The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 252

proof that the promise of long life e.s a reward for piety was not intended even under the Old Testament, to be e.coepted universally and without exception. ' III. JEHOSHAPHAT's REALM. 1. Its ea::tent. He reigned over Judah, the southern kingdom. 2. Its conditioo. Quiet. With the exception just mentioned it had suffered no invasion. It was disturbed by no internecine feud or civil strife. 3. Its Protector. Jehovah. "God gave him rest round nbout." IV. JEHOBHAPH.A.T'B NEIGHBOURS. 1. Their attitude. They stood in awe of Jehosha- phat and his people. Compare the terror of the peoples through the midst of whom Ja.cob passed on bis flight from Shechem to Hebron (Gen. xxxv. 6), and the fear which fell upon the city of Jerusalem on beholding the miracle of Pentecost (Acts ii. 43). 2. The reason of it. They heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel (ver. 29). So Miriam expected the report of Jehovah's victory over Pharaoh would pa.ralyzc the surrounding peoples through whom the ransomed host had to pass (Exod. xv. 14-16). V. JEHOSHAPHAT's CHARACTER.. 1. Pious. Like his father Asa, he walked in the way of the Lord. 2. Persevering. He departed not from doing right in the sight of Jehovah, i.e. in the matter of worship. 3. Defective. Not perfect in the sense of being faultless, he allowed the high places dedicated to Jehovah to remain, though other similar high places dedicated to idols were removed ( eh. xvii. 6); and though he was better than his people, whose hearts were not prepared for a thorough-going refor- mation, he yet in a blameworthy spirit of complaisance yielded to their demands and permitted the unhallowed altars to stand. VI. JEeoSHAPHAT's ACTS. 1. Those recorded by ths Chronicler. (1) The establish- ment of garrisons throughout the land (eh. xvii. 2). (2) The appointment of an itinerant ministry for the religions education of the people (eh. xvii. 7). (3) The fostering of commerce in the cities of Judah (eh. xvii. 13). (4) T9e creation of courts of justice (eh. xix. 5). (5) The reformation of religion (eh. xvii. 6; xix. 4). (6) The marriage of his son with .Ahab's daughter (eh. xviii. l). (7) The war at Ra.moth-Gilead (eh. x:viii. 28). 2. Those written in the book of Jehu, Hanani's soo. (Oh. xix. 2.) These deeds of J udah's king are lost. How much of every life drops into oblivion, even tho~h set down in a biography I Only that history which God writes lives for ever. VII. JEHOSHAPHAT's FAULTS. 1. Plentiful. Good as Jehoshaphat was, both as man and sovereign, he committed grievous blunders, and indeed fell into aggravated sins. The three worst were: (1) The marriage of his son J ehoram with Athaliah, the daughter of .A.ha~the mating of a lamb with the cub of a tigress. (2) The war with Benhadad which he entered on to please .Ahab, without thinking whether he would thereby please God. (3) The joining of .A.haziah, Ahab's successor, in making a fleet to go to Tarsh.ish, or a fleet of Tarshish ships in Ezion-geber. 2. Punished. None of these offences were overlooked by Jehovah. The alliance of Jehoram with Athaliah avenged itself in the depravation of Jehoram'e character. The Syrian war, besides exposing him to imminent peril, brought upon him the :Moabitish invasion. The fleet which he and Ahaziah made was wrecked in the Red Sea, and never went to Tarshish. So Eliezer, the son of Dodavah of :Mareshah. predicted it would happen-because Jehoshaphat had a second time joined himself with the house of Omri. 3. Pardoned. '£hough chastised for his errors, Jehoshaphat was not abandoned to wrath. A child of the covenant and an heir of the promise, he was rebuked but not rejected, corrected but not condemned. So God deals with believers when they err (1 Cor. xi. 32). VIlI. JEHOBHAPRAT'B END, 1. Hisdeathwaspea,ceful. "He slept with his fathers" (eh. xxi.1). 2. liis burial was honourable. He was entombed in the city of David, in the sepulchre of the kings of Judah. 3. His throne was confirmed. His son J ehoram reigned in his stead. Learn: 1. The fallibility of ~ood men. 2, The infallibility of God's Word.-W. orr. xxr. 1-20.J 'rHE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES.