Research Report on Second Chronicles 17

The large counts of people found in the Bible are often prophetic for large intervals of time. This report looks at a time when Judah grew strong under the reign of Jehoshaphat.

Background

Huge counts, typically census counts, are prophetic for large intervals in world history. In this case Jehoshaphat’s gifts and armies.

Jehoshaphat was given gifts from the Arabs... The following is the account.

¹¹Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

(2 Chronicles 17:11 NIV)

Jehoshaphat’s armies are also listed in a census.

¹²Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah ¹³and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. ¹⁴Their enrollment by families was as follows: From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men; ¹⁵next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; ¹⁶next, Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000. ¹⁷From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields; ¹⁸next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle. ¹⁹These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah. 2 Chronicles 17:12-19

(2 Chronicles 17:12-19 NIV)

Each of these values drives a prophetic interval. For the purposes here the natural starting point is the start of his reign. The following is the report.

Prophetic Dates from Second Chronicles 17
Start of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
Thu	10078-01-01 AA	24 Jul -910 NS	28 Jun 220 BAUC	3676051 AAN
Thu	578-01-01 FE	2 Aug -910 OS	28 Jun 973 BC	1388894 JDN
Forward 7700 Rams at 1/day
Thu	10099-02-21 AA	24 Aug -889 NS	6 Oct 195 BAUC	3683751 AAN
Thu	599-02-21 FE	1 Sep -889 OS	6 Oct 948 BC	1396594 JDN
Forward 7700 Male Goats at 1/day
Thu	10120-03-11 AA	22 Sep -868 NS	16 Mar 169 BAUC	3691451 AAN
Thu	620-03-11 FE	30 Sep -868 OS	16 Mar 922 BC	1404294 JDN
Forward Adnah’s 300,000 men at 1/day
Fri	10942-08-11 AA	5 Feb -46 NS	19 Apr 707 AUC	3991451 AAN
Fri	1442-08-11 FE	7 Feb -47 OS	19 Apr 47 BC	1704294 JDN
Forward Jehnanan’s 280,000 men at 1/day
Fri	11710-01-21 AA	17 Sep 720 NS	13 Sep 1473 AUC	4271451 AAN
Fri	2210-01-21 FE	13 Sep 720 OS	13 Sep 720 AD	1984294 JDN
Forward Amasiah’s 200,000 men at 1/day
Mon	12258-04-11 AA	16 Apr 1268 NS	9 Apr 2021 AUC	4471451 AAN
Mon	2758-04-11 FE	9 Apr 1268 OS	9 Apr 1268 AD	2184294 JDN
Forward Eliada’s 200,000 men at 1/day
Thu	12806-08-01 AA	16 Nov 1815 NS	4 Nov 2568 AUC	4671451 AAN
Thu	3306-08-01 FE	4 Nov 1815 OS	4 Nov 1815 AD	2384294 JDN
Forward Jehzabad’s 180,000 men at 1/day
Sat	13300-01-01 AA	12 Sep 2308 NS	27 Aug 3061 AUC	4851451 AAN
Sat	3800-01-01 FE	27 Aug 2308 OS	27 Aug 2308 AD	2564294 JDN

Runs off the end of known history. May have a better starting point than his reign. The curious feature of the start of Second Chronicles 17 is that Jehoshaphat’s reign begins undated. This strongly suggests a different starting point for this series. ... Will have to pray about this.

One answer is the gifts of 7700. This might match the gift series that happened in the wilderness. If so the starting point is earlier. The following is the report.

Prophetic Dates from Second Chronicles 17
Jordan Crossing
Sat	9541-01-01 AA	16 Mar -1446 NS	25 Dec 865 BAUC	3480151 AAN
Sat	41-01-01 FE	29 Mar -1446 OS	25 Dec 1618 BC	1192994 JDN
Forward 7700 Rams at 1/day
Sat	9562-01-21 AA	15 Apr -1425 NS	4 Jun 839 BAUC	3487851 AAN
Sat	62-01-21 FE	28 Apr -1425 OS	4 Jun 1592 BC	1200694 JDN
Forward 7700 Male Goats at 1/day
Sat	9583-03-11 AA	14 May -1404 NS	13 Sep 814 BAUC	3495551 AAN
Sat	83-03-11 FE	27 May -1404 OS	13 Sep 1567 BC	1208394 JDN
Forward Adnah’s 300,000 men at 1/day
Sun	10405-07-11 AA	28 Sep -583 NS	19 Jun 155 AUC	3795551 AAN
Sun	905-07-11 FE	4 Oct -583 OS	19 Jun 599 BC	1508394 JDN
Forward Jehnanan’s 280,000 men at 1/day
Sun	11173-01-21 AA	9 May 184 NS	10 May 937 AUC	4075551 AAN
Sun	1673-01-21 FE	10 May 184 OS	10 May 184 AD	1788394 JDN
Forward Amasiah’s 200,000 men at 1/day
Wed	11721-05-11 AA	9 Dec 731 NS	5 Dec 1484 AUC	4275551 AAN
Wed	2221-05-11 FE	5 Dec 731 OS	5 Dec 731 AD	1988394 JDN
Forward Eliada’s 200,000 men at 1/day
Sat	12269-08-01 AA	8 Jul 1279 NS	1 Jul 2032 AUC	4475551 AAN
Sat	2769-08-01 FE	1 Jul 1279 OS	1 Jul 1279 AD	2188394 JDN
Forward Jehzabad’s 180,000 men at 1/day
Mon	12763-01-01 AA	4 May 1772 NS	23 Apr 2525 AUC	4655551 AAN
Mon	3263-01-01 FE	23 Apr 1772 OS	23 Apr 1772 AD	2368394 JDN

Curious on this second rendering the staring point is the fall of Jericho and the ending point is quite close to Manasseh’s seal date. This is important because Ramoth Gilead is in the eastern tribes associated with Manasseh. The random arrow is used in this battle and Samaria falls to the Syrians.

Samaria is from Joseph/Ephraim and they loose in this battle over Gilead. This is as it was in the war of American independence. The players are essentially the same though the name "Syria" is getting linked to Manasseh. More to say, but I’ll leave it to the reader.

Note the account at Second Chronicles 18 says after some years, which closes the gap to 1776...

Phil Stone 2008-09-18