
Key Verse
2 Chronicles 17:9 (WEB)
They taught in Judah, having the book of Yahweh’s law with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.
Lessons Learned
- Seeking God rather than the idols of the culture invites his nearness and blessing.
- Godly leaders care not only for their own walk but for teaching God's word to others.
- When God's word goes out, the fear of the LORD can quiet even hostile neighbors.
- Obedience tends to bear fruit in stability, honor, and peace under God's hand.
- Walk in the faithful ways, not the culture's. The LORD was with Jehoshaphat “because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals” (2 Chronicles 17:3, WEB).
- God's word is meant to be taught widely. Jehoshaphat's teachers “went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people” with the book of the law (2 Chronicles 17:9, WEB).
- Obedience establishes and honors. “Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand” and gave “riches and honor in abundance” (2 Chronicles 17:5, WEB) as Jehoshaphat sought God.
- God's word brings holy awe to outsiders. “The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war” (2 Chronicles 17:10, WEB).
- Why was the LORD with Jehoshaphat, according to verses 3 and 4?
- What initiative does Jehoshaphat take in his third year, and why is teaching the law so significant?
- How does the surrounding nations' response to Judah connect to Judah's faithfulness?
- Jehoshaphat both removed idols and sent out teachers. How do tearing down and building up work together?
- Who has God placed within your reach to teach or encourage in his word, and how might you begin?
- The LORD was with him because he walked in David's early, faithful ways, refused to seek the Baals, sought the God of his father, and obeyed his commandments (17:3-4). His blessing flowed from a heart and life genuinely oriented toward God.
- He sends princes, Levites, and priests with the book of the law to teach in every city (17:7-9). It matters because a nation is shaped by knowing God's word; he invests in the people's understanding, not just in defenses. Discuss how teaching builds lasting godliness.
- Because Judah was faithful, the fear of the LORD fell on neighboring kingdoms so they made no war and some brought tribute (17:10-11). God's protection followed his people's obedience, showing his hand over the nations.
- Jehoshaphat removed high places and Asherah poles and also sent out teachers (17:6-9). Clearing away falsehood and planting truth belong together; it is not enough to remove error without instructing in what is right. Invite reflection on both in personal discipleship.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to name one person, a child, friend, or newer believer, and a simple, doable way to share or open Scripture with them. Keep it gentle and practical, not pressured.