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First of all, the king shows us that we all can make mistakes of judgment. To be sure, this is a case of misguided judgment. The ruse fails, in the end. God gave the evil spirit permission to entice Ahab, and the evil spirit . Ahab, the father of the daughter, attempts to draw king Jehoshaphat into a war that God does not approve of. We will join you. 4 Then he added, But first let's consult the Lord., 5 So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them, Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?, Attack it, they answered. C. In order to succeed, he solicited the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Yet they clearly prophesied in the name of the LORD. (Amos 3:3.) Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. This is significant if we compare this with how many other Israelite kings passed away. i. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. b. Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him: Finding himself as the only identifiable king in the battle, Jehoshaphat found himself quickly in danger. How many times do I have to tell you that?, 16 Micaiah answered, I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. He walked in Gods ways The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. Be courageous and carry out these instructions, and may the Lord be on the side of the right!, Good News Translation (Todays English Version, Second Edition). What you have done has brought the Lord's anger on you. 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. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2:15. Jehoshaphat was an ancient king, but he is not so different than us, for we do similar things in our lives. He ruled for 25 years. Week 39. Ahab summoned 400 of his prophets, all of whom, unsurprisingly, foretold victory. According to tradition, Jehoshaphat was buried in a magnificent manner to mimic the actions of King David. Learn Religions, May. 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. When his death became known the battle was over. Sunday (2 Chronicles 18-23) Jehosophat Allies because Ahab. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. King Jehoshaphat in the Bible - Lessons from His Story - Crosswalk.com The kings in the lands surrounding Judah did not dare to go to war against Jehoshaphat because they feared God. Let each return to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?. So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead? And he answered him, I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.. How? To honor his ally's request, Ahab had Micaiah brought to the court. Some people forget that Satan and his fellow fallen angels have access to heaven (Job 1:6, Revelation 12:10). It is less easy to understand why King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to this battle with Ahab. r. Vs. 29-40 describes the battle. 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). May we learn from Jehoshaphat, so that we will not make the same mistakes. He demanded that Micaiah tell nothing but the truth which Ahab believed and hoped was the message of the 400 other prophets. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead: It is easy to understand why King Ahab of Israel went to this battle; he didnt want to believe that Micaiahs prophecy was true and wanted to courageously oppose it. But we also know that only some good kings came from the Kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat being one of them. i. Trapp described this gathering of prophets as, An ecumenical council.. This chapter lists King Davids bodyguards, a variant form of the name Jehoshaphat within the mix. 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. i. At this point in history, the nation of Israel had split into two separate countriesone called Israel containing ten tribes and one called Judah containing two trib es. Or what fellowship has light with darkness? To solidify devotion to God, Jehoshaphat sent prophets, priests, and Levites throughout the country to teach people God's laws. Although Jehoshaphat didnt die from the friendship, he made a massive mistake by trusting the wrong person. 41 Jehoshaphat son of Asa began to rule over Judah in the fourth year of King Ahab's reign in Israel. Save: $14.00 (70%) Buy Now. Ungodly partners can lead to spiritual compromise (see 1 Corinthians 15:33). Yet in chapter 18, we find that Jehoshaphat enters into a partnership with him. It will party with you (like Ahab with Jehoshaphat), It will give you honor and acceptance (like Ahab gave to Jehoshaphat), It will entice you to make compromises (like Ahab did with Jehoshaphat). Zavada, Jack. THEN he made another disastrous treaty with wicked King Ahaziah which resulted in all their ships wrecked. He certainly did not walk in Gods ways. 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. That brought further stability to his kingdom. It appears to be a judgment ground for any nation who came up against Gods people, in a plot of land situated between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives or Kidron Valley. Was Ahab Truly the Evilest King in Israel's History? For the battle is not yours, but Gods." Three years later they were willing to prophesy lies to Ahab if that was what he wanted to hear. And, sure enough, he predicts that Ahab will be killed and that this is Gods purpose. "Evil communications corrupt good manners."*. But what about King Jehoshaphat? He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab, 18:2 and after several years went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. 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. 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. Unfortunately, Jehoram did not follow in the paths of . Jehoshaphat made a disastrous treaty with AHAB (as in Ahab and Jezebel). This city "was strategic in controlling the eastern caravan route" (Layman's Bible Book Commentary, Volume 6). c. With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed: Zedekiah used a familiar tool of ancient prophets the object lesson. and it begins well in chapter 17. Bible Reading Plans - Bible in 90 Days - NIV - April 27, 2023 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. The LORD said to him, In what way? So he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so. Therefore look! 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. He builds many forts and attempts to help the kingdom prosper in a financial sense. 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. (see 2 Chronicles 19). Scripture tells us to exercise discernment, especially with those in whom we place our trust. So Ahab brings out . Ahab decides to disguise himself so that he will not be recognized, but tells Jehoshaphat to dress as a king. Generally speaking, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, walked in the way of God. 1. Answer. Perhaps these were true followers of Yahweh who were seduced by Ahabs sincere but shallow repentance three years before (1 Kings 21:27-29). 2 A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king and said to him, Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate the Lord? May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. Trans Britain: are the numbers really adding up. 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. 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). Many died in battle, or as is the case with King Asa, due to a painful foot disease. First, Jehoshaphat just went and visited Ahab. The result of all this is that Jehoshaphat proclaims I am as you are, my people as your people. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Ahab was greatly influenced towards wickedness by his Phoenician wife Jezebel. (He) sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Ahab goes to war against Aram despite Micaiah's prediction. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. Jehoshaphat starts the process by getting rid of Asherah poles. At age 35, Jehoshaphat succeeded his father, Asa, who was the first good king over Judah. . This show of friendship to Ahab was in reality hatred towards God (2 . 10 Whenever your fellow citizens from any of the cities bring before you a case of homicide or any other violation of a law or commandment, you must instruct them carefully how to conduct themselves during the trial, so that they do not become guilty of sinning against the Lord. It was an opportunity to walk away, but he did not take it. The joint forces of the invaders are no match for God almighty. These were prophets happy to please their kings, and to tell them what they wanted to hear. He was buried at age 60 in the City of David in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 20:35 Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance 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 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. 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. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. The King of Syria had instructed his men that the Jehoshaphat: The Influenced King (1 Kings 22:41-50) - FBC Spur At age 35,Jehoshaphat succeeded his father, Asa, who was the first good king over Judah. 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. This is the same word that I Chronicles 21:1 says about Satan enticing David to sin by means of the census. B. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". 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. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. This king did great things in the name of the Lord, and yet, we dont christen any children after this king from the kingdom of Judah. Jehoshaphat responded as if the kings were of one mind and heritage. We see a prophet in rags and chains stand before two kings, ready to speak on behalf of the LORD. b. Using traveling teachers, he educated the people on God's laws. But if you do your duty, you will not be guilty. Of course you'll win. a. Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand! 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 Today we begin looking at the story of 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). Unsurprisingly, Ahab still goes into battle. Similarly, John tells us Do not love the world or the things in the world. Sunday (2 Chronicles 18-23) Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab. A number of priests move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, including another Jehoshaphat. He tried to persuade Jehoshaphat to join him in attacking the city of Ramoth in Gilead. Please click here to learn how. Jehoshaphat (2): Jehoshaphat's Alliances | Believer's Magazine Who was King Jehoshaphat in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org But their joint ventures would not prosper, since God does not generally bless such dealings (compare 2 Chronicles 20:35-37). God wanted to bring judgment against Ahab, so He asked this group of the host of heaven for a volunteer to lead Ahab into battle. Putting anything ahead of God is idolatry. The world will not be a true partner to you. He thought this would help protect him against Micaiahs prophecy of doom. 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. Thankfully, Jehoshaphat repented and returned to his true love: God. Yet so it was. (Morgan), ii. 7 Honor the Lord and act carefully, because the Lord our God does not tolerate fraud or partiality or the taking of bribes., 8 In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed Levites, priests, and some of the leading citizens as judges in cases involving a violation of the Law of the Lord or legal disputes between inhabitants of the city. King Jehoshaphat led a mostly prosperous life. Learn Religions. Instead, Jehoshaphat removes places of worship to foreign gods such as Asherah poles, and he fortifies Israels defenses against their enemies. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scatteredmy people among the nationsand divided up my land., Joel 3:12 Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judgeall the nations on every side.. 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). (see 2 Chronicles 17:10-12). During Jehoram's reign, Edom successfully revolted against Judah (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10). But Ahab devises what he thinks is a clever plan to avoid the fate prophesied by Micaiah. Bible Reading Plans - Old/New Testament - NLT - May 6, 2023 - BibleGateway (see 2 Chronicles 17). And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. Thus says the LORD: These unfaithful prophets (such as Zedekiah) prophesied in the name of the LORD, but they did not prophesy truthfully. Jehoshaphat goes forward with the plan. He was devoted to God in his heart and his actions. Despite his earlier experience with Ahab, Jehoshaphat entered into another alliance with Israel, through Ahab's son, evil King Ahaziah. Ahab disguises himself | Fact and Fantasy Dangerous Partnerships: The story of Jehoshaphat & Ahab Check out her books at hopebolinger.comfor clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Who was King Jehoshaphat and what can we learn from him? - Christian Today 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. The Hebrew that underlies the phrase rendered a spirit (came forward) reads literally, the (well-known) spirit, i.e., Satan the tempter (as in Job 1:6-12). Probably this man already had shot many arrows, and he went on in his simplicity, little knowing that this particular arrow was to be guided through all the confusion straight to its mark by the unerring knowledge and power of God. We know of many good kings of Israel because we name our children after them: David, Josiah, Jedidiah (Solomon). So Ahab summoned about 400 prophets to his court. The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.. The Lord substantially blessed Jehoshaphat and Judah during Jehoshaphat's reign. 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! 3 But even so, there is some good in you. At first, the alliance worked, but Ahab drew Jehoshaphat into a war that was against God's will. 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. 1. 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. Although Jehoshaphat didn't die from the friendship, he made a massive mistake by trusting the . 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. No-one did more to educate the people of God than this man and that's why he's often known as Judah's great teacher, or Judah's teacher-king. Neighboring kings paid tribute to him because they feared his power. a. He became one of the country's most successful rulers for one simple reason: He followed the commands of God. 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 Bible doesnt really say, but we can assume he died of old age. 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. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Who was King Ahaziah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org After all, bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. . After that, they began to align with Ahab uncritically. 1 Kings 22:29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. Luke 2:40-52, How to overcome evil with good. 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. Turn around and pull out of the battle! 34 While the battle raged on, King Ahab remained propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. Jehoshaphat gave his son in marriage to Ahab's daughter. These are all tokens of Gods blessing in this context. Jehoshaphat failed to foresee the long-term consequences of his bad decisions. Michelangelo's 'Asa-Jehoshaphat-Joram.' [1] One of the "good" kings in the Bible, he was a descendant of David, and his mother's name was Azubah . Considering Jehoshaphat lived for a long time, according to the standards of his day, this meant that God really wanted him to rule for a long period of time. However, because this was an aberration from Jehoshaphat's usual stance of faith and obedience, the LORD did not punish Jehoshaphat. i. In the process he killed both the reigning King of Israel, Joram, and the King of Judah, Ahaziah, at the same time. There was nothing righteous about Ahab. This was in fulfillment of what Isaac foretold many centuries before (Genesis 27:39,40). He campaigned against idolatry and the renewed worship of the One True God. But the Valley of Jehoshaphat does seem to be a judgment stomping ground for the enemies of Gods people. 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. Pingback: Joining Forces with Ahab - CRIES from among US! And now what joy could Ahabs black soul, ready to depart, have of his ivory house? Jezebel Threatens Elijah's Life - to - Ahab's Death God brought Judgement on Pharaoh by outright hardening his heart, so that God could multiply His miracles and signs throughout Egypt. Apparently Micaiah seems to assume among his hearers a working knowledge of the Book of Job. (Payne), ii. Jehoshaphat made some poor choices but he did have a heart for the Lord and "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (20:31.) When Jehoshaphat took office, about 873 BC, he immediately began to abolish the idol worship that had consumed the land. This reminds us, sadly, that we reap what we sow. They had a great party with lots of food. Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? Thats old? Indeed, in ancient times, life expectancies didnt really exceed much beyond the age of 50. When Micaiah said this, his tone was probably mocking and sarcastic. In fact, Jehoshaphat was so blessed that aside from different nations or groups bringing tribute to him, he built citadels and storehouses in Judah, signifying much abundance. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.. (1 Chronicles 17: 1-6, 10) However, although he could have relied totally on God to protect him, Jehoshaphat allied himself with the evil king of Israel, Ahab. Ahab is basically threatening God here with consequences. Daniel 3, The Parable of the Vineyard Tenants. William Higgins. You can check these in your browser security settings. Ahab tells Jehoshaphat his plan. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. He is Micaiah the son of Imla. Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he began his reign and was king for 25 years. He improved the military and financial prowess of the southern kingdom. Unless you do, you and your fellow citizens will feel the force of the Lord's anger. He makes a bad alliance by marrying his son to the wicked king of Israels daughter. A. He required these judges to be just, impartial, and take no bribes, for they "do not judge according to man but the Lord" (see 2 Chronicles 19:4-10). His story is told in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 17-20. Ahaziah of Israel was king from 853852 BC. 1 Thessalonians, Dangerous Partnerships: The story of Jehoshaphat & Ahab. It is possible that this was just a parable, but it is more likely that Micaiah had an accurate prophetic glimpse into the heavenly drama behind these events. In Jehoshaphat we have one of Judah's finest rulers. Consistent dependence on God is the only way to succeed. Jehoshaphat Righteous King - Amazing Bible Timeline (29) Jehoshaphat and Ahab go into battle. 1 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem. 39. 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Obadiah, Psalms (Jehosophat, Ahab Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. For all the good that Jehoshaphat did, one sore thumb that stands out is his alliances with the house of Ahab in Israel.