And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
Ver. 4. And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem.] He made no more journeys to Samaria; as he who had escaped with his life at the fall of Blackfriars, cried out, "I will go no more to mass"; and another, "Mass is misery." A third - nothing so wise - said, that nothing grieved him more, than that he had not died by that mischance. But see the just hand of God upon such wild wishers. This Parker - for that was his name - going over to Douay to take priestly orders the week following, was drowned in his passage. a
And he went out again through the people.] Heb., He returned, and went out. He had reformed all places before; but in his absence, at the siege of Ramothgilead, all fell out of order again; like as when Moses was gone but forty days only to converse with God, the people had corrupted themselves, and made a golden calf. It may very well be, too, that by Jehoshaphat's evil example, in loving those that hated the Lord, the people took heart to slight the service of God, and to hanker after idols. Jehoshaphat, therefore, the first thing he doth after his return - when once he had recovered his fright, and considered the prophet's reproof - he setteth upon a reformation - which is optima et aptissima poenitentia, as I have before noted out of Luther - and because it shall be thoroughly done from one end of the land to the other, he goeth himself in person, to see it done.
a Fuller's Eccles. Hist.