And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
Parallel translations
- WEB His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.
- KJV And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
- NKJV And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah.
- NASB He took great pride in the ways of the Lord, and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.
- NLT He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah.
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
Jehoshaphat's heart was encouraged in the Lord's ways, and he removed the high places and Asherah poles. Wholehearted devotion produces bold reform.
Overview
His heart 'lifted up in the ways of Yahweh' describes godly courage, not pride, leading him to purge idolatry. The reform extends Asa's work and demonstrates sincere zeal for pure worship. Removing idols so God alone is honored anticipates the heart-cleansing Christ accomplishes in His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Hos 14:9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
- 2 Chr 20:33The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
- Ps 119:1Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.
- 2 Chr 15:17The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.
- 2 Chr 19:3However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”
- 1 Kgs 22:43And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
- 2 Chr 34:3–7In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images.
- Ps 138:5They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
- Ps 18:21–22For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.
- Job 22:26Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
- Acts 13:10and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
- 2 Chr 31:1When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property.
- Deut 28:47Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance,
- 2 Chr 14:3He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.
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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 17:6 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
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