Jehoshaphat made a bad alliance with King Ahab, one of the most wicked kings in Israels history. a. i. Trapp described this gathering of prophets as, An ecumenical council.. Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Jehoram did evil in God's sight, but not to the extent that his father Ahab had, as he did put away his father's sacred pillar of Baal (verses 2-3). We should stay true to God. These partnerships pressure us to sacrifice our faithfulness to God. 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. 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). This is a stark change in policy from 17:1, where Jehoshaphat had strengthened himself against Israel. 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. Sin never pays! 2 Chronicles 18 - NIV Flashcards | Quizlet Elijah had just confronted this Baal worship in the northern kingdom of Israel on Mt. No matter how powerful and persuasive the presentation, their message was unfaithful. 1 Chronicles 11:43:Hanan son of Maakah, Joshaphat the Mithnite.. And finally, Jehoshaphat slinks back to Jerusalem, humiliated by his bad decision. To pry into the future King Ahab religiously consulted his false prophets, about four hundred of them. "Who Is Jehoshaphat in the Bible?" You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. But, not only that, so many times our sin ends up wounding those we love more than us. Ahab asked Micaiah whether they should go up to Ramoth That brought further stability to his kingdom. Jehoshaphat's Compromise 2-Chr. 18 Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab's daughter. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . First we see a picture of . If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram married Athaliah, daughter of king Ahab of Israel. He repented when he did wrong. In general, Christians can't work effectively in close relationships with unbelieversin godly peace and harmonyany more than mismatched animals can make a useful plowing team for a farmer. "Evil communications corrupt good manners."*. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Putting anything ahead of God is idolatry. Joining Forces with Ahab - CRIES from among US! He used horns of iron to illustrate the thrust of two powerful forces, armies that would rout the Syrians. Jehoshaphat - Chabad.org It forced him to comprise his faithfulness to God being away from his job of leading Judah, helping the wicked; participating in the persecution of a true prophet Micaiah. He drove out the male cult prostitutes and destroyed the Asherah poles where the people had worshiped false gods. 8 So King Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once. Unlike today, many mothers in Ancient Israel decided to name their children Jehoshaphat. We can learn a great deal from this Old Testament king who we sadly do not learn enough about in Sunday school classes or in sermons. Although Jehoshaphat didnt die from the friendship, he made a massive mistake by trusting the wrong person. Ahab is basically threatening God here with consequences. (see 2 Chronicles 17:10-12). . Not only was he faithful he was a reformer. and it begins well in chapter 17. Consistent dependence on God is the only way to succeed. Learn Religions, May. After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria 18:2. 30 The king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders to attack no one else except the king of Israel. He made his son, Jehoram, marry Ahab's daughter. In Jehoshaphat we have one of Judah's finest rulers. 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. Ahab determined that he should take the city of Ramoth-Gilead back from the Syrians. Ahab disguises himself | Fact and Fantasy Then Ahab persuades Jehoshaphat to go into battle dressed in his royal robes, whilst Ahab disguises himself so he cannot be recognised in battle (vv. Joel 3:2: I will gatherall nationsand bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. What the Bible says about Athaliah - Bible Tools Jehoshaphat may have needed a lesson on how to make smart political alliances. King Jehoshaphat comes to Samaria to visit with Ahab. Although Asa didnt worship the idols placed throughout Judah, he didnt do a whole lot to tear them down. Trans Britain: are the numbers really adding up. When we hear the name of Jehoshaphat some of us may be thinking of the Valley of Jehoshaphat mentioned in Joel 3:2 and Joel 3:12. 29 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, As we go into battle, I will disguise myself, but you wear your royal garments. So the king of Israel went into battle in disguise. 31 So when they saw King Jehoshaphat, they all thought that he was the king of Israel, and they turned to attack him. i. Jehoshaphat established a very strong nation under him. God's people needed three days to carry off the plunder. The world will not be a true partner to you. Even then, King Ahaziah did not humble himself and repent, as his father Ahab had done at least temporarily (1 Kings 21:17-29). Let's go over some of the things he did. Jehoshaphat's Defining Flaw. Luke 2:40-52, How to overcome evil with good. Yet in chapter 18, we find that Jehoshaphat enters into a partnership with him. For so it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. As James says, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God James 4:4. Yet so it was. (Morgan), ii. 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. a. This chapter lists King Davids bodyguards, a variant form of the name Jehoshaphat within the mix. Ahab, whose wife was the infamous Jezebel, was possibly the most wicked king who ever ruled over Israel. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. a. Hatred of the messenger of God is clear evidence of willful wickedness. (Morgan), Then Micaiah said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left. King Ahab recognized the mocking tone of Micaiahs prophecy and knew it contradicted the message of the 400 prophets. 2 A number of years later Jehoshaphat went to the city of Samaria to visit Ahab. This was a city which Ben-hadad Ahab was penitent and humbled himself and so the Lord waited to fulfill the prophecy until Ahab's son reigned in his place. 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 allied with Ahab against Syria, nearly losing his life as a result (18:2ff.). King Jehoshaphat led a mostly prosperous life. Jehoshaphat: The Influenced King (1 Kings 22:41-50) - FBC Spur You compromise your faithfulness to God, but you will get nothing from it. We will look at this briefly to set the stage. 1 Thessalonians, Dangerous Partnerships: The story of Jehoshaphat & Ahab. But he himself has decreed that you will meet with disaster!, 23 Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah, slapped his face, and asked, Since when did the Lord's spirit leave me and speak to you?. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. . Zedekiah had the agreement of 400 other prophets (all the prophets prophesied so). We are first introduced to him in 1 Kings 15:24 but are told nothing more than that he succeeded Asa. 46 views, 7 likes, 0 loves, 3 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Eubank Church of Christ: The Minor Prophets (22) Romans 12:19-21, A true test of character: How you treat those weaker than you, Come to Jesus and find rest. When battle is joined, Ahab's plan seems to work. . 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). We can be certain that every eye was on Zedekiah when he used the horns of iron to powerfully illustrate the point. 17:10). But just in case, he disguises himself and also encourages Jehoshaphat to wear his royal attire, thus making him the target of the enemy. You will remember him from the stories of Elijah. During most of Jehoshaphat's reign, Ahab was ruling Israel. Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek: Zedekiah responded the way some do when they are defeated in an argument he responded with violence. What agreement has the temple of God with idols? 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. This city "was strategic in controlling the eastern caravan route" (Layman's Bible Book Commentary, Volume 6). You have removed all the symbols of the goddess Asherah which people worshiped, and you have tried to follow God's will., 4 Even though King Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, he traveled regularly among the people, from Beersheba in the south to the edge of the hill country of Ephraim in the north, in order to call the people back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 2 Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, " Go, inquire of c Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, d whether I shall recover from this sickness. The Minor Prophets (22) | The Minor Prophets (22) | By - Facebook God's wrath in response to Jehoshaphat's unequal alliance with Ahab seems to be the connection. 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. 1. Only through the intervention of God did Jehoshaphat escape. It may be that Jehoshaphat had a fatalistic attitude towards the will of God, figuring that if it all was Gods will then there was nothing he or anyone else could do about it. What he didnt consider was that though Micaiah prophesied evil towards Ahab, he prophesied truth. He repented when he did wrong. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2:15. We need to learn this. 2 Kings 1 - After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel. Now It was certainly persuasive to have 400 prophets speak in agreement on one issue. First, Jehoshaphat just went and visited Ahab. King Ahab & King Jehoshaphat - TNCC | The New Covenant Church 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!. Jehoshaphat - New World Encyclopedia Jehu ( , Yehu " The Lord is he") was king of Israel, 842-815 B.C.E. Ahab wanted Micaiah imprisoned and deprived (feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction). Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. because he never prophesied anything good about him, but always bad. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of the southern kingdom of Judah, the son of Asa, of the line of David. Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead? William Higgins. Perhaps these were true followers of Yahweh who were seduced by Ahabs sincere but shallow repentance three years before (1 Kings 21:27-29). This king of Judah dared to do the right thing. 1. 2 A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. (see 2 Chronicles 17). King Jehoshaphat - The Bible Study He improved the military and financial prowess of the southern kingdom. Now when Jehoshaphat learned a great army has come against him ( 2 Chronicles 20:1-2 ), he immediately realized three things. If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. Like Jehu told Jehoshaphat about his seeking an alliance with Ahab, he should not love those who hate the Lord. He was not satisfied with what God had given him, but was longing for something else among the nations around him. But we also know that only some good kings came from the Kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat being one of them. 1 Chronicles 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. And so we can learn from him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. Ahab pretended herein to honour Jehoshaphat, but intended to save himself, and to elude Micaiahs prophecy. (Trapp). The great battle at Ramoth Gilead was a catastrophe. Ramoth Gilead belonged to Israel by the word of God but Ahab was out of the will of God. Ahab tells Jehoshaphat his plan. Enduring Word Bible Commentary 2 Chronicles Chapter 18 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. i. Jehoshaphat in the Bible was the fourth king of Judah. He had amassed "riches and honor in abundance" ( 2Chronicles 18 . 2 Chronicles 18 tells the story of an unlikely partnership: Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, and Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, joined together to make war against Syria.Before going to battle, Jehoshaphat was intent on asking God's will. He says that Jehoshaphat strengthened his kingdom and became more powerful than his predecessors. King Jehoshaphat instituted another round of reforms . It will use peer pressure to make you stay in line. B. To honor his ally's request, Ahab had Micaiah brought to the court. Michelangelo's 'Asa-Jehoshaphat-Joram.' But wait, it gets worse. He seeks after Gods own heart throughout his reign. Instead, Jehoshaphat removes places of worship to foreign gods such as Asherah poles, and he fortifies Israels defenses against their enemies. d. I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets: Apparently, one of the fallen angels volunteered for this task. So Jehoshaphat fortified his borders and increased his troops (vv. Later, 1 Kings 22:42 tells us that he was 35 years old when he began his reign and that he reigned 25 years (from 873 to 848 BC). How? "Who Is Jehoshaphat in the Bible?" How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life 4 Things You May Not Know About Abraham in the Bible, 20 Facts You May Not Know About Moses from the Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Article Images Copyright , Lessons From the Bible Story of King Jehoshaphat. In a long line of righteous and unrighteous kings that ruled in the northern and southern kingdoms, these men were both evil kings. And the LORD said, These have no master. 33 By chance, however, a Syrian soldier shot an arrow which struck King Ahab between the joints of his armor. After all, bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. He accomplishes a great deal in the last 25 years of his life, ushering Israel into a time of prosperity and military fortitude. Of course you'll win. At sunset he died. King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to help him in this dispute against Syria. Ahab had wanted to restore back what materially belonged to them but spiritually he . Jehoshaphat strengthened Judah militarily by building an army and many forts. Wait a minute! However, because this was an aberration from Jehoshaphat's usual stance of faith and obedience, the LORD did not punish Jehoshaphat. But the world will betray you (just as Ahab set up Jehoshaphat by disguising himself and making Jehoshaphat the target of the enemy, not caring if he died). Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. I got my facts mixed up. But Jehoshaphat want to know if there is another prophet. . Despite the riches, fame, and military might that he possessed, Jehoshaphat had a humble heart that kept inquiring of the Lord for any detail of his life and that's what makes him a really great king (see 2 Chronicles 17:3-6). Of course, there may be some business arrangements where such matters would never be at issue. 1 Kings 16:15-20 describes how Ahab's father, Omri, was the Israelite army's commander, who rebelled against the . King Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, reigned for 25 years once he took the throne at the age of 35. 2 Chronicles 17:1. In his disobedience, Jeroboam (the first king of the kingdom of the northern tribes) said, I will worship the LORD, but do it my way. Ahab said, I want to forget about the LORD completely and worship Baal., ii. Scholars have variously dated his reign to around 873-849 B.C.E. He also devised a system for teaching God's laws to people. Through which remaining prophet did Ahab say they could inquire of the Lord. . Who was King Ahaziah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Ahab induced or enticed him to form a league with him to retake a disputed city in northern Israel Ramoth-gilead. https://www.learnreligions.com/jehoshaphat-king-of-judah-4114131 (accessed May 1, 2023). [1] One of the "good" kings in the Bible, he was a descendant of David, and his mother's name was Azubah . It was an opportunity to walk away, but he did not take it. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. 1) Jehoshaphat the faithful. 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. a. . There were even thrones for high officials to sit on at the gates of the city of Samaria. It is more difficult to explain why Jehoshaphat agreed to go into the battle as the only clearly identified king. Jehoshaphat (also spelled Jehoshaphat or Yehoshafat) ( , " Yahweh is judge," Hebrew: Yhoafat) was the son and successor of Asa and king of Judah. He should have believed the prophecy of Micaiah and known that the battle would end in disaster and the death of at least Ahab. What may come as a surprise to readers is we run into Jehoshaphats name more than once in the Bible, and the instances dont always refer to the king of Judah. Jehoram did evil in God's sight, but not to the extent that his father Ahab had, as he did put away his father's sacred pillar of Baal (verses 2-3). Jehoshaphat also pursued alliances with the kingdom of Israel in the North. "Please, inquire of the LORD today.". It appears that the Israelites and Jews maintained the fight the whole of the day; but when at evening the king died, and this was known, there was a proclamation made, probably with the consent of both Syrians and Israelites, that the war was over. (Clarke), (c) 2021 TheEnduring WordBible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. Some people forget that Satan and his fellow fallen angels have access to heaven (Job 1:6, Revelation 12:10). Changes will take effect once you reload the page. r. Vs. 29-40 describes the battle. 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. Who had not rather be a Micaiah in the jail than Ahab in the chariot? God brought Judgement on Ahab; he would not listen to Elijah and was bent on his evil ways. . Ahab did so because he hated God and his ways. Mark 12:1-12, Be faithful in the little things. He was the son of Ahab and Jezebel, who were among the most wicked rulers Israel ever had. b. I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes: Going into the battle, Ahab did not want to be identified as a king and therefore be a special target. First, Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahab by taking Ahab's daughter . Then Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to join forces with . Dramas of this kind were a typical method of prophetic revelation (cf. i. Jehoshaphat solidified peace between Israel and Judah. His real conflict was with God, but he focused his hatred against the prophet Micaiah. 3 He asked, Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?, Jehoshaphat replied, I am ready when you are, and so is my army. ii. He certainly did not walk in Gods ways. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. Jehoshaphat and Ahab | Bible Stories We will focus on 2 Chronicles 18. . Stay up to date with the latest Christian news! Jehoshaphat and Ahab cemented their relationship by arranging a marriage between Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, and Ahab and Jezebel's daughter, Athaliah. King Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah under the divided monarchy, the son of Asa. The ruse fails, in the end. a. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing: King Ahab and others at the court found it hard to explain how one prophet could be right and 400 prophets could be wrong. This show of friendship to Ahab was in reality hatred towards God (2 . Answer. Jehoshaphat and Peer Pressure - Part 2 - Shepherd Press He had a total of more than 1.1 million fighting men in his core force, in addition to those he had placed in different areas (see 2 Chronicles 17:14-19). Jehoshaphat's Big Mistake - Israel My Glory Jezebel Threatens Elijah's Life - to - Ahab's Death When Micaiah said this, his tone was probably mocking and sarcastic. He is Micaiah the son of Imla. He introduced the worship of completely new, pagan gods. 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). We will be with you in the war 2 Chronicles 18:3. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers. Three years later, Aram had failed to return the cities that Ben-hadad promised and so Ahab decides to go and take them for himself. He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab, 18:2 and after several years went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. A number of priests move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, including another Jehoshaphat. Despite his earlier experience with Ahab, Jehoshaphat entered into another alliance with Israel, through Ahab's son, evil King Ahaziah. He allied himself with Israel by marrying his son Jehoram to King Ahab's daughter Athaliah. 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. 9 The two kings, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on their thrones at the threshing place just outside the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. Jesus stays behind in the temple. Week 39. He demanded that Micaiah tell nothing but the truth which Ahab believed and hoped was the message of the 400 other prophets. Unfortunately, Jehoram did not follow in the paths of . 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. Judah's King Jehoshaphat -He Reads Truth Jehoshaphat's Compromise, 2 Chr 17-20 - Bible Believers Baptist Church May we learn from Jehoshaphat, so that we will not make the same mistakes. He blew a trumpet as they carried the ark of God toward the city. Ahab goes to war against Aram despite Micaiah's prediction. Jehoshaphat responded as if the kings were of one mind and heritage. These passages show that God can allow evil in His presence, though He can have no fellowship with evil and one day all evil will be removed from His presence (Revelation 20:14-15). God does not want us to enter into binding partnerships with the wicked that could conflict with our commitment to Him and His ways. (see 2 Chronicles 19). Recognized as perhaps the best king that the southern kingdom of Judah ever had, King Jehoshaphat did right in the sight of God with his intense desire to pursue God in his leadership. He sometimes followed the world's ways, such as making alliances with questionable neighbors. He walked in God's ways - "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. But how did he die, if God protected him in the war in which Ahab drew him into? PDF Jehoshaphat: The Tragedy of Compromise - SINGLE FOCUS The prophets' counsel did not sit well with Jehoshaphat, who then asked for another opinion. Yet it should be noted, as mentioned previously in the Bible Reading Program, that this was a common oversight attributed to most of Judah's righteous kings, and is perhaps equally if not more due to a lack of wholeheartedness in obeying God on the part of the nation. a. Ahab summoned 400 of his prophets, all of whom, unsurprisingly, foretold victory. Last week I said Jehoshaphat was Ahab's son-in-law, that is wrong. Put this fellow in prison: King Ahab responded the way many tyrants do when they are confronted with the truth. Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, Thus says the LORD: With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the kings hand..
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