2 Crônicas 17
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 17
NJB (LXX versing) Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah The Initially Good and Prosperous Reign of Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat Becomes King Jehoshaphat's Military Policy 17:1-2 17:1-9 17:1-6 17:1-6 17:1-2 His Good Reign His Devotion to Religion 17:3-9 17:3-6 17:7-9 17:7-9 17:7-9 Jehoshaphat's Greatness 17:10-19 17:10-11 17:10-19 17:10-13a 17:10-11 17:12-19 17:12 The Army 17:13a 17:13b-19 17:13b-14a 17:14b 17:15 17:16 17:17 17:18 17:19 Etc.
2 Crônicas 17:1-2
17:1 "Jehoshaphat" "Jehoshaphat" means "YHWH is Judge" (BDB 221). 2 Chronicles 17-20 deals with his reign. This material is not in Kings and, therefore, comes from the Chronicler's prophet source or other written annals (cf. 2 Chr. 16:11). There may have been a three year co-reign with Asa (because of Asa's debilitating foot disease). Therefore, the "third year" of 2 Chr. 17:17 would have been his first year after the death of Asa. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM NASB, JB "over Israel" NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, LXX, Peshitta "against Israel" "took a firm hold of Israel" Again Judah is called "Israel" (NASB, JB, JPSOA). The implication is that Judah is the true descendant of Jacob. The MT has the preposition על, which has a large semantic range (BDB 752-759). 2 Chronicles 17:2 seems to support "against." The powerful northern King, Ahab, mentioned so predominately in Kings, is the focus. 17:2 "in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had captured" This goes back to 2 Chr. 13:19; 15:8. It would include "Ramah" (2 Chr. 16:1).
2 Crônicas 17:3-9
17:3-9 "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat" There are several reasons given. He followed the example of early David, 2 Chr. 17:3 (i.e., the Davidic covenant of 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17 is the theological key, cf. 2 Kgs. 2:2; 2 Chr. 34:2). He did not practice fertility worship, 2 Chr. 17:3. He sought the God of David, 2 Chr. 17:4 (see note at 2 Chr. 7:14). He obeyed YHWH's commandments, 2 Chr. 17:4 (see Special Topic: Keep). He did not act like the northern tribes, 2 Chr. 17:4. He took pride in the ways of the Lord, 2 Chr. 17:6 (lit. "his heart was high in the ways of YHWH"). He removed the high places, 2 Chr. 17:6. He sent five officials nine Levites (cf. 2 chr. 35:3) two priests into the cities of Judah to teach the Law of Moses, 2 Chr. 17:7-9 (cf. Deut. 6:4-9; 33:10). The Chronicler does not spend any space or ink on Ahab and Jezebel! 17:3 "his father David" The MT is supported by the Peshitta, but some MSS of the LXX have "his father," implying Asa. Asa also was faithful only during his early years. "earlier days" There is some confusion in the Hebrew text. This could refer to Asa (LXX) David (MT, Peshitta) Jehoshaphat (NIV, see Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 496) "the Baals" Ba'al was the male fertility god of the Canaanite pantheon. This worship could be expressed as a singular (cf. 1 Kgs. 16:31) or a plural, as here (cf. 1 Kgs. 18:18). This fertility god was worshiped by imitation magic at local high places (i.e., ritual sex). Every town and village had their own high place. 17:3,6 "Baal. . .Asherim" These were the male and female gods of Canaanite fertility worship. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE 17:5 YHWH blessed Jehoshaphat by establishing his kingdom, 2 Chr. 17:5 all Judah bringing tribute, 2 Chr. 17:5 expected gifts to a new king taxes, cf. 1 Sam. 10:27; 1 Kgs. 10:25 great riches and honor, 2 Chr. 17:5 protection from attack by the surrounding nations because of their dread of YHWH, 2 Chr. 17:10 gifts brought by Philistines, 2 Chr. 17:11 animals brought by Arabians, 2 Chr. 17:11 (Josephus, Antiq. 8.15.1., says they brought more every year) he grew greater and greater, 2 Chr. 17:12 built cities large army 17:6 "He took great pride in the ways of the Lord" This is literally "his heart was lifted up," which usually denotes a prideful event (cf. Deut. 8:14; 2 Chr. 26:16; Ps. 131:1), but here it is a positive attitude toward YHWH and His Law. "and again removed the high places" Asa also tried to remove the local Ba'al and Asherah worship sites but the people kept reopening them (cf. 2 Chr. 15:17; 20:33). They are removed again under Hezekiah (cf. 2 Kgs. 18:4) and Josiah (cf. 2 Kgs. 23:4-8). 17:7 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB, JPSOA "Ben-hail" "the sons of the mighty" "the commanders of the armies" "outstanding men" The name "Ben-hail" (BDB 122) occurs only here. Why the ancient versions took it as a descriptive phrase and not a name is uncertain. Possibly, "ben," "son of. . .," caused the confusion. These government or royal leaders did not do the teaching but acted as governmental enforcers or organizers. 17:9 "the book of the law of the Lord" One wonders what this book contained (cf. Deut. 17:18-20; 2 Chr. 34:14; Neh. 9:3). all the Pentateuch Deuteronomy only some of the historical books The verse implies that Jehoshaphat had many copies of the Law made so that each group could have a copy to teach the people from.
2 Crônicas 17:10-19
17:10 "the dread of the Lord" There are many Hebrew terms that express this concept. Fear can be a good thing (i.e., Jer. 32:40) when it is used in the sense of awe or reverence , but in this context, it refers to the divine fear of YHWH given to the covenant people's enemies (cf. Exod. 15:14-16; 23:27; Deut. 2:25; 11:25; Ps. 105:38; 2 Chr. 14:14). SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR 17:14-18 These numbers add up to over a million. They probably represent military units of a much smaller number. the NASB Study Bible, p. 606, suggests "300 units. . .280 units. . .200 units. . .200 units. . .180 units" the Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 497, suggests that "'eleph" (thousand) should be "'allup" (leader) אלף ‒ thousand אלוף ‒ chief however, NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 407, rejects this identification There is obviously some form of conscription for labor and the military in 2 Chronicles. Asa ‒ 2 Chr. 14:7 (for labor) Jehoshaphat ‒ here, (for military) Amaziah ‒ 2 Chr. 25:5 (for military) Uzziah ‒ 2 Chr. 26:11-13 (for military) SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph)