2 Chronicles 20:31-37

2 Chronicles 20:31-37

[31] And Jehoshaphat  reigned  over Judah:  he was thirty  and five  years  old  when he began to reign,  twenty  and five  years  in Jerusalem.  And his mother's  name  was Azubah  the daughter  of Shilhi.  [32] in the way  of Asa  his father,  and departed  not from it, doing  that which was right  in the sight  of the LORD.  [33] Howbeit the high places  were not taken away:  for as yet the people  had not prepared  their hearts  unto the God  of their fathers.  [34] Now the rest  of the acts  of Jehoshaphat,  first  and last,  behold, they are written  in the book  of Jehu  the son  of Hanani,  who is mentioned  in the book  of the kings  of Israel.  [35] And after  this did Jehoshaphat  king  of Judah  join  himself with Ahaziah  king  of Israel,  who did  very wickedly:  [36] And he joined  himself with him to make  ships  to Tarshish:  and they made  the ships  in Eziongeber.  [37] Then Eliezer  the son  of Dodavah  of Mareshah  prophesied  against Jehoshaphat,  saying,  Because thou hast joined  thyself with Ahaziah,  the LORD  hath broken  thy works.  And the ships  were broken,  that they were not able  to Tarshish. 

What does 2 Chronicles 20:31-37 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The reference to Jehoshaphat not removing the high places ( 2 Chronicles 20:33) seems to contradict what the writer said in 2 Chronicles 17:6. Perhaps when the people rebuilt the high places that Jehoshaphat destroyed earlier in his reign, he failed to tear them down again. In this, the king fell short of the complete obedience required for God to establish his throne forever ( 1 Chronicles 17:11-14). Jehoshaphat"s alliance with Ahaziah, king of Israel, was another instance in which he failed to trust and obey God as he should have ( 2 Chronicles 20:35-37).
". . . however much a person"s life might be characterized by obedience to God, the possibility of lapse and compromise is forever present." [1]
"Jehoshaphat"s weakness-and this the chronicler sets before us as a peril of pastoral leadership-was his inability to say no." [2]
"The weakness of Jehoshaphat, then, is a perilous thing. It is actually related to his excellence as a shepherd. He cares; if he is to be a good pastor, he cannot afford to be hard-hearted. His troubles begin when he is not sufficiently hard-hearted." [3]
Jehoshaphat was another of Judah"s best kings who followed David"s example. Nevertheless he was not the Son of David whom God would establish forever. [4]