Jehoshaphat’s Powerful Kingdom
July 17, 2022
Commentary
Jehoshaphat followed the reign of his father, by removing heathen worship and sent out teachers all over Judah to instruct the people in the law. He took pride, not in his riches and honor but in the ways of the Lord. In effect, he sent out the first itinerant Bible teaching team to be sponsored by royalty.
As we review the reign of Jehoshaphat, we see he is remembered for at least three reasons. First, his reliance upon God. As a result, God blessed him and granted him victories. Second, for the respect which he deserved and widely received. He was a good king who was vitally concerned with the welfare of his people, and he had peace and prosperity. Then third, for the reformation he instituted which was God honoring and was based upon the Word of God.
At the same time, he put together a great army of men. One division in Judah had 300,000 men (v.14) another 240,000 (v. 15) and still another with 200,000 (v. 16). Within the tribe of Benjamin, he had another 380,000 men. The grand total was an enormous army of 1,160,000.
Application
Ask - How do you want to be remembered when you die? Taking into consideration the way you are living and spending your time now and what your plans are for the future, how do you think you will measure up to the three things Jehoshaphat was remembered for?
2 Chronicles 17:1– 19 (NET)
1 His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel. 2 He placed troops in all Judah’s fortified cities and posted garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized.
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites. 5 The Lord made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. 6 He was committed to following the Lord; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
7 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. 8 They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the Lord. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
10 The Lord put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute, including a load of silver. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.
12 Jehoshaphat’s power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. 13 He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem. 14 These were their divisions by families:
15 Jehochanan the commander led 280,000, 16 and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the Lord, led 200,000 skilled warriors.
17 From Benjamin, Eliada, a skilled warrior, led 200,000 men who were equipped with bows and shields, 18 and Jehozabad led 180,000 trained warriors.
19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.