but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel.
Here we find concerning Jehoshaphat, I. What a wise man he was. As soon as he came to the crown he strengthened himself against Israel, Ch2 17:1. Ahab, an active warlike prince, had now been three years upon the throne of Israel, the vigour of his beginning falling in with the decay of Asa's conclusion.
Commenting on 2 Chronicles 17:1-9
But sought to the Lord God of his fathers,.... Prayed to him, worshipped and served him: and walked in his commandments; observed and kept them, moral, ceremonial, and judicial: and not after the doings of Israel: who worshipped the golden calves at Dan and Bethel.
and not after the doings of Israel--He observed with scrupulous fidelity, and employed his royal influence to support the divine institutions as enacted by Moses, abhorring that spurious and unlawful calf-worship that now formed the established religion in Israel. Being thus far removed, alike from gross idolatry and Israelitish apostasy, and adhering zealously to the requirements of the divine law, the blessing of God rested on his government.