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Selected Verse: 2 Chronicles 17:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
2Ch 17:6	Strong Concordance	And his heart [03820] was lifted up [01361] in the ways [01870] of the LORD [03068]: moreover he took away [05493] the high places [01116] and groves [0842] out of Judah [03063].
	King James	And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord--Full of faith and piety, he possessed zeal and courage to undertake the reformation of manners, to suppress all the works and objects of idolatry (see on Ch2 20:33), and he held out public encouragement to the pure worship of God.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord--Full of faith and piety, he possessed zeal and courage to undertake the reformation of manners, to suppress all the works and objects of idolatry (see on Ch2 20:33), and he held out public encouragement to the pure worship of God.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
His heart was lifted up - This expression generally occurs in a bad sense Deu 8:14; Ch2 26:16; Psa 131:1; Pro 18:12; but here it must be taken differently. The margin "was encouraged" expresses fairly the true meaning. He first began by setting an example of faithfulness to Yahweh. He then proceeded to use his best endeavors to extirpate idolatry. He took away the high places - Compare Ch2 20:33, and see the Ch2 15:17 note.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
high places (See Scofield) - (Kg1 3:2). groves (See Scofield) - (Deu 16:21). (See Scofield) - (Jdg 3:7).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
This blessing encouraged Jehoshaphat to extirpate from the land all idolatrous worship, and to teach the people the law of the Lord. לב נּבהּ, usually sensu malo, to be haughty, proud, cf. e.g., Ch2 26:16; Ch2 32:25; here sensu bono, of rising courage to advance in ways pleasing to God: and he removed the high places also, etc. עוד points back to Ch2 17:3 : not only did he himself keep far from the Baals, but he removed, besides, all memorials of the Baal-worship from Judah. On בּמות and אשׁרים, see on Ch2 14:2. Ch2 17:7-9 In the third year of his reign he sent five princes, i.e., laymen of high position, with nine Levites and two priests, into the cities of Judah, with the book of the law, to teach the law everywhere to the people. בּן־חיל is nom. prop., like בּן־חסד, Kg1 4:10, בּן־דּקר, Kg1 4:9, and is not to be translated as an adjective, as in lxx and Syr., partly on account of the ל praef., and still more on account of the singular, for the plural חיל בּני must be used when it is in apposition to לשׂרי. Nothing further is known of the men named; the designation of them as שׂרים suggests the idea that they were heads of families or fathers'-houses. אדוניּה טוב, too (Ch2 17:8), is one name. The "book of the law of Jahve" is the Pentateuch, not merely a collection of Mosaic laws, since in Jehoshaphat's time the Mosaic book of the law (the Pentateuch) had been long in existence. יהוּדה בּערי סבב signifies to go through the cities of Judah in different directions; baa`aam limeed, to teach among the people (not the people). The mission of these men is called by the older theologians a solemn ecclesiarum visitatio, quam Josaphat laudabili exemplo per universum regnum suum instituit, and they differ in opinion only as to the part played by the princes in it. Vitringa, de synagoga vet. p. 389, in agreement with Rashi, thinks that only the Levites and priests were deputed ut docerent; the princes, ut auctoritate imperioque suo populum erudiendum in officio continerent eumque de seria regis voluntate certiorem facerent; while others, e.g., Buddaeus, refer to Ch2 17:9, ubi principes pariter ac Levitae populum docuisse dicuntur, or believe with Grotius, docere et explicare legem non tantum sacerdotum erat et Levitarum, sed omnium eruditorum. Both views contain elements of truth, and do not mutually exclude each other, but may be harmonized. We can hardly confine למּד to religious teaching. The Mosaic law contains a number of merely civil precepts, as to which laymen learned in the law might impart instruction; and consequently the teaching probably consisted not merely in making the people acquainted with the contents of the law, but at the same time of direction and guidance in keeping the law, and generally in restoring and confirming the authority of the law among the people. In connection with this there were many abuses and illegalities which had to be broken down and removed; so that in this respect the task of the commission sent round the country by Jehoshaphat may be compared to a church inspection, if only we understand thereby not an inspection of churches in the Christian sense of the words, but an inspection of the religious and moral life of the communities of Israel under the old covenant.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

This blessing encouraged Jehoshaphat to extirpate from the land all idolatrous worship, and to teach the people the law of the Lord. לב נּבהּ, usually sensu malo, to be haughty, proud, cf. e.g., Ch2 26:16; Ch2 32:25; here sensu bono, of rising courage to advance in ways pleasing to God: and he removed the high places also, etc. עוד points back to Ch2 17:3 : not only did he himself keep far from the Baals, but he removed, besides, all memorials of the Baal-worship from Judah. On בּמות and אשׁרים, see on Ch2 14:2.

Ch2 17:7-9

In the third year of his reign he sent five princes, i.e., laymen of high position, with nine Levites and two priests, into the cities of Judah, with the book of the law, to teach the law everywhere to the people. בּן־חיל is nom. prop., like בּן־חסד, Kg1 4:10, בּן־דּקר, Kg1 4:9, and is not to be translated as an adjective, as in lxx and Syr., partly on account of the ל praef., and still more on account of the singular, for the plural חיל בּני must be used when it is in apposition to לשׂרי. Nothing further is known of the men named; the designation of them as שׂרים suggests the idea that they were heads of families or fathers'-houses. אדוניּה טוב, too (Ch2 17:8), is one name. The "book of the law of Jahve" is the Pentateuch, not merely a collection of Mosaic laws, since in Jehoshaphat's time the Mosaic book of the law (the Pentateuch) had been long in existence. יהוּדה בּערי סבב signifies to go through the cities of Judah in different directions; baa`aam limeed, to teach among the people (not the people). The mission of these men is called by the older theologians a solemn ecclesiarum visitatio, quam Josaphat laudabili exemplo per universum regnum suum instituit, and they differ in opinion only as to the part played by the princes in it. Vitringa, de synagoga vet. p. 389, in agreement with Rashi, thinks that only the Levites and priests were deputed ut docerent; the princes, ut auctoritate imperioque suo populum erudiendum in officio continerent eumque de seria regis voluntate certiorem facerent; while others, e.g., Buddaeus, refer to Ch2 17:9, ubi principes pariter ac Levitae populum docuisse dicuntur, or believe with Grotius, docere et explicare legem non tantum sacerdotum erat et Levitarum, sed omnium eruditorum. Both views contain elements of truth, and do not mutually exclude each other, but may be harmonized. We can hardly confine למּד to religious teaching. The Mosaic law contains a number of merely civil precepts, as to which laymen learned in the law might impart instruction; and consequently the teaching probably consisted not merely in making the people acquainted with the contents of the law, but at the same time of direction and guidance in keeping the law, and generally in restoring and confirming the authority of the law among the people. In connection with this there were many abuses and illegalities which had to be broken down and removed; so that in this respect the task of the commission sent round the country by Jehoshaphat may be compared to a church inspection, if only we understand thereby not an inspection of churches in the Christian sense of the words, but an inspection of the religious and moral life of the communities of Israel under the old covenant.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Lifted up - Above all discouragements, and fears. He was valiant and resolute for God and his ways. Groves - Those wherein idols were worshipped, and though Asa had done this before, yet either he did not do it thoroughly; or the Jews (who were many of them mad upon their idols) had secretly made new ones, in the latter part of his reign, when he grew more infirm in body, and more remiss in God's cause.

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³³ Howbeit the high places [01116] were not taken away [05493]: for as yet the people [05971] had not prepared [03559] their hearts [03824] unto the God [0430] of their fathers [01].

¹⁷ But the high places [01116] were not taken away [05493] out of Israel [03478]: nevertheless the heart [03824] of Asa [0609] was perfect [08003] all his days [03117].

³³ Howbeit the high places [01116] were not taken away [05493]: for as yet the people [05971] had not prepared [03559] their hearts [03824] unto the God [0430] of their fathers [01].

¹² Before [06440] destruction [07667] the heart [03820] of man [0376] is haughty [01361], and before [06440] honour [03519] is humility [06038].

¹ A Song [07892] of degrees [04609] of David [01732]. LORD [03068], my heart [03820] is not haughty [01361], nor mine eyes [05869] lofty [07311]: neither do I exercise [01980] myself in great matters [01419], or in things too high [06381] for me.

¹⁶ But when he was strong [02393], his heart [03820] was lifted up [01361] to his destruction [07843]: for he transgressed [04603] against the LORD [03068] his God [0430], and went [0935] into the temple [01964] of the LORD [03068] to burn incense [06999] upon the altar [04196] of incense [07004].

¹⁴ Then thine heart [03824] be lifted up [07311], and thou forget [07911] the LORD [03068] thy God [0430], which brought thee forth [03318] out of the land [0776] of Egypt [04714], from the house [01004] of bondage [05650];

⁷ And the children [01121] of Israel [03478] did [06213] evil [07451] in the sight [05869] of the LORD [03068], and forgat [07911] the LORD [03068] their God [0430], and served [05647] Baalim [01168] and the groves [0842].

²¹ Thou shalt not plant [05193] thee a grove [0842] of any trees [06086] near unto [0681] the altar [04196] of the LORD [03068] thy God [0430], which thou shalt make [06213] thee.

² Only the people [05971] sacrificed [02076] in high places [01116], because there was no house [01004] built [01129] unto the name [08034] of the LORD [03068], until those days [03117].

⁹ And they taught [03925] in Judah [03063], and had the book [05612] of the law [08451] of the LORD [03068] with them, and went about [05437] throughout all the cities [05892] of Judah [03063], and taught [03925] the people [05971].

⁸ And with them he sent Levites [03881], even Shemaiah [08098], and Nethaniah [05418], and Zebadiah [02069], and Asahel [06214], and Shemiramoth [08070], and Jehonathan [03083], and Adonijah [0138], and Tobijah [02900], and Tobadonijah [02899], Levites [03881]; and with them Elishama [0476] and Jehoram [03088], priests [03548].

⁹ The son of Dekar [01128] [01857], in Makaz [04739], and in Shaalbim [08169], and Bethshemesh [01053], and Elonbethhanan [0358]:

¹⁰ The son of Hesed [01136] [02618], in Aruboth [0700]; to him pertained Sochoh [07755], and all the land [0776] of Hepher [02660]:

⁷ Also in the third [07969] year [08141] of his reign [04427] he sent [07971] to his princes [08269], even to Benhail [01134], and to Obadiah [05662], and to Zechariah [02148], and to Nethaneel [05417], and to Michaiah [04322], to teach [03925] in the cities [05892] of Judah [03063].
⁸ And with them he sent Levites [03881], even Shemaiah [08098], and Nethaniah [05418], and Zebadiah [02069], and Asahel [06214], and Shemiramoth [08070], and Jehonathan [03083], and Adonijah [0138], and Tobijah [02900], and Tobadonijah [02899], Levites [03881]; and with them Elishama [0476] and Jehoram [03088], priests [03548].
⁹ And they taught [03925] in Judah [03063], and had the book [05612] of the law [08451] of the LORD [03068] with them, and went about [05437] throughout all the cities [05892] of Judah [03063], and taught [03925] the people [05971].

² And Asa [0609] did [06213] that which was good [02896] and right [03477] in the eyes [05869] of the LORD [03068] his God [0430]:

³ And the LORD [03068] was with Jehoshaphat [03092], because he walked [01980] in the first [07223] ways [01870] of his father [01] David [01732], and sought [01875] not unto Baalim [01168];

²⁵ But Hezekiah [03169] rendered not again [07725] according to the benefit [01576] done unto him; for his heart [03820] was lifted up [01361]: therefore there was wrath [07110] upon him, and upon Judah [03063] and Jerusalem [03389].