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Historical Books · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

2 Chronicles 17

Judah's kings and temple life are traced from Solomon to exile and return.

Old Testament

2 Chronicles 17

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

2He 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.

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

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

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

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

7Also 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;

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

9They 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.

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

11Some 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.

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

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

14This 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;

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

16and 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.

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

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

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

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Judah's kings and temple life are traced from Solomon to exile and return. Read 2 Chronicles 17 within the complete 2 Chronicles overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in 2 Chronicles 17

2 Chronicles 17 contains 19 verses and about 423 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 19 closes: “These were those who waited on the king, in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include judah, cities, thousand, hundred, jehoshaphat, seven. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About 2 Chronicles 17

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, 2 Chronicles 17:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

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