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)

Verse 10. - The moral effect of this peaceful war of Jehoshaphat is manifestly great.

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.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.