2 Chronicles 17:10

And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

JEHOS APHAT BECOMES A POWERFUL SOVEREIGN.

(10) The fear of the Lord.—A dread of Jehovah (pachad), aps. 14:13, 20:29. (Comp. Exodus 15:16; 1Samuel 11:7; Isaiah 2:10. ) This phrase is not peculiar to the chronicler, as Keil and Bertheau assert. “The kingdoms of the lands” is so (2Chronicles 12:8; 1Chronicles 29:30).

They made no war.—The reward of Jehosha-phat’s piety (1Chronicles 22:9; Proverbs 16:7): “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Comp. also Genesis 35:5)

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 17:10. The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms, &c. — Justly concluding, from his singular piety, that God would eminently appear for him; for even the heathen could not but observe, that the kings of Judah were either prosperous or unhappy, according as they served God or forsook him. So that they made no war against Jehoshaphat — God’s good providence so ordered it, that while the princes and priests were instructing and endeavouring to reform the country, none of his neighbours gave him any molestation, to take him off from that good work.

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

There is no reasonable doubt that this "book of the law" was the Pentateuch - nearly, if not quite, in the shape in which we now have it. Copies of the whole Law were, no doubt, scarce; and therefore Jehoshaphat's commission took care to carry a copy with them.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. the book of the law—that is, either the whole Pentateuch or only the book of Deuteronomy, which contains an abridgment of it.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Justly concluding from this singular piety that God would eminently appear for him, and against all those who had ill will to him, which was their case. For even the heathens could not but observe that the kings of Judah were either prosperous or unhappy, accordingly as they served God or forsook him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah,.... Upon the ten tribes, and on foreign nations about them, as Moabites, Edomites, Syrians, Egyptians, Arabs, and Philistines; this fear, as it came from the Lord, so might be raised and increased by observing, that religion was revived in them; for they might perceive, by former observations made, that the more religious these people were, the more prosperous and formidable they were:

so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat; to interrupt him in the work of reformation he was so intent upon.

Geneva Study Bible

And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they {e} made no war against Jehoshaphat.

(e) Thus God prospers all who with a pure heart seek his glory, and keeps their enemies in fear, so that they are not able to execute their rage against them.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10–13 (no parallel in 1 Kin.). The Greatness of Jehoshaphat

10. the fear of the Lord] Cp. Genesis 35:5.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 10. - The moral effect of this peaceful war of Jehoshaphat is manifestly great. 2 Chronicles 17:10

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

This attempt of Jehoshaphat brought him this blessing, that the terror of Jahve fell upon all the surrounding kingdoms; and not only did none of the neighbouring peoples venture to make war upon him, but also various tribes did homage to him by presents. Ramb. has already so understood the connection of these verses (erat hoc praemium pietatis Josaphati, quod vicini satisque potentes hostes non auderent adversus ipsum hiscere); while Berth. fails to apprehend it, saying that Jehoshaphat had time to care for the instruction of his people, because at that time the neighbouring peoples did not venture to undertake war against Judah. The words "terror of Jahve," cf. 2 Chronicles 14:13; 2 Chronicles 20:29, and "all the kingdoms of the lands," cf. 2 Chronicles 12:8, 1 Chronicles 29:30, are expressions peculiar to the author of the Chronicle, which show that by these remarks he is preparing the way for a transition to a more detailed portrayal of Jehoshaphat's political power. מן־פּלשׁתּים is subject, מן partitive: some of the Philistines brought him presents (for מנחה see on 2 Chronicles 17:5), "and silver a burden," i.e., in great quantity. משּׂא does not signify tribute, vectigal argento (Vulg.), for the word has not that signification, but denotes burden, that which can be carried, as in משּׂא לאן, 2 Chronicles 20:25. - ערביאים or ערביּים, 2 Chronicles 26:7, and more usually ערבים, 2 Chronicles 21:16; 2 Chronicles 22:1, are Arabian nomadic tribes (Bedwin), perhaps those whom Asa, after his victory over the Cushite Zerah, had brought under the kingdom of Judah, 2 Chronicles 14:14. These paid their tribute in small cattle, rams, and he-goats. (תּישׁים, Genesis 30:35; Genesis 32:15; Proverbs 30:31.)