2 chronicles 20:34 - Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is included in the book of the kings of Israel.
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What does "2 chronicles 20:34" mean?
This verse, 2 Chronicles 20:34, serves as a concluding statement about the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Let's break down what it means:
"Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last...": This indicates that the Chronicler (the author of 1 & 2 Chronicles) isn't providing a complete account of everything Jehoshaphat did during his reign. He's given a selection of events, but there were many more actions, decisions, and occurrences throughout Jehoshaphat's rule.
"...behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani...": This tells us where further information about Jehoshaphat can be found. The Chronicler directs the reader to a source called "the history of Jehu the son of Hanani."
"...which is included in the book of the kings of Israel.": This adds a crucial detail: the history of Jehu the son of Hanani is itself contained within a larger work, "the book of the kings of Israel."
Key Implications & Interpretation:
Source Citation: The Chronicler is explicitly citing his sources. This adds a degree of credibility to his account. He's not claiming to be the sole authority on Jehoshaphat; he's pointing to other existing records.
Lost Source: The problem is that the "history of Jehu the son of Hanani" and even "the book of the kings of Israel" (as referred to here) are not the same as the books of 1 & 2 Kings in our modern Bible. The Bible itself mentions other books that are not included in the canon. These were likely historical records or collections of stories that were consulted by the biblical authors. The specific "book of the kings of Israel" mentioned here is probably a source that the Chronicler used, but that is now lost to us. It should be distinguished from the book of kings in our current bible.
Northern Kingdom Connection: The mention of the "book of the kings of Israel" (meaning the northern kingdom of Israel, as opposed to Judah) is interesting. It suggests that the "history of Jehu" either covered events in both kingdoms or was a source that the Chronicler found valuable for understanding events in Judah as well. (Keep in mind that Jehu, the son of Hanani, was a prophet who rebuked King Baasha of the northern kingdom of Israel, and King Jehoshaphat of Judah.) This might also suggest that the Chronicler had access to records from the northern kingdom.
Chronicles' Purpose: The Chronicler often re-interprets or supplements the information found in the books of Samuel and Kings (which cover much of the same historical period). By citing other sources, he subtly emphasizes that his version of events is based on historical research and isn't simply a rewriting of existing scripture.
Hanani: Hanani was a prophet who opposed King Asa of Judah. So, it's possible Jehu was a historian from a family of prophets or who kept the prophetic tradition going.
In summary: The verse is a closing remark that indicates that there's more to Jehoshaphat's story than what the Chronicler has presented. It directs the reader to other historical sources, specifically the "history of Jehu the son of Hanani," which was part of a larger work called "the book of the kings of Israel." Unfortunately, these specific sources are no longer available to us. The verse also highlights the Chronicler's reliance on multiple sources and his potentially broader historical perspective.
2 chronicles 20:34 - Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is included in the book of the kings of Israel.
What does "2 chronicles 20:34" mean?
This verse, 2 Chronicles 20:34, serves as a concluding statement about the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Let's break down what it means:
"Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last...": This indicates that the Chronicler (the author of 1 & 2 Chronicles) isn't providing a complete account of everything Jehoshaphat did during his reign. He's given a selection of events, but there were many more actions, decisions, and occurrences throughout Jehoshaphat's rule.
"...behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani...": This tells us where further information about Jehoshaphat can be found. The Chronicler directs the reader to a source called "the history of Jehu the son of Hanani."
"...which is included in the book of the kings of Israel.": This adds a crucial detail: the history of Jehu the son of Hanani is itself contained within a larger work, "the book of the kings of Israel."
Key Implications & Interpretation:
Source Citation: The Chronicler is explicitly citing his sources. This adds a degree of credibility to his account. He's not claiming to be the sole authority on Jehoshaphat; he's pointing to other existing records.
Lost Source: The problem is that the "history of Jehu the son of Hanani" and even "the book of the kings of Israel" (as referred to here) are not the same as the books of 1 & 2 Kings in our modern Bible. The Bible itself mentions other books that are not included in the canon. These were likely historical records or collections of stories that were consulted by the biblical authors. The specific "book of the kings of Israel" mentioned here is probably a source that the Chronicler used, but that is now lost to us. It should be distinguished from the book of kings in our current bible.
Northern Kingdom Connection: The mention of the "book of the kings of Israel" (meaning the northern kingdom of Israel, as opposed to Judah) is interesting. It suggests that the "history of Jehu" either covered events in both kingdoms or was a source that the Chronicler found valuable for understanding events in Judah as well. (Keep in mind that Jehu, the son of Hanani, was a prophet who rebuked King Baasha of the northern kingdom of Israel, and King Jehoshaphat of Judah.) This might also suggest that the Chronicler had access to records from the northern kingdom.
Chronicles' Purpose: The Chronicler often re-interprets or supplements the information found in the books of Samuel and Kings (which cover much of the same historical period). By citing other sources, he subtly emphasizes that his version of events is based on historical research and isn't simply a rewriting of existing scripture.
Hanani: Hanani was a prophet who opposed King Asa of Judah. So, it's possible Jehu was a historian from a family of prophets or who kept the prophetic tradition going.
In summary: The verse is a closing remark that indicates that there's more to Jehoshaphat's story than what the Chronicler has presented. It directs the reader to other historical sources, specifically the "history of Jehu the son of Hanani," which was part of a larger work called "the book of the kings of Israel." Unfortunately, these specific sources are no longer available to us. The verse also highlights the Chronicler's reliance on multiple sources and his potentially broader historical perspective.