Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 17:6
And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative describes King Jehoshaphat’s conduct during his reign, positioned between the Lord’s establishment of his kingdom and his third-year dispatch of teachers.
The words — לִבּ֖/וֹ (li.B/o) literally means "his heart," and בְּ/דַרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה (be./dar.Khei Yah.weh) means "in the ways of Yahweh." הֵסִ֛יר (he.Sir) denotes the physical removal of the high places and Asherah poles.
The thread — The phrase "ways of the LORD" appears in Hosea 14:9 as a call to discernment. The persistence of high places contrasts with 2 Chronicles 15:17, where Asa’s heart was fully devoted despite remaining shrines, and 2 Chronicles 20:33, where the people’s hearts remained uncommitted.
Why it lands — The text records that inward alignment with divine instruction directly produced outward religious reform. It requires the reader to observe how royal devotion historically determined national worship practices.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
Cross-references
- Hosea 14:9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
- 2 Chronicles 15:17 The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.
- 2 Chronicles 20:33 The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
- Psalms 119:1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.
- 1 Kings 22:43 And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
- 2 Chronicles 19:3 However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”
- 2 Chronicles 34:3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images.
- Psalms 18:21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.
- Psalms 138:5 They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
- Deuteronomy 28:47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance,