Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
2 Chronicles 19:3

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

The reign of Jehoshaphat (17:1-20:37)

Jehoshaphat carried on the reform that Asa began, by destroying all the Baal shrines that remained in Judah (17:1-6; cf. 15:17). Positively, he educated the people in the law of God by forming an official group of instructors whom he sent around Judah’s towns and villages. The group consisted of civil leaders, priests and Levites (7-9). He also fortified Judah’s defences and enlarged its army, so that neighbouring countries feared to attack it (10-19).

Judah’s army was so strong that Ahab of Israel sought and obtained Jehoshaphat’s help in a war against Syria (Aram) (18:1-34; see notes on 1 Kings 22:1-40). A prophet rebuked Jehoshaphat for this, as Ahab was a worshipper of Baal and therefore an enemy of God (19:1-3).

Jehoshaphat reformed and reorganized Judah’s judicial system to eliminate injustice, guarantee fair treatment for all, and ensure that standard procedures were followed throughout the land. He set up courts and appointed judges in all the chief cities of Judah, with the main court and the chief judges in Jerusalem. The courts and the officials were divided into two kinds. Some dealt with religious matters and were under the control of the chief priest. Others dealt with civil matters and were under the control of the chief governor (4-11). This arrangement was a further indication to the Chronicler that David’s dynasty governed according to the Levitical code (cf. Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Deuteronomy 17:8-12).

Some time later, a combined army of various nations from the south and east set out to attack Judah (20:1-2). The Chronicler notes that Jehoshaphat and his people not only cried to God for help, but they did so by gathering at the temple in Jerusalem. That was the place of prayer for God’s people in times of crisis (3-12; cf. 6:24-25). As a result God answered their prayer. He assured them through a prophet (who was also a Levite) that the enemy would be defeated without Judah’s army having to do anything (13-17).
The priests and Levites, being very active in Judah, led the people in songs of praise even before the victory was won (18-23). After the people had plundered the defeated army, the Levitical singers led them to the temple to praise God for the victory (24-30).

Earlier, Jehoshaphat had done wrong when he formed a military partnership with Ahab (see 18:3; 19:2). Later, he did wrong again when he formed a commercial partnership with Ahab’s son Ahaziah. God sent a disaster to remind Jehoshaphat that he was not to cooperate with Israel’s Baal-worshipping kings (31-37; see notes on 1 Kings 22:41-50). (The Chronicler omits the other references to Ahaziah’s short rule in 1 Kings 22:51-53.)

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

REBUKED BY THE PROPHET, JEHOSHAPHAT DOES BETTER;
JEHU THE SEER REBUKES JEHOSHAPHAT

"And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace in Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate Jehovah? for this thing wrath is upon thee from before Jehovah. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast put away the Asheroth out of the land, and hast set thy heart to seek God."

In the appraisal of Jehoshaphat's reign, it was, in a general sense, approved, despite the serious, even sinful, mistakes, one of which was that marriage with the daughter of Ahab which he arranged for his heir and successor to the throne.

Also, note that nothing is said here about the removal of the high places, despite the fact that 2 Chronicles 17:6 states that he took away the high places, indicating that the citizens had, in the meanwhile, rebuilt them. This was done many times in the history of Judah.

Smith's Bible Commentary

This time let's turn to II Chronicles, chapter 19.

We are dealing at the present time in this area of scripture with the reign of Jehoshaphat, king over Judah. For the most part, Jehoshaphat was a good king. He did develop many spiritual reforms. There was one aspect about his reign that was not good, and that was his desire to develop an affinity and friendship with Ahab, who was the king over the tribes of Israel in the north. Ahab was probably one of the most wicked of all of the kings over Israel. And Jehoshaphat had some kind of a fascination and an endeavor to create an affinity and a friendship with him.

Now the Bible says, "Know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" ( James 4:4 ) And if anybody represented the world and the worldly system, it would have been Ahab. So why Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, would ever seek to develop some kind of a friendship or relationship with this ungodly king of Ahab is difficult to understand. And the consequences, ultimate consequences of it were quite disastrous. Not to Jehoshaphat himself, but in the result of his son. And we'll get to that when we get to chapter 21.

So Jehoshaphat had gone on up, visited with Ahab, was invited by Ahab to come to watch the battle against the Syrians in Ramothgilead where Ahab was killed in battle.

And so Jehoshaphat has now returned to Jerusalem ( 2 Chronicles 19:1 ).

Chapter 19.

And Jehu the son of Hanani who was a prophet went out to meet him, and he said to him, Should you help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD ( 2 Chronicles 19:2 ).

So here he has been rebuked by the prophet of God. The rebuke, of course, coming from God for his help for the ungodly and his love for those that hate the Lord. The Bible says, "What fellowship hath light with darkness? What communion hath Christ with Belial?" ( 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 ) And it warns about seeking to develop an unequal yoke with an unbeliever. And so the king is severely rebuked for this endeavor on his part. And it would seem that he was initiating it, going on up to visit and all, and initiating this kind of a friendship and an aid program. When Ahab said, "Would you like to go out with me to battle?" He said, "My troops are as yours, you know, I'm like you. We're brothers and all." And so it was a thing where he was helping the ungodly. He was seeking to create an alliance with an ungodly king.

Nevertheless, [the prophet said,] there are good things found in thee, in that you have created these spiritual reforms by the destroying of the idols of the false gods that had been set up there in the land ( 2 Chronicles 19:3 ).

So at the word of the prophet Jehoshaphat, again, just sort of sought to re-establish a spiritual work within the kingdom of Judah. He took some priests and he went around to the various cities of Judah. There was sort of an evangelistic campaign. And he would go into a city, they would gather together the people, and the priests would again lay out the law of the Lord to the people. They would establish judges that they might judge righteous judgment within the cities of Judah. And it was actually further spiritual reforms as they traveled through the land seeking to turn the hearts of the people unto the Lord.

So they went around and the charge that they put to the people was,

Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, with a perfect heart. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brothers ( 2 Chronicles 19:9-10 )

I mean, this is what they said to the judges when they set up the judges. And I wish that every judge would have to face this kind of an admonition at the beginning of his judgeship, or even should have it on the wall of his chamber everyday. This is what God requires of a judge. That he judges in the cases in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a complete heart.

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Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

4. Jehoshaphat’s appointment of judges ch. 19

Even though God had spared Jehoshaphat’s life in the battle, his close brush with death was the result of an unwise decision to help ungodly Ahab. A prophet rebuked him for this alliance (2 Chronicles 19:2).

"A Christian’s attachment to God is necessarily expressed in the kind of atmosphere in which he prefers to live and move and have his being. Company, pursuits, ambitions will all bear upon them the mark of a love of God. This is by no means to put an embargo upon normal social intercourse with those who are not basically like-minded. It has to do with the sort of life-pattern which one chooses to construct. The task of construction is no easy one, and the temptation is to model oneself upon the ’architects’ about us. This was Jehoshaphat’s fault, and his error calls us to consistency in exhibiting the characteristics which are truly Christian. (See further Romans 12:1 f.; Galatians 5:16-26.)" [Note: McConville, pp. 188-89.]

Jehoshaphat sought to help the upright and to punish the wicked by appointing judges in Judah. Perhaps Jehu’s words encouraged Jehoshaphat’s decision to appoint judges (2 Chronicles 19:2). The king instructed the judges to remember that they were acting in God’s place when they judged. Therefore they needed to be fair (2 Chronicles 19:6-7).

Jehoshaphat’s judges not only made legal decisions, they instructed the people in God’s ways. In this, Jehoshaphat followed Moses’ example (Exodus 18:17-26). As in Israel’s earlier history, there were both local judges and a supreme court of appeals in Jehoshaphat’s day (2 Chronicles 19:5; 2 Chronicles 19:8; 2 Chronicles 19:11). The king himself became actively involved in judging and teaching the people. Evidently the Israelites had failed to continue the judicial policy that Moses had established, and Jehoshaphat revived it.

"One of the greatest sadnesses of Christians who have been in positions of responsibility within the Church, but who have become burdened by guilt because of some sin, is a sense that they are no more qualified to serve. The author of the greatest penitential Psalm feared as much. Yet in the throes of his prayer for restoration he gains the assurance that he shall again ’teach transgressors thy ways’ (Psalms 51:13). The experience of Jehoshaphat proves the point." [Note: Ibid., pp. 189-90.]

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Nevertheless, there are good things found in thee,.... Principles of grace, righteousness, and holiness, faith, love, zeal, and other graces, true and genuine, from whence sprung many good works done by him:

in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land; cut down the groves of trees, and destroyed the idols and images in them:

and hast prepared thine heart to seek God; through the grace of God his heart was disposed to serve and worship the Lord, and to seek his honour and glory.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.   2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.   3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.   4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.

      Here is, I. The great favour God showed to Jehoshaphat,

      1. In bringing him back in safety from his dangerous expedition with Ahab, which had like to have cost him dearly (2 Chronicles 19:1; 2 Chronicles 19:1): He returned to his house in peace. Notice is taken of this to intimate, (1.) That he fared better than he had expected. He had been in imminent peril, and yet came home in peace. Whenever we return in peace to our houses we ought to acknowledge God's providence in preserving our going out and our coming in. But, if we have been kept through more than ordinary dangers, we are in a special manner bound to be thankful. There was but a step perhaps between us and death, and yet we are alive. (2.) That he fared better than he deserved. He was out of the way of his duty, had been out upon an expedition which he could not well account for to God and his conscience, and yet he returned in peace; for God is not extreme to mark what we do amiss, nor does he withdraw his protection every time we forfeit it. (3.) That he fared better than Ahab king of Israel did, who was brought home slain. Though Jehoshaphat had said to Ahab, I am as thou art, God distinguished him; for he knows and owns the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Distinguishing mercies are very obliging. Here were two kings in the field together, one taken and the other left, one brought home in blood, the other in peace.

      2. In sending him a reproof for his affinity with Ahab. It is a great mercy to be made sensible of our faults, and to be told in time wherein we have erred, that we may repent and amend the error before it be too late. The prophet by whom the reproof is sent is Jehu the son of Hanani. The father was an eminent prophet in the last reign, as appeared by Asa's putting him in the stocks for his plain dealing; yet the son was not afraid to reprove another king. Paul would have his son Timothy not only discouraged, but animated by his sufferings, 2 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 3:14. (1.) The prophet told him plainly that he had done very ill in joining with Ahab: "Shouldst thou, a godly man, help the ungodly, give them a hand of fellowship, and lend them a hand of assistance?" Or, "Shouldst thou love those that hate the Lord; wilt thou lay those in thy bosom whom God beholds afar off?" It is the black character of wicked people that they are haters of God,Romans 1:30. Idolaters are so reputed in the second commandment; and therefore it is not for those that love God to take delight in them or contract an intimacy with them. Do I not hate those, says David, that hate thee?Psalms 139:11; Psalms 139:21. Those whom the grace of God has dignified ought not to debase themselves. Let God's people be of God's mind. (2.) That God was displeased with him for doing this: "There is wrath upon thee from before the Lord, and thou must, by repentance, make thy peace with him, or it will be the worse for thee." He did so, and God's anger was turned away. Yet his trouble, as recorded in the next chapter, was a rebuke to him for meddling with strife that belonged not to him. If he be so fond of war, he shall have enough of it. And the great mischief which his seed after him fell into by the house of Ahab was the just punishment of his affinity with that house. (3.) Yet he took notice of that which was praiseworthy, as it is proper for us to do when we give a reproof (2 Chronicles 19:3; 2 Chronicles 19:3): "There are good things found in thee; and therefore, though God be displeased with thee, he does not, he will not, cast thee off." His abolishing idolatry with a heart fixed for God and engaged to seek him was a good thing, which God accepted and would have him go on with, notwithstanding the displeasure he had now incurred.

      II. The return of duty which Jehoshaphat made to God for this favour. he took the reproof well, was not wroth with the seer as his father was, but submitted. Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness. See what effect the reproof had upon him. 1. He dwelt at Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 19:4; 2 Chronicles 19:4), minded his own business at home, and would not expose himself by paying any more such visits to Ahab. Rebuke a wise man, and he will be yet wiser, and will take warning, Proverbs 9:8; Proverbs 9:9. 2. To atone (as I may say) for the visit he had paid to Ahab, he made a pious profitable visitation of his own kingdom: He went out through the people in his own person from Beersheba in the south to Mount Ephraim in the north, and brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers, that is, did all he could towards recovering them. (1.) By what the prophet said he perceived that his former attempts for reformation were well pleasing to God, and therefore he revived them, and did what was then left undone. It is good when commendations thus quicken us to our duty, and when the more we are praised for doing well the more vigorous we are in well-doing. (2.) Perhaps he found that his late affinity with the idolatrous house of Ahab and kingdom of Israel had had a bad influence upon his own kingdom. Many, we may suppose, were emboldened to revolt to idolatry when they saw even their reforming king so intimate with idolaters; and therefore he thought himself doubly obliged to do all he could to restore them. If we truly repent of our sin, we shall do our utmost to repair the damage we have any way done by it to religion or the souls of others. We are particularly concerned to recover those that have fallen into sin, or been hardened in it, by our example.