Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 17:2
And 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.
2. the cities of Ephraim ] Cp. 2Ch 15:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
2Ch 17:2
And set garrisons in the laud of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim.
Defences
It is concerning Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, this is said. He was a good king (see 2Ch 17:1-6). The one kingdom of Solomon was now disrupted into two. The northern kingdom, known as the kingdom of Israel, was specially given to idolatry, to Baal-worshipping. Along the somewhat irregular line separating the two kingdoms, Asa, the father of Jehoshaphat, had set fortified cities to resist the perpetual incursions of the Baal-worshipping northern kingdom. On coming to the throne, Jehoshaphat immediately saw that these fenced, fortified cities were in good repair, that their garrisons were strong. A young man I knew had charge of the woollen-room in a great wholesale house. His companion clerks were wild, roistering, dissipated, profane fellows. He was of necessity in the perpetual atmosphere of bad speech and profanity. It seemed to him sometimes very hard to withstand it all. What did he do? He did spiritually precisely what Jehoshaphat did physically: he stood his ground. He fortified and kept garrisoned his defences. Years afterward I saw that same man in high and prosperous place. He had won the confidence of his employers. Take you example of Jehoshaphat: place your fenced cities, set your garrisons. What sort of fortified and garrisoned cities ought we to set along the frontiers of our lives, that we may maintain them against encroaching evil?
I. I think the fortified and garrisoned city of a distinct plan for life. What do I propose to do with my life? That ought to be a question clearly conceived, and distinctly answered by every one of us. I have certain resources–time, talent, education, moral consciousness, etc. All sorts of sudden contingencies spring up in experience. All sorts of moral questions constantly occur. Shall I do this or that? Shall I enter into this or that business? Shall I allow myself in this or that pleasure, indulgence? They are at once met and, decided by the simple presence of the plan. This is Christs suggestion of moral plan: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
II. I think there ought to be such city, fortified and garrisoned, of an ennobling love. Jehoshaphat loved Jehovah better than the Baalim, therefore he could stand out against the Baalim. A high, pure love can always hold out against lower ones. The highest, holiest love is that for Christ.
III. I think there ought to be such city, fortified and garrisoned, of quick volition. Temporising, to save oneself from brave and instant choice of the right, is useless. It breaks down defences, scatters garrisons. In Thomas Carlyles Sartor Resartus there is a very wonderful chapter on the Everlasting No. There is a place where this everlasting no ought, even thunderously, to be uttered. That place is precisely where the tempting, urgent wrong begins to solicit.
IV. I think there ought to be such city, fortified and garrisoned, of the daily prayer. (W. Hoyt, D.D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 2. The cities of Ephraim] This conquest from the kingdom of Israel is referred to, 2Ch 15:8; but when it was made we do not know.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah,…. A considerable number of soldiers, to defend them should they be attacked:
and set garrisons in the land of Judah: on the frontiers and borders of it, to protect it:
and in the cities of Ephraim; soldiers to keep garrison there:
which Asa his father had taken; see 2Ch 15:8.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He placed forces ( ) in all the fenced cities of Judah, and garrisons ( , military posts; cf. 1Ch 11:16) in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which is father Asa had taken; cf. 2Ch 15:8. God blessed these undertakings. Jahve was with him, because he walked in the ways of David his ancestor, the former ways, and sought not the Baals. The former ways of David are his ways in the earlier years of his reign, in contrast to the later years, in which his adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11) and the sin of numbering the people (1 Chron 21) fall. are all false gods, in contrast to Jahve, the one God of Israel; and here the word designates not only the Baal-worship properly so called, but also the worship of Jahve by means of images, by which Jahve is brought down to the level of the Baals; cf. Jdg 2:11. The before stands, according to the later usage, as a sign of the accusative. In the last clause of 2Ch 17:4, “and not after the doings of Israel” (of the ten tribes), , “he walked,” is to be repeated. The doing of Israel is the worship of Jahve through the images of the golden calves, which the author of the Chronicle includes in the .
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(2) And he placed forces.Comp. 2Ch. 11:12.
The fenced cities.Ar ha-btsrth. (Comp. 2Ch. 11:5 sqq., 2Ch. 14:6-7.)
And set garrisons.Placed military posts or prefects (netsbm). (1Ch. 11:16; 2Ch. 11:11.) Syriac, appointed rulers.
The cities of Ephraim . . . had taken.See on 2Ch. 15:8.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Cities of Ephraim, which Asa had taken Compare the note on 2Ch 15:8.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ch 17:2 And 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.
Ver. 2. And he placed forces. ] See 2Ch 17:19 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
fenced = fortified.
Asa . . . had taken (2Ch 15:8).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
placed forces: 2Ch 11:11, 2Ch 11:12
in the cities: 2Ch 15:8
Reciprocal: Gen 49:8 – thy hand 2Sa 8:6 – garrisons 2Ch 17:19 – put in 2Ch 32:5 – he strengthened
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 17:2. And set garrisons in the cities which Asa had taken We do not read of any cities which Asa took; but Abijah his father possessed himself of several, which Asa kept and took for his own, 2Ch 13:19. And, it appears, Jehoshaphat put such forces in them as might secure them to himself.