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.

Some 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.

Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. Their enrollment by families was as follows: From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men; next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; next, Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000. From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields; next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle. These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah. (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
Thu10078-01-01 AA24 Jul -910 NS28 Jun 220 BAUC3676051 AAN
578-01-01 FE2 Aug -910 OS28 Jun 973 BC1388894 JDN
Forward 7700 Rams at 1/day
Thu10099-02-21 AA24 Aug -889 NS6 Oct 195 BAUC3683751 AAN
599-02-21 FE1 Sep -889 OS6 Oct 948 BC1396594 JDN
Forward 7700 Male Goats at 1/day
Thu10120-03-11 AA22 Sep -868 NS16 Mar 169 BAUC3691451 AAN
620-03-11 FE30 Sep -868 OS16 Mar 922 BC1404294 JDN
Forward Adnah’s 300,000 men at 1/day
Fri10942-08-11 AA5 Feb -46 NS19 Apr 707 AUC3991451 AAN
1442-08-11 FE7 Feb -47 OS19 Apr 47 BC1704294 JDN
Forward Jehnanan’s 280,000 men at 1/day
Fri11710-01-21 AA17 Sep 720 NS13 Sep 1473 AUC4271451 AAN
2210-01-21 FE13 Sep 720 OS13 Sep 720 AD1984294 JDN
Forward Amasiah’s 200,000 men at 1/day
Mon12258-04-11 AA16 Apr 1268 NS9 Apr 2021 AUC4471451 AAN
2758-04-11 FE9 Apr 1268 OS9 Apr 1268 AD2184294 JDN
Forward Eliada’s 200,000 men at 1/day
Thu12806-08-01 AA16 Nov 1815 NS4 Nov 2568 AUC4671451 AAN
3306-08-01 FE4 Nov 1815 OS4 Nov 1815 AD2384294 JDN
Forward Jehzabad’s 180,000 men at 1/day
Sat13300-01-01 AA12 Sep 2308 NS27 Aug 3061 AUC4851451 AAN
3800-01-01 FE27 Aug 2308 OS27 Aug 2308 AD2564294 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
Sat9541-01-01 AA16 Mar -1446 NS25 Dec 865 BAUC3480151 AAN
41-01-01 FE29 Mar -1446 OS25 Dec 1618 BC1192994 JDN
Forward 7700 Rams at 1/day
Sat9562-01-21 AA15 Apr -1425 NS4 Jun 839 BAUC3487851 AAN
62-01-21 FE28 Apr -1425 OS4 Jun 1592 BC1200694 JDN
Forward 7700 Male Goats at 1/day
Sat9583-03-11 AA14 May -1404 NS13 Sep 814 BAUC3495551 AAN
83-03-11 FE27 May -1404 OS13 Sep 1567 BC1208394 JDN
Forward Adnah’s 300,000 men at 1/day
Sun10405-07-11 AA28 Sep -583 NS19 Jun 155 AUC3795551 AAN
905-07-11 FE4 Oct -583 OS19 Jun 599 BC1508394 JDN
Forward Jehnanan’s 280,000 men at 1/day
Sun11173-01-21 AA9 May 184 NS10 May 937 AUC4075551 AAN
1673-01-21 FE10 May 184 OS10 May 184 AD1788394 JDN
Forward Amasiah’s 200,000 men at 1/day
Wed11721-05-11 AA9 Dec 731 NS5 Dec 1484 AUC4275551 AAN
2221-05-11 FE5 Dec 731 OS5 Dec 731 AD1988394 JDN
Forward Eliada’s 200,000 men at 1/day
Sat12269-08-01 AA8 Jul 1279 NS1 Jul 2032 AUC4475551 AAN
2769-08-01 FE1 Jul 1279 OS1 Jul 1279 AD2188394 JDN
Forward Jehzabad’s 180,000 men at 1/day
Mon12763-01-01 AA4 May 1772 NS23 Apr 2525 AUC4655551 AAN
3263-01-01 FE23 Apr 1772 OS23 Apr 1772 AD2368394 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