Canter Bridge

In the judgement of the Hebrew Bible’s two great histories of Israel and Judah, these kingdoms were dismally served by their kings. When the reader happens upon a noble king in the chronology of monarchs, he breathes fresh air. For a moment, the sky clears itself of its gray steel.

Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. (2 Chronicles 17:5–9 ESV)

It is difficult to explain why nearly all English versions render the highlighted sentence as a simple, enduring quality of the king. The Hebrew that underlies the translated words seems instead to speak of a process of growth, a gathering momentum.

(Jehoshaphat’s) heart grew courageous in the ways of the Lord (my translation).

This is recognized by translations into other languages, beginning with the (Greek) ‘Septuagint’, the very first Bible translation. To read the verse in this way is all the more plausible in light of an unambiguous comment on Jehoshaphat’s growth a few verses on, to say nothing of a similar statement in the chapter’s opening verse.

And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities, and he had large supplies in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 17:12–13 ESV)

By my lights, Jehoshaphat began his reign promisingly and then grew from strength to strength. His was a rule of crescendoing competence. One may even sense in this man a restless spirit, a holy dissatisfaction with accomplishments as soon as they had been duly noted, perhaps celebrated a bit, and then reduced to the status of a platform for further nurturing of his people’s highest interests.

Even from our great distance and through the narrow and selective lens of the Chronicler’s written recollection, it is easy both to admire and to like this king. Unlike so many of those who had preceded him and those who would follow, he walked in the ancient paths of his ancestor David with an eager and innovative gait. Perhaps one or two of his dreams died early on. I suppose that, after mourning them briefly, he moved on and perhaps in time found a few of them gifted back to him when he imagined that dream irretrievably dead.

It must have been a good thing to sow one’s seed, raise one’s family, rescue the impoverished brother, fix one’s roof, plant a new olive tree in the days of Jehoshaphat.

Lord, send us leaders like Jehoshaphat, not these pale, angry, careerists!