2 Chronicles 20:34, commentary and pictures

This verse closes the account of Jehoshaphat's reign given in chapters seventeen to twenty and directs readers to another fuller record for the rest of his acts, first and last. That fuller record is the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. Jehu the son of Hanani was the prophet who wrote a record of Jehoshaphat's life and reign, a volume in the sacred history of Judah's kings.

In the story surrounding this verse, Jehoshaphat's name means Jehovah's judgment. He is presented as truly a great and good king, greater even than his father Asa. He was the greatest king the nation had seen since Solomon and the greatest champion of Jehovah. He appointed teachers throughout the land of Judah to teach the people the right way.

His great mistake was entering into alliance with Ahab of Israel, the wicked kingdom, in helping the ungodly, for which he was reproved and rebuked by the prophet. His loyalty and devotion to God are shown in that when reproved he humbled himself under the reproof and returned to integrity, showing faithfulness in his last days by seeking to restore the worship of God, and when in trouble he sought the God of his fathers. The verse belongs to the account of united plea for help and deliverance when the hosts of Moab and Ammon were overthrown, a blessed record of victory by faith that was assured by faith before it was actually accomplished and turned the plea into songs of praise. He led his people out to a valley in the wilderness of Tekoah and was blessed there with a victory over the hordes of his enemies without parallel in the national records. His connection with Israel continued through his descendants and successors.