2 Chronicles 17:3

_AND THE LORD WAS WITH JEHOSHAPHAT, BECAUSE HE WALKED IN THE FIRST WAYS OF HIS FATHER DAVID, AND SOUGHT NOT UNTO BAALIM;_ He walked in the first ways of his father David. He imitated the piety of his great ancestor in the early part of his reign, before he made those unhappy lapses which dishonoured his character. AND SOUGHT NOT UNTO BAALIM - a term used for idols generally, in contradistinction to the Lord God of his father....

Verse 2 Chronicles 17:3. _THE LORD WAS WITH JEHOSHAPHAT_] "The WORD of the Lord was Jehoshaphat's Helper." - _Targum_....

THE FIRST WAYS OF HIS FATHER DAVID - The Septuagint and several Hebrew manuscripts omit “David,” which has probably crept in from the margin, for David’s “first ways” are nowhere else contrasted with his later ways. The real meaning of the writer is, that Jehoshaphat followed the example set by his father Asa in his earlier years 2 Chronicles 14:1; 2 Chronicles 15. BAALIM - On the plural form, see 1 Kings 18:18 note....

EXPOSITION To the contents of this chapter, and to the reign of Jehoshaphat, which occupies this and the following three chapters, the Book of Kings furnishes as yet no parallel. All that it has to say of Jehoshaphat now is summed up in one sentence (1 Kings 15:24), "And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead," till we arrive at the ten verses of 1 Kings 22:41-11, with their very slender sketch (see also 2 Kings 3:1). 2 CHRONICLES 17:1 JEHOSHAPHAT. In 2 Chronicles 2

AND THE LORD WAS WITH JEHOSHAPHAT,.... Guiding and directing, prospering and succeeding him in all things; he had, no doubt, his gracious presence in spiritual things, as well as his powerful and directing presence in things civil; the Targum is, "the Word of the Lord was for his help;'' BECAUSE HE WALKED IN THE FIRST WAYS OF HIS FATHER DAVID; which were his best; some of his last ways not being good, as in the affair of Uriah and Bathsheba, and his numbering of the people; Jehoshaphat followed him in the one, but not in the other: or, "in the ways of David and his father, the first"; the first of them both; for the latter ways of his father Asa were not so good as his first, as the preceding chapter shows; and the Septuagint version leaves out the word "David", and so restrains it to his own father: AND SOUGHT NOT UNTO BAALIM; as did Ahab king of Israel, who now reigned there;...

FATHER After the Jewish custom of calling a family, or tribal head, father; for example (John 8:53)....

2. REFORMATION UNDER JEHOSHAPHAT CHAPTER 17 Jehoshaphat's Reformation and Increase _ 1. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:1)_ 2. The revival under his reign (2 Chronicles 17:6) 3. His increase (2 Chronicles 17:10) Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, began his reign by strengthening himself against Israel. The Lord was with him, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, which means David's faithful walk before his great sin. The Lord greatly blessed him by establishing his kingdom and in giving him riches and honor in abundance. The Lord kept all His promises. When Jehoshaphat saw the evidences of divine blessing, his heart was li

2 Chronicles 17:1 to 2 Chronicles 20:37. THE REIGN OF JEHOSHAPHAT. This section is, in the main, from the hand of the Chronicler, whose spirit and aim are visible throughout; he has utilised all the information concerning Jehoshaphat to be got from 1 K. viz. in 1 Kings 15:24; 1 Kings 22:1; 1 Kings 22:41 (see notes). 2 CHRONICLES 17:1 deals with Jehoshaphat's defensive measures; he is prosperous because he obeys the

THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. WAS WITH. Thus approving his strengthening himself against idolaters and idolatry. THE FIRST WAYS: i.e. David's earlier ways were of faith....

_in the first ways of his father David_ Omit _David_(so LXX.), the person referred to being _Asa_(1 Kings 22:43). Asa's _first ways_(ch. 14, 15) were good, his latter ways (ch. 16), according to the Chronicler, were evil. _unto Baalim_ R.V. UNTO THE BAALIM. Baal is not a proper name, but a title meaning "Lord," which was generally given to false gods. Israel might not call Jehovah, "My Baal" (_Baali_), Hosea 2:16-17....