2Ch 18:1

2Ch 18: “A great test to a man’s character comes from ‘riches and honour in abundance’ (v 1). He does not realise his reliance on Yahweh to the same degree as in times of difficulty and poverty (cp the warning of Pro 30:8,9). The result is Jehoshaphat’s disastrous alliance. By marrying his son Jehoram to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, he sealed the alliance. The ch reveals [1] A union for warfare: vv 1-3. [2] Jehoshaphat seeks divine guidance: v 4. [3] Micaiah is sent for: vv 6-8. [4] Zedekiah flatters the kings: vv 9-11. [5] Micaiah’s integrity: vv 12,13. [6] His sarcastic message of doom: vv 14-16. [7] He accuses the false prophets of lying: vv 17-22. [8] Zedekiah’s challenge: vv 23,24. [9] Micaiah is imprisoned: vv 25-27. [10] Ahab disguises himself for the battle: vv 28,29. [11] Jehoshaphat receives divine help: vv 30-32. [12] Death of Ahab: vv 33,34” (GEM).

In this chapter we see the beginnings of what amounted to Jehoshaphat’s three-fold “unequal yoking” with unbelievers: (1) First of all, he became allied with Ahab in war (2Ch 18:1-3); (2) Later, he was allied with Ahaziah in commerce (2Ch 20:35,36); and (3) Finally, he was allied with Israel in marriage — through his son Jehoram (2Ch 21:6).

2Ch 18:16

LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD: Num 27:17; 1Ki 22:17; Mat 9:36; Mark 6:34.

2Ch 18:22

THE LORD HAS PUT A LYING SPIRIT…: Cp Isa 45:7; Psa 78:49; Amos 3:6.

2Ch 18:26

“Working for God does not bring harmony and happiness in this life, but in the one to come. This poor man who was obliged to speak the word of the Lord was about to be imprisoned potentially indefinitely for it. He knew that Ahab would die in the battle, so unless his successor took pity on him, this was a life sentence. Could you do it? Do we have our minds so clearly set on the kingdom that we can cope with anything that this life throws at us? ‘Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you’ (Mat 5:12)” (PC).

2Ch 18:31

THE LORD HELPED HIM: Notice the distinction: YAHWEH helped His own servant, but…

GOD DREW THEM AWAY FROM HIM: …ELOHIM moved the aliens!

2Ch 19:1

2Ch 19: Outline: “[1] Jehoshaphat is reproved by Jehu: vv 1-3. [2] Jehoshaphat’s home policy: vv 4-11.

“Thus he instructs the people in the Law and administration of justice. The prophet Jehu went out to meet the king as he returned from the war. Though physically unscarred, the King must have been uneasy in mind. Jehu, the son of the prophet who rebuked his father, was the last man he wished to meet. But the prophets of Israel never hesitated to meet the highest men of the realm as One higher than them. They were not afraid of kings; they represented the greater Monarch and from Him pronounced words of indictment for acts of folly” (GEM).

2Ch 19:2

SHOULD YOU HELP THE WICKED AND LOVE THOSE WHO HATE THE LORD? BECAUSE OF THIS, THE WRATH OF THE LORD IS UPON YOU: “There is a difference between doing good to unbelievers and cultivating friendship with them; and the saint is careful to observe this difference, lest he come under the rebuke that greeted the ears of Jehoshaphat, on his return from friendly co-operation with Ahab: ‘Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.’ We can have our conversation [way of life] towards the world in all courtesy and benevolence, without going on to their ground, and joining affinity in schemes of pleasure, profit or friendship” (SC).

2Ch 19:3

ASHERAH: See Lesson, Asherah.

2Ch 19:7

We might think that the requirement that one does not show ‘respect of persons’ is a NT teaching only: James 2:1,9; 1Pe 1:17. But we know that it is a characteristic of God (Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; 2Sa 14:14), which we must manifest because that is how Yahweh behaves: Lev 19:15; Deu 1:17; 16:19.

2Ch 19:10

Cp the reproof of the “gods” of Israel in Psa 82 (Tes 46:336).

OTHERWISE HIS WRATH WILL COME ON YOU: He already knew that the wrath of God was coming upon himself (v 2).

2Ch 20:1

SOME OF THE MEUNITES: Who were from mount Seir (vv 10,23).

2Ch 20:2

EDOM: The KJV has “Syria”, but this is an error.

2Ch 20:7

ABRAHAM YOUR FRIEND: This is the basis for James’ description of Abraham in Jam 2:23. The prophet Isaiah (Isa 41:8) appeals to this feature — spoken of in Jehoshaphat’s reign — as an exhortation to faithfulness.

If we wish to be God’s friends we must do His will (John 15:14).

2Ch 20:12

FOR WE HAVE NO POWER: Jehoshaphat discounts his own great army!

2Ch 20:17

STAND FIRM AND SEE: “Stand still and see the salvation of God” (Exo 14:13; 2Ch 20:17). “Stand still and hear God’s commandments” (Num 9:8). “Stand still that I may show you the word of God” (1Sa 9:27). “Stand still that I may reason with you” (1Sa 12:7). “Stand still and consider the works of God” (Job 37:14).

“Stand still” does not just denote the need to remain apart from the battle itself, but also the need NOT to run away!

2Ch 20:22

AS THEY BEGAN TO SING AND PRAISE…: “When the Spartans marched into battle, they advanced with cheerful songs, willing to fight; but when the Persians entered the conflict, you could hear, as the regiments came on, the crack of the whip, by which the officers drove the cowards to the fray. What wonder that the Spartans were like lions in the midst of sheep! Were we enthusiastic soldiers of the Cross, through God’s help, nothing would be able to stand against us” (CHS).

2Ch 20:26

VALLEY OF BERACAH: Is this the same as the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:12)?

2Ch 20:36

Cp Luk 15:15: “So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country.”

TRADING SHIPS: Heb “ships of Tarshish”: See Lesson, Tarshish.

2Ch 16:1

BAASHA: The third king of the separate kingdom of Israel, and founder of its second dynasty (1Ki 15; 16). He was the son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar. He made the city of Tirzah the capital of his kingdom, and there he was buried, after an eventful reign of 24 years (1Ki 15:33), On account of his idolatries his family was exterminated, according to the word of the prophet Jehu (1Ki 16:3,4,10-13).

2Ch 16:7

BECAUSE YOU RELIED ON THE KING OF ARAM AND NOT ON THE LORD YOUR GOD…: “Sin like Asa’s has been the supreme apostasy of the Church in all her branches and through all her generations: Christ has been denied, not by lack of devotion, but by want of faith. Champions of the faith, reformers and guardians of the temple, like Asa, have been eager to attach to their holy cause the cruel prejudices of ignorance and folly, the greed and vindictiveness of selfish men. They have feared lest these potent forces should be arrayed amongst the enemies of the Church and her Master. It has even been suggested that national Churches and great national vices were so intimately allied that their supporters were content that they should stand or fall together. On the other hand, the advocates of reform have not been slow to appeal to popular jealousy and to aggravate the bitterness of social feuds” (BI).

2Ch 16:9

FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RANGE THROUGHOUT THE EARTH: This phrase is drawn upon by the prophet Zechariah (Zec 1:10,11; 4:10; 6:7), who relates it to the activity of Yahweh in seeking the welfare of His people.

2Ch 16:12

A DISEASE IN HIS FEET: Apparently, this is a family weakness (cp 2Ch 21:19; 24:25; 26:19; 2Ki 20:7) unto David’s seed forever (cp idea, 2Ki 5:27). Was this a result of David’s sin (Psa 38:1-12n)?

HE DID NOT SEEK HELP FROM THE LORD, BUT ONLY FROM THE PHYSICIANS: The idea of turning to God rather than to physicians is found elsewhere: Jer 8:22; Mat 9:12; Mark 5:26.

2Ch 17:1

Jehoshaphat was the son and successor of Asa, king of Judah. After fortifying his kingdom against Israel he set himself to cleanse the land of idolatry (1Ki 22:43), In the third year of his reign he sent out priests and Levites over the land to instruct the people in the law (vv 7-9).

2Ch 17:3

Vv 3-6: The blessings which flowed upon the kingdom of Judah are presented as a direct result of the faithfulness of Jehoshaphat.

2Ch 17:6

ASHERAH: See Lesson, Asherah.

2Ch 17:8

Vv 8,9: This spiritual state was established and maintained by public reading of Scripture. Levites went out to the people with the word of the LORD, rather than requiring them to leave their homes and seek Him out.

2Ch 17:14

Vv 14-19: See Lesson, Large numbers in the OT.

300,000 FIGHTING MEN: Or “300 captains”.

2Ch 17:15

280,000: Or “280 captains”.

2Ch 17:16

200,000: Or “200 captains”.

2Ch 17:18

2Ch 17:18:

180,000 MEN ARMED: Or “180 captains… armed…”

2Ch 14:3

ASHERAH: See Lesson, Asherah.

2Ch 14:5

HE REMOVED THE HIGH PLACES…: Some were left (1Ki 15:14), presumably where Yahweh had been worshipped.

IN EVERY TOWN…: But not necessarily in all the country areas (2Ch 15:17; 1Ki 15:14)?

2Ch 14:6

FOR THE LORD GAVE HIM REST: The concept of being given rest — often from one’s enemies — is frequent in Bible usage: Exo 33:14; Deu 3:20; 12:10; 25:19; Josh 1:13,15; 22:4; 23:1; 2Sa 7:1; 1Ki 5:4; 8:56; 1Ch 22:9,18; 23;25; 2Ch 14:6,7; Isa 14:3; Mat 11:28; Heb 4:8. It is often linked with David and his kingdom.

2Ch 15:2

IF YOU SEEK HIM, HE WILL BE FOUND BY YOU: “The Scriptures abound with similar declarations. They make the course of every earnest man clear. Seek the Lord in the reading of His word, in prayer to Him, and in the doing of those things He has commanded; and He will guide your way in the darkness without any apparent interference, and cause all things (yea even evil circumstances) to work together for your good, namely, your preparedness for an entrance into His glorious kingdom. But if ye decline from His ways and seek your own pleasure, He will leave you to your own — perhaps successful — devices, which will at last work out your own self-destruction” (WP 43,44).

2Ch 15:6

God is in overall control. Whatever happens, and however it seems to have happened, it is God who has caused it — and there is always a lesson for the faithful to learn. The lesson here is in v 7.

2Ch 15:8

So Asa began a spiritual renewal in Judah. Do not think that the falling away had been a casual thing. From the fact that Asa “renewed the altar of the Lord”, it may be concluded that quite extensive desecration of Solomon’s temple had taken place by now.

2Ch 15:16

MAACAH: The daughter of Absalom (2Ch 11:20-22), the third wife of Rehoboam, and mother of Abijam (1Ki 15:2), She is called “Michaiah the daughter of Uriel” — who was the husband of Absalom’s daughter Tamar — in 2Ch 13:2. Her son (Abijah, or Abijam) was heir to the throne.

ASHERAH: See Lesson, Asherah.

2Ch 12:1

2Ch 12: “What ominous words are spoken against Jerusalem: ‘they had transgressed against Yahweh’ (v 2). Yet the people imagined they were doing the work of God, upholding his temple and honouring the throne of David. But the divine judgment was that both king and people ‘forsook the law of Yahweh’ (v 1). The power of the reign of David and the glory of that of Solomon had now become the shadow of disaster in the reign of Rehoboam. This gave rise to the assault by Egypt. When the law of Yahweh is ignored, the power of Sin (Egypt) is first experienced. Shishak had given an asylum to Jeroboam when he fled from Solomon (1Ki 11:40). His policy was to weaken Israel, and therefore he now took opportunity to invade the land. The record in 2Ch reveals the play of events: [1] Rehoboam forsakes the law of Yahweh, and is punished: vv 1-4. [2] The rebuke of Shemaiah: vv 5-9. [3] Jerusalem falls to Shishak: vv 9,10. [4] Rehoboam’s policy: vv 11-16” (GEM).

2Ch 12:9

The removal by the Egyptians of the wealth and the shields of God from Solomon’s temple happened such short a time after Solomon had made all these things. The flesh cannot sustain the kingdom of God on earth — for that is what Solomon reigned over (1Ch 29:23).

2Ch 12:10

This is surely a step of some spiritual significance. Was this in Jeremiah’s mind when he wrote Lam 4:1?

2Ch 13:1

2Ch 13: Outline: “Civil war in the days of the duplicitous Abijah: 2Ch 13:1-2. [2] The battle of Zemaraim: vv 3-20. [3] Epilogue of Abijah’s reign: vv 21-22.

“Notice the eloquence of Abijah, whose character is sometimes forgotten in the spell of his voice! Judging from his speech one would suppose him faultless, entirely noble in every aspiration, sublimely religious and unselfish. But it is not the true Abijah we see (cp 1Ki 15). This was but a man pleading a cause with the skill of a lawyer. Words are cheap. The Spirit’s exhortation is: ‘Show me thy faith by thy works.’ He preached well to others, but failed to apply it to himself. Men can appear so dazzlingly good as to blind their fellowmen. They are religious on occasions. Abijah had a great cause to serve. He addressed himself to it with the skill of an orator, the piety of a mind that never tenanted a worldly thought. But God knows the heart! Let those who seek the chief seats in the ecclesia, recognise the dangers!” (GEM).

2Ch 13:4

Vv 4-10: Abijah’s tirade against Israel is an odd mixture of truth and falsity. He ignored the fact that the ten tribes had been taken from the line of David by God (1Ki 11:31) even though he is correct in his assessment of the idolatry of Israel. We can so easily mix falsity with truth in an attempt to further our cause.

THE HILL COUNTRY OF EPHRAIM: This encompassed a large area — with a great number of cities and a particular mountain there: Timnathserah (Josh 19:50), Shechem (Josh 20:7), Bethel (Jdg 4:5), Shamir (Jdg 10:1), Ramathaim-zophim (1Sa 1:1), and Mount Zemaraim (2Ch 13:4).

2Ch 13:11

EVERY MORNING: Manna given (Exo 16:21). Fire on the altar (Lev 6:12). Incense offered (Exo 30:7). Praise offered (1Ch 23:30). Service offered (1Ch 9:27). Sacrifice presented (2Ch 2:4; here). God visits (Job 7:18). God is their arm (Isa 33:2). His compassions new (Lam 3:23). The Philistines present themselves (1Sa 17:16). God silences the wicked (Psa 101:8). Judgment (Zep 3:5). Administer justice (Jer 21:12).

THEY SET OUT THE BREAD: Or “set in order” (AV). Setting “in order” is a significant thing in the service of God: Gen 22:9; Exo 26:17; 39:37; 40:4,23; Lev 1:7,8,12; 6:12; 24:8; 1Ki 18:33; 2Ki 20:1; 2Ch 13:11; 29:35; Eze 41:6; Acts 18:23; 1Co 11:34; 14:40; Tit 1:5.

2Ch 13:17

This great destruction equalizes, more or less, the strength of the 10 tribes and the 2 tribes.

2Ch 11:16

THOSE FROM EVERY TRIBE OF ISRAEL WHO SET THEIR HEARTS ON SEEKING THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, FOLLOWED THE LEVITES TO JERUSALEM: Here people of all twelve tribes act as though they have become part of the tribe of Judah. Throughout the history of the OT, there have been instances when individuals from all the other tribes have migrated to Judah, or been integrated into the tribe of Judah — so much so that, for practical purposes, the nation of Judah might be said to encompass all twelve tribes. For examples, consider 2Ch 30:5,11; 31:1; 34:9; 35:18; Jer 50:4,5; Ezr 6:17; 8:35; Luk 2:36; Jam 1:1; Acts 26:6,7.

“When Jeroboam became king of Israel and then abandoned the LORD God of Israel by making and worshipping idols, the priests and Levites and everyone who wanted to serve the LORD came to Jerusalem because the LORD was still worshiped there. There was an exodus of all the godly people of Israel to Judah. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam during the time that he walked with God. Thus the people in Judah all strengthened one another in the LORD, but the people in Israel began a rapid downhill slide to their destruction. The lesson for us is to stick together with people of the same faith, so that we can strengthen each other and stay strong for the LORD our God. If we stay in isolation, the attitudes and philosophies of the people around us will rub off on us and we can easily be dragged into their downward spiral. ‘Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the day approaching’ (Heb 10:25)” (RP).