2 Chronicles 17:1
“Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.”
What does 2 Chronicles 17:1 mean?
Jehoshaphat became king of Judah after his father Asa and immediately worked to secure his position and nation. The phrase "strengthened himself against Israel" doesn't necessarily mean he was preparing for war, but rather that he consolidated his power to make sure Judah stood firm as an independent kingdom, since the northern kingdom of Israel was the larger neighbor. His first act as king was practical and strategic, laying groundwork for the stability that would allow him to do the spiritual reforms described later in this chapter.