2 Chronicles 17:6

_AND HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD: MOREOVER HE TOOK AWAY THE HIGH PLACES AND GROVES OUT OF JUDAH._ His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. Full of faith and piety, he possessed zeal and courage to undertake the reformation of manners, to suppress all the works and objects of idolatry (see the note at 2 Chronicles 20:33), and held out public encouragement to the pure worship of God....

HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP - This expression generally occurs in a bad sense Deuteronomy 8:14; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Psalms 131:1; Proverbs 18:12; but here it must be taken differently. The margin “was encouraged” expresses fairly the true meaning. He first began by setting an example of faithfulness to Yahweh. He then proceeded to use his best endeavors to extirpate idolatry. HE TOOK AWAY THE HIGH PLACES - Compare 2 Chronicles 20:33, and see the...

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 HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD,.... It was engaged in them, was bent and set upon them; he walked in them with great pleasure and cheerfulness, being inspired with zeal and courage; he was fearless and intrepid, and regarded not any opposition he might have, or expect to have, in the work of reformation in which he was concerned: MOREOVER, HE TOOK AWAY THE HIGH PLACES; such as were dedicated to idols, but not those in which the true God was worshipped, 2 Chronicles 20:33 AND GROVES OUT OF JUDAH; where idols were placed; for though these had been removed by Asa, yet had been renewed in the latter part of his days, when more negligent of religion....

HIGH PLACES (_ See Scofield) - (1 Kings 3:2). _ GROVES (_ See Scofield) - (Deuteronomy 16:21). _ (_ See Scofield) - (Judges 3:7). _...

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

LIFTED UP. encouraged. HE TOOK AWAY. But "the people" failed in their part (2 Chronicles 20:33; 1 Kings 22:43). Jehoshaphat did his by _commanding_ that they should be taken away; not, of course, doing this with his own hands. Compare 2 Chronicles 19:3. GROVES. Hebrew the _'Asherim_. See notes on Exodus 34:13, and App-42....

_moreover he took away_ R.V. AND FURTHERMORE HE TOOK AWAY. In 2 Chronicles 20:33 = 1 Kings 22:43 it is said that the high places were _not_taken away. Cp. what is said of Asa (2 Chronicles 14:3 and 2 Chronicles 15:17 = 1 Kings 15:14). It seems that in both cases the Chronicler incorporates mutually contradictory traditions. If the removal took place, it must have met with only partial success. _and groves_ R.V. AND THE ASHERIM. See note on...

AND HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP— _And when he had elevated his mind in following the commandments of God, he took yet from Judah high places and groves: i.e._ he destroyed yet other monuments of idolatry, which had escaped the diligence of his father Asa, though he took not away those high places and altars which had been erected in Jerusalem for the true God. See 1 Kings 22:43 and ch. 1 Kings 20:33 of this book....