Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.
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Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel. 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. Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals, but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel. Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah. Also 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; and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. They 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. The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. Some 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. Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah. He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. This 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; and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand; 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. From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready and prepared for war. These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
Parallel Translations
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Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.
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Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
Show all 3 translations
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Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD; and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (37)
- 2 Chronicles 18:1 (v5) Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.
- Matthew 6:33 (v5) But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Psalms 127:1 (v5) Unless Yahweh builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.
- Matthew 2:11 (v5) They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they…
- Job 42:12 (v5) So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of…
Show all 37 cross-references
- 1 Samuel 10:27 (v5) But certain worthless fellows said, “How could this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.
- 2 Chronicles 32:23 (v5) Many brought gifts to Yahweh to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all…
- Hosea 14:9 (v6) Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the…
- 1 Peter 5:10 (v5) But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect,…
- 2 Chronicles 15:17 (v6) But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
- 2 Chronicles 20:33 (v6) However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
- Psalms 68:29 (v5) Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.
- Psalms 119:1 (v6) Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
- Genesis 13:2 (v5) Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
- Genesis 26:13-14 (v5) The man grew great, and grew more and more until he became very great. He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great…
- Deuteronomy 8:13-14 (v5) and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; then your…
- 2 Samuel 7:25-26 (v5) Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have…
- 1 Kings 4:21 (v5) Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and…
- 1 Kings 9:4-5 (v5) As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that…
- 1 Kings 10:25 (v5) Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
- 1 Kings 10:27 (v5) The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
- 1 Kings 22:43 (v6) He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. However the high…
- 2 Chronicles 1:15 (v5) The king made silver and gold to be as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars to be as common as the sycamore trees that are in…
- 2 Chronicles 9:27 (v5) The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as abundant as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
- 2 Chronicles 19:3 (v6) Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek…
- 2 Chronicles 32:27-29 (v5) Hezekiah had exceedingly much riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices,…
- 2 Chronicles 34:3-7 (v6) For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he…
- Psalms 18:21-22 (v6) For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away…
- Psalms 72:10 (v5) The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
- Psalms 76:11 (v5) Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them! Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared.
- Psalms 132:12 (v5) If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.”
- Psalms 138:5 (v6) Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great!
- Deuteronomy 28:47 (v6) Because you didn’t serve Yahweh your God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things;
- 2 Chronicles 14:3 (v6) for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,
- 2 Chronicles 31:1 (v6) Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the…
- Job 22:26 (v6) For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face to God.
- Acts 13:10 (v6) and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v6 He gave himself wholly to serve the Lord.
He gave himself wholly to serve the Lord.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv5–6 2Ch 17:5 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in…
2Ch 17:5 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
Ver. 5. And he had riches and honour in abundance.] Herein he came near unto Solomon in his greatest flourish.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; as subjects in those…
Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; as subjects in those times and places used to do to their kings, as a token of their respect and subjection to them. See 1Sa 10:27; 1Ki 10:25; 2Ch 32:23.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand,....…
Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand,.... Piety is the best prop of government; the throne is best supported and established by truth, righteousness, and mercy; by the exercise of these Jehoshaphat was settled in his kingdom, and had a place in the hearts of his people:
and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; being well affected to him, as well as it was usual so to do at a prince's accession to the throne, see Sa1 10:27.
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and he had riches and honour in abundance; through the presents his subjects brought him, and the respect they showed him.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Brought presents - As subjects in those times used…
Brought presents - As subjects in those times used to do to their kings, as a token of their respect and subjection to them.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v5 2Ch 17:5-6. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in…
2Ch 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 conscientious loyalty there will be. A governor, that answers the end of government, will be supported. And he had riches and honour in abundance — The effect of the favour both of God and his people. It is undoubtedly true, though few will believe it, that religion and piety are the best friends to outward prosperity. And his heart was lift up in the ways of the Lord — Riches and honour in abundance prove to many a clog and a hinderance in the ways of the Lord, an occasion of pride, security, and sensuality: but they had a quite contrary effect upon Jehoshaphat: his abundance was oil to the wheels of his obedience; and the more he had of the wealth of this world, the more cheerfully and resolutely he went on in the ways of the Lord. His heart also was lifted up above all discouragements, difficulties, and fears, by which men’s hearts are wont to be cast down. He was valiant and resolute for God and his ways. He took away the high places and groves — That is, those in which idols were worshipped; for those that were dedicated to the true God only were not taken away, chap. 2Ch 20:33. And though Asa had done the same before, yet either he did not do it thoroughly, or the people, who were mad upon their idols, had secretly made new ones, in the latter part of his reign, when he grew more infirm in body, and more remiss in God’s cause.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Presents - i. e. “free-will offerings,” in addition to…
Presents - i. e. “free-will offerings,” in addition to the regular taxes. See 1Sa 10:27.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Presents, as was customary, (1 K. x. 27,) or…
Presents, as was customary, (1 K. x. 27,) or tribute. C.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv5–6 all Judah brought . . . presents--This was customary…
all Judah brought . . . presents--This was customary with the people generally at the beginning of a reign (Sa1 10:27), and with the nobles and high functionaries yearly afterwards. They were given in the form of voluntary offerings, to avoid the odious idea of a tax or tribute.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v6 6. His heart was lifted up — That is,…
6. His heart was lifted up — That is, exalted with holy faith and courage.
Took away the high places — Yet, in spite of all his efforts and successes in this matter, the people had become so addicted to these practices that their destruction was not thoroughly secured. See note on 2Ch_14:3, and compare 2Ch_20:33.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–6 5. bought … presents] Probably congratulatory gifts at his…
5. bought … presents] Probably congratulatory gifts at his accession; cp. 1Sa_10:27.
riches and honour] Cp. 2Ch_18:1.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–6 (5) Therefore.—And (so “also,” “so that,” in 2Ch_17:7; 2Ch_17:10).
(5) Therefore.—And (so “also,” “so that,” in 2Ch_17:7; 2Ch_17:10).
The Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand.—Comp. 2Ki_14:5.
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Presents.—Minchah. This word often means tributary offerings, as in 2Ch_17:11, but here it obviously denotes the voluntary gifts of loyal subjects, usual at the beginning of a reign (1Sa_10:27).
And he had (or got) riches and honour in abundance.—Like David and Solomon (1Ch_29:28; 2Ch_1:12).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv5–6 All Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat. These presents were,…
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 (1Sa_10:27; 2Sa_8:2; 1Ki_4:21 1Ki_10:25; Psa_72:10)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways…
2Ch_17:6
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord.
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Encouragement in the ways of the Lord
I. The ways of the Lord are divine. Are His ways cold and unpleasant? H we descend a deep coal-pit and look up the shaft into the bright sky, we see the stars, but the pit is cold and dark. So men think that when they commune with God, it is like being in a coal-pit beholding a star; it is a beautiful sight, but makes one cold and unpleasant. Is this the truth? No; the Bible describes Gods people as having melody in their hearts, and one of His sweetest names is The happy God. Some people are afraid of becoming religious, lest they should be miserable; but they mistake the God in whose breast there is an ever-flowing heaven. The man who the most loves God is the happiest in disposition and the most cheerful as well as the most graceful in life.
II. His ways are also humane; they constrain us to love our suffering fellow-man, when he can do us no good but when we can do him good. (W. Birch.)
Jehoshaphat
I. Some men when, like jehoshaphat, they have riches and honour in abundance, have their hearts lifted up, but not in the ways of the Lord. The natural tendency of such circumstances is to create and foster a spirit of pride, of self-sufficiency, and of independence. How necessary the warning (Deu_8:11-14). Nebuchadnezzar is a striking exemplification of this.
II. Some men whose hearts are not lifted up are in the ways of the Lord. They are real Christians, but doubting, desponding Christians.
III. Some men have their hearts lifted up, like Jehoshaphat, in the ways of the Lord. They rejoice in the Lord alway. (R. Harley.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v6 high places (See Scofield "1Ki 3:2").
high places (See Scofield "1Ki 3:2").
groves (See Scofield "Deu 16:21") See Scofield "Jdg 3:7".
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v5 Yahweh established the rule in his hand
Yahweh established the rule in his hand
The phrase "his hand" represents Jehoshaphat's control. AT: "Yahweh enabled him to completely control his kingdom" (See: Metonymy)
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honor in abundance
The word "honor" may be expressed as a verb. AT: "was greatly honored" or "the people greatly honored him" (See: Abstract Nouns)
His heart
Here the king is represented by his "heart" to emphasize his will and desires. AT: "He" (See: Synecdoche)
translationWords
rule
hand
tribute
honor
heart
high place
Asherah
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v5 17:5-6 The word translated gifts is usually translated “tribute,”…
17:5-6 The word translated gifts is usually translated “tribute,” such as conquering kings required of their vassals (e.g., Judg 3:15-18), but forced tribute is hardly the sense intended here. The people of Judah voluntarily made Jehoshaphat very wealthy. As with Uzziah (2 Chr 26:16) and Hezekiah (32:25), riches often result in pride. However, Jehoshaphat was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He was not proud of his own achievements; instead, his courage led him to remove idolatrous worship from the kingdom. Jehoshaphat established control within his kingdom by practicing righteousness and faithfulness to God.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.