UNROLL
Early morning in the hills of Judah: a dirt road winds up terraced olive slopes toward a small walled hill town with one open gate, and far down the road a small company of priests, Levites and officials walks toward it, the one in front carrying a wrapped scroll.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 17

A king who sought God, and teachers who carried His word to every town in Judah.

19 verses≈ 3 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
  2. 2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
  3. 6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
  4. 8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of Sheba
  5. 10–16DivisionRehoboam to Asa
  6. 17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God'sChapter 17
  7. 21–24Dark yearsJehoram to Joash
  8. 25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
  9. 29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
  10. 33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book found
  11. 36Exile and returnMay he go up

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

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Judah

Jehoshaphat of Judah

  1. ways of David

    The LORD was with him

    Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David.

  2. sought God

    He sought the God of his father

    He did not seek the Baals, but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel.

  3. The kingdom established in his hand

    So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.

And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

Reflect

Delight in His ways

Jehoshaphat “did not seek the Baals, but he sought the God of his father,” and “his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD.” What do you seek first when you have time and strength to spare? Write down one way you could make delighting in God’s ways part of an ordinary day this week.

They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 17:9

Question

Quick question

Jehoshaphat sent officials, Levites and priests out to the towns of Judah.

What did they take with them as they taught throughout Judah?

Late afternoon on the dry southern road to Jerusalem: Arab herdsmen with raised staffs drive a great dusty river of rams and goats up the road toward a small plain city wall and gate, under a calm hazy sky.

And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.

0:18

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor.

Jerusalem

Jehoshaphat’s mighty men

  1. 300,000

    Adnah, commander of Judah

    These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers:

    From Judah, the commanders of thousands:

    Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;

  2. 280,000

    Jehohanan the commander

    next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;

  3. 200,000

    Amasiah, volunteer for the LORD

    and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor.

  4. Eliada of Benjamin, with bows

    From Benjamin:

    Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

  5. 180,000

    Jehozabad

    and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle.

  6. Besides the fortified cities

    These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

Pray

Your word in every town

Thank God for the Book of the Law carried town by town, and for everyone who has taught you His word. Pray for teachers and preachers today, that they would teach it faithfully. Ask for a heart that takes delight in His ways and seeks Him first, and thank Him for the peace He gives His people.

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2 Chronicles 17

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A verse to carry with you

They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

2 Chronicles 17:9

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