Lìdaìzhìxià 17

1 Yàsā de érzi Yuēshāfǎ jiēxù tā zuò wáng , fèn yǒng zì qiáng , fángbeì Yǐsèliè rén ,

2 Ānzhì jūn bīng zaì Yóudà yīqiè jiāngù chéng lǐ , yòu ānzhì fáng bīng zaì Yóudà dì hé tā fù Yàsā suǒ déyǐ fǎ lián de chéngyì zhōng .

3 Yēhéhuá yǔ Yuēshāfǎ tóng zaì . yīnwei tā xíng tā zǔ Dàwèi chū xíng de dào , bù xúnqiú bā lì ,

4 Zhǐ xúnqiú tā fùqin de shén , zūnxíng tāde jièmìng , bù xiàofǎ Yǐsèliè rén de xíngwéi .

5 Suǒyǐ Yēhéhuá jiāndéng tāde guó , Yóudà zhòngrén gĕi tā jìn gòng . Yuēshāfǎ dà yǒu zūnróng zīcái .

6 Tā gāoxìng zūnxíng Yēhéhuá de dào , bìngqiĕ cóng Yóudà chúdiào yīqiè qiū tán hé mùǒu .

7 Tā zuò wáng dì sān nián , jiù chāiqiǎn chén zǐ biàn haì yī lè , é bā dǐ , sǎ jiā lì yǎ , Nátǎnyè , Mǐgāiyà wǎng Yóudà gè chéng qù jiàoxun bǎixìng .

8 Tóng zhe tāmen yǒu Lìwèi rén Shìmǎyǎ , ní tàn yǎ , Xībādìyǎ , Yàsāhēi , shì mǐ là mò , Yuēnádān , yà duō ní yǎ , Duōbǐyǎ , tuó bā duō ní yǎ , yòu yǒu jìsī Yǐlìshā mǎ , Yuēlán tóng zhe tāmen .

9 Tāmen daì zhe Yēhéhuá de lǜfǎ shū , zǒu biàn Yóudà gè chéng jiàoxun bǎixìng .

10 Yēhéhuá shǐ Yóudà sìwéi de liè guó dōu shén kǒngjù , bù gǎn yǔ Yuēshāfǎ zhēng zhàn .

11 Yǒu xiē Fēilìshì rén yǔ Yuēshāfǎ sòng lǐwù , nà gòng yín . a là bǎi rén yĕ sòng tā gōng miányáng qī qiā qī bǎi zhǐ , gōng shānyáng qī qiā qī bǎi zhǐ .

12 Yuēshāfǎ rì jiān qiáng dà , zaì Yóudà jiànzào yíng zhaì hé jī huò chéng .

13 Tā zaì Yóudà chéngyì zhōng yǒu xǔduō gōng chéng , yòu zaì Yēlùsǎlĕng yǒu zhànshì , jiù shì dà néng de yǒng shì .

14 Tāmende shùmù , àn zhe zōngzú , jì zaì xiàmiàn , Yóudà zú de , qiā fú zhǎng Yēná wèi shǒu shuaìlǐng dà néng de yǒng shì sān shí wàn .

15 Qí cì shì , qiā fú zhǎng Yuēhānán shuaìlǐng dà néng de yǒng shì èr shí bā wàn .

16 Qí cì shì Xìjīlì de érzi yà mǎ sī yǎ , tā wèi Yēhéhuá xī shēng zìjǐ , shuaìlǐng dà néng de yǒng shì èr shí wàn .

17 Biànyǎmǐn zú , shì dà néng de yǒng shì Yǐlìyǎ dà shuaìlǐng , ná gōng jiàn hé dùnpái de èr shí wàn .

18 Qí cì shì , yuē sà bá shuaìlǐng yùbeì dǎzhàng de shí bā wàn .

19 Zhè dōu shì cìhou wáng de , hái yǒu wáng zaì Yóudà quán dì jiāngù chéng suǒ ānzhì de bú zaì qí neì .

Lìdaìzhìxià 17 Commentary

Chapter 17

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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 17

This chapter relates the accession of Jehoshaphat to the throne, his settlement on it, his piety, and reformation in religion, 2Ch 17:1-6, his care to instruct the people in the law of God, 2Ch 17:7-9, the respect shown him by neighbouring nations, 2Ch 17:10,11, the fortified places of his kingdom, his numerous forces and mighty men at the head of them, 2Ch 17:12-19.