2 Chronicles 17:3
◄  2 Chronicles 17:3  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals

New Living Translation (©2007)
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early years and did not worship the images of Baal.

English Standard Version (©2001)
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David's earlier days and did not seek the Baals,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals

International Standard Version (©2012)
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example set during his ancestor David's preliminary years by not pursuing the Baals.

NET Bible (©2006)
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David's footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, who lived in the old way like his ancestor David. Jehoshaphat didn't dedicate his life to serving other gods-the Baals.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

American King James Version
And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not to Baalim;

American Standard Version
And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord was with Josaphat, because he walked in the first ways of David his father: and trusted not in Baalim,

Darby Bible Translation
And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, for he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baals;

English Revised Version
And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim;

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not to Baalim;

World English Bible
Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn't seek the Baals,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah is with Jehoshaphat, for he hath walked in the first ways of David his father, and hath not sought to Baalim,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

17:1-19 Jehoshaphat promotes religion in Judah, His prosperity. - Jehoshaphat found his people generally very ignorant, and therefore endeavoured to have them well taught. The public teaching of the word of God forms, in all ages, the great method of promoting the power of godliness. Thereby the understanding is informed, the conscience is awakened and directed. We have a particular account of Jehoshaphat's prosperity. But it was not his formidable army that restrained the neighbouring nations from attempting any thing against Israel, but the fear of God which fell upon them, when Jehoshaphat reformed his country, and set up a preaching ministry in it. The ordinances of God are more the strength and safety of a kingdom, than soldiers and weapons of war. The Bible requires use to notice the hand of God in every event, yet this is little regarded. But let all employ the talents they have: be faithful, even in that which is little. Set up the worship of God in your houses. The charge of a family is important. Why should you not instruct them as Jehoshaphat did his subjects, in the book of the law of the Lord. But be consistent. Do not recommend one thing, and practise another. Begin with yourselves. Seek to the Lord God of Israel, then call upon children and servants to follow your example.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - The first ways of his father David. Although there would be no difficulty in reconciling this statement with history, yet probably the name David should not stand here. It is not in the Septuagint. The most natural and sufficient reference is to Asa. And sought not unto Ballim; literally, to the Baalim; i.e. to the various false gods of surrounding peoples (Judges 2:11), Baal-berith (Judges 8:33; Judges 9:4, 46), Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1:2), Baal-peor (Numbers 23:28, etc.; Numbers 25:3), according to the places where the idolatrous worship was carried on. (For the preposition לְ, "to," after "sought," in this and following verse, see again 1 Chronicles 22:19.)

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat,.... Guiding and directing, prospering and succeeding him in all things; he had, no doubt, his gracious presence in spiritual things, as well as his powerful and directing presence in things civil; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord was for his help;"

because he walked in the first ways of his father David; which were his best; some of his last ways not being good, as in the affair of Uriah and Bathsheba, and his numbering of the people; Jehoshaphat followed him in the one, but not in the other: or, "in the ways of David and his father, the first"; the first of them both; for the latter ways of his father Asa were not so good as his first, as the preceding chapter shows; and the Septuagint version leaves out the word "David", and so restrains it to his own father:

and sought not unto Baalim; as did Ahab king of Israel, who now reigned there; 1 Kings 15:24.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3-5. he walked in the first ways of his father David—He imitated the piety of his great ancestor in the early part of his reign before he made those unhappy lapses which dishonored his character.

and sought not unto Baalim—a term used for idols generally in contradistinction to the Lord God of his father.

2 Chronicles 17:3 Parallel Commentaries

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Jehoshaphat Reigns Well in Judah
1And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. 3And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not to Baalim; …

1 Kings 22:43 In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
2 Chronicles 17:2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
2 Chronicles 17:4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.
2 Chronicles 21:12 Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said: "This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: 'You have not followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah.