Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 17

And Jehoshaphat ... in his stead. —The last words of 1 Kings 15:24. The name means Iah judges.

And strengthened himself against Israel. —As described in 2 Chronicles 17:2. Israel is here the northern kingdom. These defensive measures were taken in the early part of the reign, and before Jehoshaphat connected himself by marriage with the northern dynasty (2 Chronicles 18:1).

And he placed forces. —Compare 2 Chronicles 11:12.

The fenced cities. —‘ Arê ha-bĕtsûrôth. (Compare 2 Chronicles 11:5 and following, 2 Chronicles 14:6–7.)

And set garrisons. — Placed military posts or prefects (netsîbîm). (1 Chronicles 11:16; 2 Chronicles 11:11.) Syriac, “appointed rulers.”

The cities of Ephraim ... had taken. —See on 2 Chronicles 15:8.

He walked in the first ways. —The former or earlier ways of David, as contrasted with his later conduct—a tacit allusion to the adultery with Bathsheba and other sins of David committed in his later years (2 Samuel 11–24). A few manuscripts and the Septuagint omit David.

And sought not to Baalim. — And sought not the Baals (dârash lĕ, a late construction). The Baals were different local aspects of the sun-god. Here the term no doubt includes the illegal worship of Jehovah under the form of a bullock, as instituted by Jeroboam, and practised in the northern kingdom (the doing of Israel 2 Chronicles 17:4). Syriac, and prayed not to images.

Therefore. — And (so “also,” “so that,” in 2 Chronicles 17:7; 2 Chronicles 17:10).

The Lord established the kingdom in his hand. — Compare to 2 Kings 14:5.

Presents. — Minchah. This word often means tributary offerings, as in 2 Chronicles 17:11, but here it obviously denotes the voluntary gifts of loyal subjects, usual at the beginning of a reign (1 Samuel 10:27).

And he had (or got) riches and honour in abundance. — Like David and Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:28; 2 Chronicles 1:12).

And his heart was lifted up. — Gabhah lçbh, which usually, like the phrase of the Authorised version, has a bad meaning, as in 2 Chronicles 26:16. The margin is right here: “his courage rose high,” or “he grew bold” in the ways of Jehovah, that is, in the path of religious reform. Vulgate, “cum sumpsisset cor ejus audaciam propter vias Domini.”

Moreover. — And again, further. Referring to 2 Chronicles 17:3. Not only did he not seek the Baals, but more than this, he removed the high places, and so on. [This is the common explanation. But the sense may instead be: “And he again removed,” referring back to Asa’s reforms, 2 Chronicles 14:5.]

Groves. — Ashêrim, “Asherahs.” (2 Chronicles 14:3).