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2 CHRONICLES • CHAPTER 17
2 Chronicles 17
Solomon, the temple, Judah's kings, reform, apostasy, exile, and a history shaped around worship in Jerusalem.
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2 Chronicles 17
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Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.
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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.
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Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,
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but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel.
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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.
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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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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;
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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.
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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.
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The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
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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.
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Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.
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He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
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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;
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and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;
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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.
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From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
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and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready and prepared for war.
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These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
HISTORICAL
Where this chapter fits
2 Chronicles belongs to the Bible's historical narrative tradition, where theology, politics, memory, warfare, leadership, and national identity are intertwined.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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