2 Chronicles 17:1

“And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, etc.] In the stead of Asa his father: and strengthened himself against Israel; the ten tribes, by fortifying his cities, building castles, raising and keeping a large standing army, as the latter part of this chapter shows, and the next verse.”

“JEHOSHAPHAT REIGNS WELL AND PROSPERS. (Ch2 17:1-6) Jehoshaphat . . . strengthened himself against Israel--The temper and proceedings of the kings of Israel rendered it necessary for him to prepare vigorous measures of defense on the northern frontier of his kingdom. These consisted in filling all the fortresses with their full complement of troops and establishing military stations in various parts of the country, as well as in the cities of Mount Ephraim, which belonged to Jehoshaphat (Ch2 15:8).”

“Jehoshaphat ascended the throne in the fourth year of Ahab 1 Kings 22:41, probably after that monarch had contracted his alliance with the royal family of Sidon, and before he was engaged in war with Syria. It was thus not unnatural that Jehoshaphat should begin his reign by strengthening himself against a possible attack on the part of his northern neighbor. return to 'Top of Page'”

“17:1 Including a two-year co-regency with his father, Asa, Jehoshaphat reigned from 872 to 848 BC. • The last years of Asa’s reign were characterized by conflicts and oppression, so Jehoshaphat needed to consolidate power within Judah to restore peace and stability. Israel had been an enemy during Asa’s days, but Jehoshaphat soon entered into an alliance with Ahab (18:1-2).”

“Jehoshaphat: Kg1 15:24, Kg1 22:41; Ch1 11:10; Mat 1:8, Josaphat and strengthened: Ch2 12:1, Ch2 26:8, Ch2 32:5; Sa1 23:16; Eze 7:27; Eph 6:10 2 Chronicles 17:2”

“Jehoshaphat's efforts to strengthen the kingdom, internally and externally. - Ch2 17:1, or rather the first half of this verse, belongs properly to the preceding chapter, since, when the son immediately follows the father on the throne, the successor is mentioned immediately: cf. Ch2 9:31; Ch2 12:16; Ch2 24:27; Ch2 27:9, etc. Here, however, the account of the accession to the throne is combined with a general remark on the reign of the successor, and therefore it is placed at the commencement of the account of the reign; while in the case of Asa ( Ch2 14:1) both come in immediately at the conclusion of the reign of his predecessor. Asa had shown himself weak against Israel, as he had sought…”