Note 32
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The son and successor of Asa, king of Judah. After fortifying his kingdom against Israel (2 Chr. 17:1, 2), he set himself to cleanse the land of idolatry (1 Kings 22:43). In the third year of his reign he sent out priests and Levites over the land to instruct the people in the law (2 Chr. 17:7-9). He enjoyed a great measure of peace and prosperity, the blessing of God resting on the people "in their basket and their store."

The great mistake of his reign was his entering into an alliance with Ahab, the king of Israel, which involved him in much disgrace, and brought disaster on his kingdom (1 Kings 22:1-33). Escaping from the bloody battle of Ramoth-gilead, the prophet Jehu (2 Chr. 19:1-3) reproached him for the course he had been pursuing, whereupon he entered with rigour on his former course of opposition to all idolatry, and of deepening interest in the worship of God and in the righteous government of the people (2 Chr. 19:4-11).

Again he entered into an alliance with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, for the purpose of carrying on maritime commerce with Ophir. But the fleet that was then equipped at Ezion-gaber was speedily wrecked. A new fleet was fitted out without the co-operation of the king of Israel, and although it was successful, the trade was not prosecuted (2 Chr. 20:35-37; 1 Kings 22:48-49).

He subsequently joined Jehoram, king of Israel, in a war against the Moabites, who were under tribute to Israel. This war was successful. The Moabites were subdued; but the dreadful act of Mesha in offering his own son a sacrifice on the walls of Kir-haresheth in the sight of the armies of Israel filled him with horror, and he withdrew and returned to his own land (2 Kings 3:4-27).

The last most notable event of his reign was that recorded in 2 Chr. 20. The Moabites formed a great and powerful confederacy with the surrounding nations, and came against Jehoshaphat. The allied forces were encamped at Engedi. The king and his people were filled with alarm, and betook themselves to God in prayer. The king prayed in the court of the temple, "O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us." Amid the silence that followed, the voice of Jahaziel the Levite was heard announcing that on the morrow all this great host would be overthrown. So it was, for they quarreled among themselves, and slew one another, leaving to the people of Judah only to gather the rich spoils of the slain. This was recognized as a great deliverance wrought for them by God (890 B.C.). Soon after this Jehoshaphat died, after a reign of twenty-five years, being sixty years of age, and was succeeded by his son Jehoram (1 Kings 22:50). He had this testimony, that "he sought the Lord with all his heart" (2 Chr. 22:9). The kingdom of Judah was never more prosperous than under his reign.

II Chronicles 17:1 – It was good that Jehoshaphat strengthened himself against Israel. In I Kings 12:24, God commanded Rehoboam, through his prophet Shemaiah, (1) not to go up, that is do not make friends with Israel, and (2) don’t fight against them. In other words, leave them alone. This command was disobeyed, and Judah constantly got in trouble with God because they simply wouldn’t listen to His Word. I Kings 14:30 records there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. I Kings 15:6 repeats this information by stating, "…there was war between Rehoboam and jeroboam all the days of his life." I Kings 15:16 states, "…there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days." This same verse is repeated in I Kings 16:32. Jehoshaphat would have been better off to obey the commands of God and leave Israel alone, not going up to them in friendship, nor having war against them.

There were three main events in the reign of Jehoshaphat that was hurtful to his kingdom, but the end result is recorded in II Chronicles 22:9 by Jehu who buried Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat and said, "…Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart…"

II Chronicles 18:1,2 – after about 16 years of peace, Jehoshaphat went against the clear command of God and went up to be friends with Israel. This got him into trouble, and almost cost him his life. Escaping from the bloody battle of Ramoth-gilead, the prophet Jehu (2 Chr. 19:1-3) reproached him for the course he had been pursuing, whereupon he entered with rigour on his former course of opposition to all idolatry, and of deepening interest in the worship of God and in the righteous government of the people (2 Chr. 19:4-11).

II Chronicles 20:1-30 – God gave Jehoshaphat a great victory in defeating the armies of Moab, the children of Ammon and with them other besides the Ammonites.

II Chronicles 20:35-37 – No more than two years after Jehoshaphat’s scare with Ahab, Jehoshaphat joined with the son of Ahab, Ahaziah, in building ships, but the project failed because God wasn’t in it. A very good thing is recorded about this event in I Kings 22:49 when Jehoshaphat would not let the servants of Ahaziah go in the ships with his men.

II Kings 3:4-27 – The third bad thing was Jehoshaphat joining with the grandson of Ahab, Jehoram King of Israel, and the king of Edom in fighting Mesha King of Moab. The three kings won, but when Mesha offered his son on an altar, it ended Judah’s participation with pagan kings.

II Chronicles 21:5-7 – Jehoram is completely evil. He married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. He brought many evils into Judah. He is the eldest son and successor of Jehoshaphat, and fifth king on the separate throne of Judah. He was crowned at the age of thirty-two; his sole regency lasted about eight years. As soon as he was fixed on the throne he put his six brothers to death, with many of the chief nobles of the land. He then, probably due to the influence of his wife, Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, proceeded to establish the worship of Baal.

II. Chronicles 22:10-12 – Jehosheba is completely good and tried to be obedient to God in spite of family pressure. Jehosheba is the daughter or the grand daughter of Jehoshaphat and was wife to the high priest Jehoiada. It was Jehosheba who rescued Joash from death, and hid him in the temple of God for six years.