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2 Chronicles 17 · a question people ask

Did Jehoshaphat take away the high places or not?

In the text

This chapter says he did: "Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah" (17:6) (tap high places). In the close of its account of his reign 2 Chronicles says, "However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers" (20:33). 1 Kings says, "However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places" (1 Kings 22:43). In Hebrew took away (17:6) and taken away (20:33; 1 Kings 22:43) are the same verb, sur. Jehu the son of Hanani tells him, "you have put away the Asheroth out of the land" (19:3). The same pair of statements comes in Asa's reign (14:3, 14:5 and 15:17), and chapter 14's honest question sets them side by side. Neither book explains how these verses fit together, and these notes set them side by side without choosing.

The verses

“His heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.”
2 Chronicles 17:6 · World English Bible
“However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.”
2 Chronicles 20:33 · World English Bible
“He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in the LORD’s eyes. However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.”
1 Kings 22:43 · World English Bible
“Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath is on you from before the LORD. Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.””
2 Chronicles 19:2-3 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 17

2 Chronicles 17: Teachers in every city

In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent princes, with Levites and priests, through all the cities of Judah, "having the book of the LORD’s law with them" (17:9). 1 Kings' account of his reign doesn't tell it, and the Hebrew verb for teach there, lamad, comes in 2 Chronicles only in this chapter.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions