2 Chronicles 17:6

“And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord, etc.] It was engaged in them, was bent and set upon them; he walked in them with great pleasure and cheerfulness, being inspired with zeal and courage; he was fearless and intrepid, and regarded not any opposition he might have, or expect to have, in the work of reformation in which he was concerned: moreover, he took away the high places; such as were dedicated to idols, but not those in which the true God was worshipped, (<142033>2 Chronicles 20:33) and groves out of Judah; where idols were placed; for though these had been removed by Asa, yet had been renewed in the latter part of his days, when more negligent of religion.”

“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.”

“His heart was lifted up - This expression generally occurs in a bad sense Deuteronomy 8:14; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Psalms 131:1; Proverbs 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 2 Chronicles 20:33, and see the 2 Chronicles 15:17 note. return to 'Top of Page'”

“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. 2 Chronicles 17:7”

“his heart: Deu 28:47; Job 22:26 lifted up: that is, was encouraged in the ways: Psa 18:21, Psa 18:22, Psa 119:1, Psa 138:5; Hos 14:9; Act 13:10 he took away: Ch2 14:3, Ch2 15:17, Ch2 19:3, Ch2 20:33, Ch2 31:1, Ch2 34:3-7; Kg1 22:43 2 Chronicles 17:7”

“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,…”