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. S. Chronicles 17:11 NIV

¹¹Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. S. Chronicles 17:11 KJV

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. S. Chronicles 17:12-19 NIV

¹²¶And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.castles: or, palaces ¹³And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem. ¹⁴And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand. ¹⁵And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.next…: Heb. at his hand ¹⁶And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour. ¹⁷And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. ¹⁸And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war. ¹⁹These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah. S. Chronicles 17:12-19 KJV

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.

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.

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...