And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,
- BSB Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals,
- NKJV Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals,
- NASB And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals,
- NLT The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in David's early ways and did not seek the Baals. God's presence rests on a king devoted to Him.
Overview
Jehoshaphat follows the godly pattern of David's earlier years and shuns Baal worship. The Chronicler ties God's favorable presence directly to his faithfulness. This commendation reflects the covenant principle that God is with those who seek Him, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, Immanuel, God with us.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 33
- Isa 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
- 2 Kgs 22:2And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
- 2 Tim 4:22The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
- Ps 46:11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Gen 39:21But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
- Gen 39:2–3And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
- Josh 1:9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
- Matt 28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
- Judg 6:12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
- 1 Chr 22:18Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.
- Matt 1:23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
- Josh 1:5There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
- Isa 8:10Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
- 2 Sam 5:10And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
- 2 Chr 15:8–13And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
- Matt 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
- 2 Sam 8:15And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
- 2 Kgs 18:3And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
- Jer 2:23How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
- 2 Chr 15:2And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
- Ps 46:7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Exod 4:12Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
- Exod 3:12And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
- 1 Kgs 11:6And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
- Ps 132:1–5Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions:
- Judg 2:11And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
- 1 Kgs 15:3–4And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
- 2 Kgs 16:2Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
- 2 Chr 14:11And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
- 2 Chr 14:2–5And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
- Judg 8:33And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.
- Judg 2:18And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
- 2 Kgs 14:3And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 17:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.