2 Chronicles 17

1 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.

2 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.

3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,

4 but sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel.

5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

6 His heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.

7 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;

8 and with them Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

9 They taught in Judah, having the book of the LORD’s law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

11 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.

12 Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.

13 He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

14 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;

15 and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;

16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

17 From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;

18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready and prepared for war.

19 These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

Around 2 Chronicles 17

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

2 Chronicles 17 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

Jehoshaphat begins by strengthening Judah. He puts forces in the fortified cities and garrisons in the land. The LORD is with him, because he walked in the first ways of David his father and did not seek the Baals. His kingdom is established, and tribute and riches pour in. The writer says his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD, and he took away the high places and Asherah poles.

Then comes something quieter and unusual. In the third year of his reign he sends his princes, with Levites and priests, to teach in the cities of Judah. They carry the book of the LORD’s law with them and go through all the cities, teaching the people. The fear of the LORD falls on the nations around, so that no one makes war on him. Philistines bring presents, and Arabians bring flocks. Jehoshaphat builds fortresses and store cities, and the chapter ends with a long list of his captains and their armies, in the hundreds of thousands, from Judah and Benjamin.

Background

Jehoshaphat is Asa’s son and reigns twenty-five years (see 2 Chronicles 20). Chronicles likes to tell what a king did for worship and teaching. This chapter is the high point of his early reign, and the numbers of soldiers show how secure the kingdom was. The next chapter shows what happens when he joins himself to the house of Ahab.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 2 November 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes