Unless you do, you and your fellow citizens will feel the force of the Lord's anger. The rest of chapter 19 he went back to reforming Judah. King Ahab said that he wanted the truth but he couldnt handle the truth. a. He seeks after Gods own heart throughout his reign. He said, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.". . c. How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD? I got my facts mixed up. 1 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem. Lets begin by getting oriented. It is best to regard these not as pagan prophets, but unfaithful prophets to the true God. So Jehoshaphat fortified his borders and increased his troops (vv. a. Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance: Because of his personal godliness (2 Chronicles 17:1-4) and public godliness (2 Chronicles 17:7-10), God blessed Jehoshaphat and exalted him among neighboring nations. King Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat in the Bible was the fourth king of Judah. He attempts to make peace with the northern kingdom of Israel but ends up getting tangled in some bad friendships along the way. THEN he made another disastrous treaty with wicked King Ahaziah which resulted in all their ships wrecked. 2 Kings 18:6He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. This was a city which Ben-hadad Week 39. His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord 2 Chronicles 17:3-6. LICENSEE shall reproduce the following trademark and trademark notice on the copyright page of each copy of the Licensed Products: Read the surrounding text of 2 Chronicles 18:1-19:11. Jesus stays behind in the temple. Not only that, but Ahab decides that he can get around all of this by dressing Jehoshaphat up in his robes and putting him at the front and disguising himself as a soldier. At sunset he died. The partnership between godly Jehoshaphat and wicked Ahab was repulsive to God. All rights reserved. This was in fulfillment of what Isaac foretold many centuries before (Genesis 27:39,40). He also had a lot of property. Despite his misgivings(?) Such arranged dynastic marriages were quite common in those days. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. This might have daunted the good prophet, but that he had lately seen the Lord sitting upon His throne with all the host of heaven standing by Him, and hence he so boldly looked in the face these two kings in their majesty; for he beheld them as so many mice. (Trapp). It is more difficult to explain why Jehoshaphat agreed to go into the battle as the only clearly identified king. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. 19 The Lord asked, Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and get killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, 20 until a spirit stepped forward, approached the Lord, and said, I will deceive him. How? the Lord asked. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Unlike today, many mothers in Ancient Israel decided to name their children Jehoshaphat. Although God protects Jehoshaphat, the king should not have made this friendship in the first place. "Who Is Jehoshaphat in the Bible?" Jehoshaphat then asked if there was not a prophet of the Lord to . Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 1 Kings 16:15-20 describes how Ahab's father, Omri, was the Israelite army's commander, who rebelled against the . Sat each on his throne, and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria: This illustrates the ancient custom of holding court and making decisions at the gates of the city. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. Our Price: $5.99. Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel. So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel! Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God diverted them from him. He certainly did not walk in Gods ways. Saying "no" at this point would look Thankfully, Jehoshaphat repented and returned to his true love: God. . You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The joint forces of the invaders are no match for God almighty. The Lord will give you victory., 12 Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same., 13 But Micaiah answered, By the living Lord I will say what my God tells me to!, 14 When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him, Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?, Attack! Micaiah answered. They go to battle, but Ahab tries to be deceitful. (35) And after this.--The chronicler has omitted the notice that "Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel" (1Kings 22:44), and now he omits two other short verses of the parallel account, viz., 1Kings 22:46-47: "And the remnant of the sodomites, which had remained in the days of his father Asa, he consumed out of the land.There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king." And persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead: Previously, the king of Syria promised to return certain cities to Israel (1 Kings 20:34) in exchange for leniency after defeat in battle. Jehoshaphat, the fourth king of Judah, followed after his father, King Asa, and David's footsteps. Jehoshaphat made a bad alliance with King Ahab, one of the most wicked kings in Israels history. "Evil communications corrupt good manners."*. and it begins well in chapter 17. Jehoshaphat gave his son in marriage to Ahab's daughter. I'm wounded! he cried out to his chariot driver. He thought this would help protect him against Micaiahs prophecy of doom. It just happened, says the man of the world. Today we begin looking at the story of Jehoshaphat. But the one we want to focus on today reigns a little after the time of Solomon and David, long after the kingdom splits into two. He allied with Ahab's son, Ahaziah, in a mercantile venture until God destroyed their fleet (20:35-37; 1 Kings 22:48, 49 ). He left Jerusalem, his proper responsibilities as Gods regent and went to be with Ahab. His story is told in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 17-20. These partnerships pressure us to sacrifice our faithfulness to God. We may not name our children after this king, but we can certainly look to his example and his trust in God during his reign. The ruse fails, in the end. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. A Divine message reached the king and people through Jehaziel, a Levite, upon whom the spirit of Gd had descended. It will use peer pressure to make you stay in line. Mark 12:1-12, Be faithful in the little things. Ahab (1 Kings 22.1-38; 2 Chr 18.1-19.3) Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab began when he "had riches and honour in abundance" (2 Chr 18.1). Vs. 28 - Micaiah does not back down. (see 2 Chronicles 17:10-12). i. Trapp described this gathering of prophets as, An ecumenical council.. Last week I said Jehoshaphat was Ahab's son-in-law, that is wrong. More importantly, he undid the pagan rituals and monuments other kings who came before him had practiced and worshipped. At age 35, Jehoshaphat succeeded his father, Asa, who was the first good king over Judah. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. When Jehoshaphat took office, about 873 BC, he immediately began to abolish the idol worship that had consumed the land. 1 When King Jehoshaphat of Judah became rich and famous, he arranged a marriage between a member of his family and the family of King Ahab of Israel. Not only was he faithful he was a reformer. Because this king had God's interests at heart, for the most part, his reign was prosperous. But any that are considered must be given close scrutiny without glossing over potential difficulties. i. Ahab goes to war against Aram despite Micaiah's prediction. This is what he should have been doing all along, instead of going to be with Ahab. Paul says about this, Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. He walked in Gods ways The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say such things! Then the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly!. Jehoshaphat's Compromise 2-Chr. . Through which remaining prophet did Ahab say they could inquire of the Lord. But how did he die, if God protected him in the war in which Ahab drew him into? a. Sin never pays! This is a stark change in policy from 17:1, where Jehoshaphat had strengthened himself against Israel. Thankfully, Jehoshaphat repented and returned to his true love: God. ii. (2022, May 16). Jehoshaphat responded as if the kings were of one mind and heritage. c. Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead? 10 Things You Need to Know about the Number 666, 10 Books of the Bible You Should Read Again and Again, 10 Most Encouraging Bible Verses That Will Uplift Your Heart and Soul, 5 Things That Hurt Relationships with Grandkids, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life Losses, 4 Things You Should Know about Big George Foreman, 8 Ways You Are Belittling Your Husband and What God Says about It, Maybe Money Can Buy Happiness, but Not Joy. After all, the dangerous one he made almost got him killed. The great battle at Ramoth Gilead was a catastrophe. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. He did have the best of intentions, only skewing wayward when it came to friendships. With whom did Jehoshaphat ally himself with by marriage? 1 Chronicles 11:43:Hanan son of Maakah, Joshaphat the Mithnite.. The Bible presents to us various rulers and persons of authority, and all of them serve as examples of what Godly and ungodly leadership produces. 1 Kings 21:25 There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. Jehoshaphat starts the process by getting rid of Asherah poles. Yet he was willing to listen to the king of Judah when he advised that Ahab should listen to the prophet Micaiah. Christian family to appeal after court dismisses school Pride parade complaint, British public don't want a secular coronation, poll finds, Relic of crucifixion cross to be used in King Charles' coronation, Challenged by the faith of those who suffer. Michelangelo's 'Asa-Jehoshaphat-Joram.' Generally speaking, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, walked in the way of God. In this article, well explore the life of Jehoshaphat (the good and the bad), well lightly touch on a place known as the valley of Jehoshaphat, and discuss what lessons we can learn from the fourth monarch from the kingdom of Judah. The wisest strategy for the protection of his kingdom was obedience instead of compromise with the ungodly King Ahab of Israel and his wife, Queen Jezebel. He accomplishes a great deal in the last 25 years of his life, ushering Israel into a time of prosperity and military fortitude. This city "was strategic in controlling the eastern caravan route" (Layman's Bible Book Commentary, Volume 6). In other words, he should not have made a partnership with an evil king, who was Gods enemy. King Ahab recognized the mocking tone of Micaiahs prophecy and knew it contradicted the message of the 400 prophets. This show of friendship to Ahab was in reality hatred towards God (2 . This strange incident can only be understood against the background of other Old Testament passages, especially Deuteronomy 13:11 and Ezekiel 14:1-11. both these passages speak of people being enticed by false prophets, in each case as a result of a link with idolatry. (Selman), Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you? And Micaiah said, Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide! Then the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the kings son; and say, Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace. But Micaiah said, If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Take heed, all you people!. Ahaziah's parents brought Baal worship into the land and turned God's . You compromise your faithfulness to God, but you will get nothing from it. But their joint ventures would not prosper, since God does not generally bless such dealings (compare 2 Chronicles 20:35-37). And the LORD said, These have no master. Thus doth the unthankful infidel repay the mercy of his late victorbut God had a holy hand in it. (Trapp). Jehoshaphat immediately agreed to go, but asked that they first inquire of the Lord. Thus says the LORD: These unfaithful prophets (such as Zedekiah) prophesied in the name of the LORD, but they did not prophesy truthfully. Ahab entered into a military alliance with Jehoshaphat for the purpose of recovering the ancient Israelite city of Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians (22:1-4). He did have some kind of conscience. It came about because Jehoshaphat allied himself to the king of Israel, Ahab, through marriage: his son and successor as king, Jehoram, married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab. This is what the LORD says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.". This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. 26 Tell them to throw him in prison and to put him on bread and water until I return safely., 27 If you return safely, Micaiah exclaimed, then the Lord has not spoken through me! And he added, Listen, everyone, to what I have said!. This brings us to our focus today: King Ahab, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel was a very wicked man, who opposed Yahweh. (see 2 Chronicles 17). Meet King Pharaoh: Arrogant Egyptian Ruler, Biography of King Solomon: The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived, Battle of Jericho Bible Story Study Guide, Scripture Readings for the Fourth Week of Lent, Crossing of the Jordan River Bible Study Guide, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. After that, they began to align with Ahab uncritically. 32 The chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, so they stopped pursuing him. But Jehoshaphat want to know if there is another prophet. At first, the alliance worked, but Ahab drew Jehoshaphat into a war that was against God's will. They had a great party with lots of food. Ahab asks him if he would go with him to take the city of Ramoth in Gilead from Syria. And the Lord said, These men have no leader; let them go home in peace., 17 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, I told you that he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad!, 18 Micaiah went on: Now listen to what the Lord says! Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement. And Micaiah said, As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak. Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain? And he said, Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand! So the king said to him, How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?. The man on the left is generally considered to be Jehoshaphat. God set Judah's enemies upon each other, and by the time the Hebrews arrived, they saw only dead bodies on the ground. 9 He gave them the following instructions: You must perform your duties in reverence for the Lord, faithfully obeying him in everything you do. He builds many forts and attempts to help the kingdom prosper in a financial sense. Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel: Ahabs previous mercy to Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 20:31-34) did not win any lasting favor with the rulers of Syria. Jehoshaphat stumbles as well. Despite Jehoshaphat's errors in this regard, it appears that he later recognized that he should not have allied himself with Ahaziah (compare 1 Kings 22:49). By marriage he allied himself with Ahab: This manner of linking kingdoms by the bond of marriage was common in the ancient world, yet it was an unwise policy for Jehoshaphat. Some other examples include a recorder for both king David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:16) and a purveyor for Solomon (1 Kings 4:17). Of course, there may be some business arrangements where such matters would never be at issue. The Bible doesnt really say, but we can assume he died of old age. b. 8 So King Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once. 400 prophets predict that they should go out to war for they will be successful. Jehoshaphat himself stepped before the congregated crowd and fervently implored Gd for help in this hour of distress, for the sake of His own glory and the salvation of His people. March against Ramoth and you will win, they said. i. He allied himself with Israel by marrying his son Jehoram to King Ahab's daughter Athaliah. We can be certain that every eye was on Zedekiah when he used the horns of iron to powerfully illustrate the point. During most of Jehoshaphat's reign, Ahab was ruling Israel. Since Ahab wanted to be deceived, God would give him what he wanted, using a willing fallen angel who worked through willing unfaithful prophets. Though disguised, Ahab is killed and Israel is defeated. On His right hand and His left: Since the right hand was the place of favor, this may indicate that God spoke to the combined host of heaven, both faithful and fallen angelic beings. To honor Jehoshaphat and those with him, Ahab had a large number of sheep and cattle slaughtered for a feast. I. Ahab's proposal (18:1-3) As Jehoshaphat celebrated a feast with the most ungodly king Israel would know, Ahab hits him with a request. We will look at this briefly to set the stage. Answer. We will focus on 2 Chronicles 18. . Together they built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir to collect gold, but God disapproved and the ships were wrecked before they could set sail. Jehoshaphat failed to foresee the long-term consequences of his bad decisions. The Lord will give you victory., 15 But Ahab replied, When you speak to me in the name of the Lord, tell the truth! 21 The spirit replied, I will go and make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies. The Lord said, Go and deceive him. He cried out to the LORD and was rescued when they turned back from pursuing him. battle. It was a certain man, and he pulled his bow at random but it struck as if it were a sin-seeking missile, hitting right between the joints of his armor. He became one of the country's most successful rulers for one simple reason: He followed the commands of God. Theologians have squabbled over this issue for centuries, and since the passage in Joel is prophetic in nature, we cant definitely say we know what it means. What he didnt consider was that though Micaiah prophesied evil towards Ahab, he prophesied truth. He walked in God's ways - "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. An enormous army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites gathered at En Gedi, near the Dead Sea. (NIV). . He has Jehoshaphat dress like the king, while Ahab disguised himself. Perhaps he felt as many do today that he should not judge, or perhaps he felt that the end justified the . Even then, King Ahaziah did not humble himself and repent, as his father Ahab had done at least temporarily (1 Kings 21:17-29). In the process he killed both the reigning King of Israel, Joram, and the King of Judah, Ahaziah, at the same time. . Scholars have variously dated his reign to around 873-849 B.C.E. God will give you victory., 6 But Jehoshaphat asked, Isn't there another prophet through whom we can consult the Lord?, 7 Ahab answered, There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. Sitting in Ahab's palace, with a feast in front of him, surrounded by Ahab and related through marriage put him in a real awkward position. But he did not do all that he should have, as he did not remove all the high places from Judah (2 Chronicles 20:33). Registered in England and Wales 5090917, Christian Today, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN, God is on the move in the broken Anglican Communion, Church of England bishops urged 'to step back from the brink' on same-sex blessings, Lessons for today from the Salem Witch Trials. God does not want us to enter into binding partnerships with the wicked that could conflict with our commitment to Him and His ways. Luke 16:10, Follow Christian teaching on WordPress.com, v. 6 he took away the high places and Asherim, vs. 7-9 he began a program that taught the people the Law of God, 17:10-11 The nations feared him so there was no war, but rather they gave him tribute. To pry into the future King Ahab religiously consulted his false prophets, about four hundred of them. 2 Chronicles 17:1. We will be with you in the war 2 Chronicles 18:3. Apparently Micaiah seems to assume among his hearers a working knowledge of the Book of Job. (Payne), ii. He not only considered it . Ahab tells Jehoshaphat his plan. Save: $14.00 (70%) Buy Now. King Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, reigned for 25 years once he took the throne at the age of 35. In the eighteenth year of his reign Jehosaphat visited Ahab in Samaria, and nearly lost his life accompanying his ally to the siege of Ramoth-Gilead. 1. These were prophets happy to please their kings, and to tell them what they wanted to hear. i. You can also change some of your preferences. A. The people's hearts were turned from the false worship of Baal that was present in the land during his time in power. 2 A number of years later Jehoshaphat went to the city of Samaria to visit Ahab. Ungodly partners can lead to spiritual compromise (see 1 Corinthians 15:33). Zavada, Jack. God gave the evil spirit permission to entice Ahab, and the evil spirit . . But, not only that, so many times our sin ends up wounding those we love more than us. Please click here to learn how. The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. Ahaziah of Israel was king from 853852 BC. God's people needed three days to carry off the plunder. As a consequence, God sent the prophet Elijah to the king and informed him that he would not be healed (2 Kings 1:1-6, 15-17). c. Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel: This seemed to be pure chance. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. "Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak: The assistant of King Ahab tried to persuade Micaiah to speak in agreement with the 400 other prophets. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? God, however, made it very clear that He was with Elijah, and that He would protect him from the king's evil devices (2:10-15). So Ahab brings out . We can assume, from the lack of gory details, that he ended his life in peace and passed away from natural causes. Ahab is basically threatening God here with consequences. i. 33 By chance, however, a Syrian soldier shot an arrow which struck King Ahab between the joints of his armor. That brought further stability to his kingdom. d. The king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot, facing the Syrians until evening: Ahab faced the end of his life bravely, dying proppedup in his chariot to inspire his troops. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. During Jehoram's reign, Edom successfully revolted against Judah (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10). i. Ahab, whose wife was the infamous Jezebel, was possibly the most wicked king who ever ruled over Israel. Luke 2:40-52, How to overcome evil with good. This was a dramatic scene.