Editing Jehoshaphat (section)

== Reign ==
[[File:WLM14ES - CS 06072007 ^165233 ^17537 - .jpg|thumb|Statues of Kings Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah at [[El Escorial]], Spain]]
[[2 Chronicles]] chapters 17 to 21 are devoted to the reign of Jehoshaphat. [[First Kings]] treats him more briefly: 1 Kings 15:24<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|1|Kings|15:24|NKJV}}</ref> mentions him as successor to Asa, and 1 Kings 22:1–50<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|1|Kings|22:1–50|NKJV}}</ref> summarizes the events of his life. The [[Jerusalem Bible]] states that "[[the Chronicler]] sees Asa as a [[Type (theology)|type]] of the peaceful, Jehoshaphat of the strong king".<ref>Jerusalem Bible (1966), footnote ''a'' at 2 Chronicles 17</ref> According to these passages, Jehoshaphat ascended the throne at the age of thirty-five and reigned for twenty-five years. He "walked in the ways" of his father or ancestor, [[King David]].<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|17:3|NKJV}}: NKJV. Alternatively this reference is translated as "his father's earlier days" in the Jerusalem Bible and the [[Revised Standard Version]]</ref> He spent the first years of his reign fortifying his kingdom against [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|the Kingdom of Israel]]. His zeal in suppressing the idolatrous worship of the "high places" is commended in 2 Chronicles 17:6.<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|17:6|NKJV}}</ref><ref name=driscoll>Driscoll, James F., [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08502c.htm "Josaphat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919141132/http://newadvent.org/cathen/08502c.htm |date=2013-09-19 }}, ''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910, accessed 8 January 2014</ref>

In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent out priests and [[Levite]]s over the land to instruct the people in the [[Torah|Law]], an activity which was commanded for a [[Shmita|Sabbatical year]] in Deuteronomy 31:10–13<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|31:10–13}}</ref> (taking place in Jerusalem). Later reforms in Judah instituted by Jehoshaphat appear to have included further religious reforms,<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|19:3|NKJV}}</ref> appointment of judges throughout the cities of Judah<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|19:5–7|NKJV}}</ref> and a form of "court of appeal" in Jerusalem.<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|19:8–11|NKJV}}</ref><ref>Barnes, W. E. (1899), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/2_chronicles/19.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802021845/https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/2_chronicles/19.htm |date=2020-08-02 }} on 2 Chronicles 19, accessed 6 May 2020</ref> Ecclesiastical and secular jurisdictions, according to 2 Chronicles 19:11,<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|19:11|NKJV}}</ref> were by royal command kept distinct.<ref name=Hirsch>Hirsch, E. G. (1906), [http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8566-jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719163001/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8566-jehoshaphat |date=2019-07-19 }}, ''Jewish Encyclopedia''</ref>

The author of the [[Books of Chronicles]] generally praises his reign, stating that the kingdom enjoyed a great measure of peace and prosperity, the blessing of God resting on the people "in their basket and their store".<ref>[https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/jehoshaphat/ ''Easton's Bible Dictionary'': Jehoshaphat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802021401/https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/jehoshaphat/ |date=2020-08-02 }}, accessed 3 May 2020</ref>