1 Kings 22 Jehoshaphat Reigns
Jehoshaphat reigns in Judah during the time of Ahab. Jehoshaphat was a godly king and walked in the ways of his father Asa. But he allied with Ahab, and the Lord rebuked him for this.
First Kings doesn’t officially introduce us to Jehoshaphat until after the story of Ahab’s death. Jehoshaphat was in the final story of Ahab though. We will have to look at 2 Chronicles 17-21 for more of his story. I’m grateful for the added narrative. I will be working them together into one story line.
Jehoshaphat was a godly king. He followed the example of his farther, Asa. He even carried on several of Asa’s campaigns for the Lord. One of Jehoshaphat’s greatest works was to reintroduce or teach the people the word of the Lord. He didn’t stick to his own city and getting it right with the Lord, but sent Levites throughout all of Judah and even into the territories that had been taken from Israel. He sought to teach ALL the people the statutes of the Lord. He also wiped out some of the abominable acts that had become part of Judah. Male prostitutes is one of his targets.
But Jehoshaphat fell short in one area. He allied himself with the house of Ahab. He took Ahab’s daughter for his son in marriage, as well as going into battle with Ahab and building ships with Ahab’s eldest son Ahaziah when he was king. God judged him for these acts.
Let’s step back into our story. We will have to back up a bit in time to find the beginnings of Jehoshaphat on the throne. We will follow his story wherever the Spirit leads us, and for however long he keeps us here.
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Asa was a great king. His heart for the Lord was amazing and he instilled that same heart in his son, Jehoshaphat. As the nation of Judah mourns the passing of Asa, Jehoshaphat steps up to carry on his Abba’s work. He would not carry on his Abba’s anger against God though. Asa’s final years were marked by his anger with the Lord and his refusal to turn to his God for anything. Asa was angry because God had judged him for his sin.
Jehoshaphat is looking out over the city of Jerusalem as he contemplates what the Lord would have him do as king of Judah. He is thirty-five years old and now the king, and shepherd, of all of Judah. It is a daunting task! The only thing that makes this task bearable is that he KNOWS the God of ALL Israel will lead his steps.
“Lord God of my Abba, guide me in leading Your people. Give me wisdom, as You gave to my Abba before me and to Your great king, Solomon. The people of Judah are depending on me to lead them and I KNOW that I cannot do this on my own. Be my guide; showing me how to draw them back to You.”
Jehoshaphat doesn’t hear a booming voice from Heaven, outlining a plan for him, but he does feel inspired to continue some of the works of his Abba, and to proclaim the word of the Lord to ALL the people.
On the first day, following the prescribed mourning season for Aza, Jehoshaphat began looking at the policies and practices of his Abba. He is deciding which practices to abandon, which to revitalize, and which to keep but overhaul.
The first order of business for Jehoshaphat is to fortify Judah against attack by Israel. This had been a problem in his Abba’s final years. It was judgment from the Lord for relying on man instead of God. Jehoshaphat prays that he never makes that mistake.
“We need to fortify all the cities on the boarders between Israel and Judah. Put garrisons in strategic places in Judah and Ephraim. We will not start a war with our brothers, but neither will we stand by and allow them to invade the kingdom of the Lord.”
Jehoshaphat’s orders are carried out right away. It takes three years to complete the process, but Judah can breathe easier now. King Ahab of Israel has either not noticed what Jehoshaphat is doing, or not felt threatened by it. For this Jehoshaphat is grateful.
Next on Jehoshaphat’s list is teaching the people. “It has been too long since our people truly followed the Lord. I wonder if they even know, or understand, the statutes of our God. How will they know unless someone teaches them? I am appointing as officials “Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram” (2 Chronicles 17:7-8). They will take the Book of the Law of the Lord with them and teach throughout all the cities of Judah and all the territories that were taken from Israel. Teach the people well, that they may know the Lord their God.”
Teaching the people isn’t the only thing Jehoshaphat has in mind. There has to be regular justice maintained in the land. True justice. No bribes or favoritism. Jehoshaphat himself went throughout the land of Judah installing and instructing judges.
“Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes” (2 Chronicles 19:6-7).
As Jehoshaphat brings the people back to the Lord, the Lord instills fear in the nations around them. None attack them. Many of them send him presents. The Philistines send him tributes of silver and other presents. The Arabians send him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats as tribute. Jehoshaphat becomes rich is gifts, but he does not keep them to himself. In the cities that he fortifies, he also builds storehouses. In those storehouses he places portions of what he receives. Those storehouses open to help those in need; the poor, the orphans, and the widows. Jehoshaphat truly loves the people of Judah.
Jehoshaphat is also rich in loyalty of the people. In the garrisons he constructs, they are filled to capacity with mighty men, ready to lay their lives down for Jehoshaphat, the Lord, and for Judah.
In the garrison in Jerusalem alone he had “Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 mighty men of valor; and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the Lord, with 200,000 mighty men of valor. Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, with 200,000 men armed with bow and shield; and next to him Jehozabad with 180,000 armed for war” (2 Chronicles 17:14-18). This doesn’t even include all the mighty men of valor who were stationed in the garrisons throughout Judah and Ephraim.
Jehoshaphat is not a perfect king though. He makes a couple of very costly mistakes. His first mistake comes in pursuing peace with Ahab. This is actually the root of all his costly mistakes.
Five years into his service as king of Judah, Jehoshaphat pays a visit to Samaria. He is given a cautious welcome by King Ahab.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit” asks Ahab.
“I have come in peace. We are brothers. Let there be peace between our peoples.”
“How do you plan to do that?”
“By starting with peace between out two houses. We can assure this by you giving your daughter to my son, Jehoram, in marriage” offers Jehoshaphat.
“I like this idea very much! Let it be done.”
Within a week, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat and Athaliah daughter of Ahab are married. Their marriage is held in Judah, as is the custom with the groom’s family hosting the wedding. A great feast and celebration is proclaimed for both lands. After the wedding weak ends, Ahab and his company return to Samaria. Peace between Israel and Judah reigns.
Several years go by and Jehoshaphat decides to pay Ahab a visit in Samaria. When he arrives, Ahab gives him a royal welcome. Many sheep and oxen give their lives for the celebration Ahab has for Jehoshaphat and his company. Wine and food flow for days.
One day, while the two kings are sitting near the threshing floor at the gates of Samaria, Ahab entices Jehoshaphat to join him in taking Ramoth-gilead from the king of Syria.
(This story was just told in our last time together; Ahab’s End. We will skip to the end of the story today.)
When the call sounds for all to return to their nations, Jehoshaphat and his men head home to Judah. Jehoshaphat sees Ahab die, for he stood beside him in his last hours. He will mourn his brother but he must think of Judah.
As Jehoshaphat and his people pass through the gates of Judah, he breathes a sigh of relief. “It is good to be home” he tells his captain of the guard.
“Yes. It is. I did not know if I would see these walls again. The Lord has been gracious to us.”
“He has indeed” agrees Jehoshaphat.
The two part company and Jehoshaphat makes his way to his palace. At the door of his palace waits Jehu, son of Hanani the seer. It is clear by the look on his face that he has something he needs to say. Before Jehoshaphat can even ask his business, Jehu begins sharing the word that the Lord gave to him for Jehoshaphat.
“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God” (2 Chronicles 19:2-3).
Jehoshaphat stands still. Struck with conviction. He has sinned. “If only the Lord would have told me through Micaiah not to go…” thinks Jehoshaphat. His mind then shifts to his Abba and how he reacted when confronted over his sins. “I will NOT harden my heart! I will repent of my sins” he decides.
Jehoshaphat calls for his herdsman. “Bring a young male goat, without spot or blemish for a sin offering. Also bring me an ox suitable for a burnt offering. I will personally take them from your hands when I return.”
Jehoshaphat then goes into his room and washes and anoints himself. He wants to at least be outwardly clean when he approaches the Lord. As soon as he is ready, he returns to the place where the herdsman waits with the animals. Jehoshaphat takes the ropes in his own hands and leads his offering to the priest. He wants to do this personally as a sign to the Lord of his sorrow.
The priest sees Jehoshaphat coming from across the courtyard and hurries to meet him. He bows low before addressing the king. “How may I serve you, my king?”
“I have sinned and need to make atonement before the Lord. Please accept this goat from my hand.” As Jehoshaphat puts the rope in the priest’s hand, he places his own hand on the head of the goat to convey his sins to it.
The priest takes the goat over to the stand nearest to the altar. Here the priest slits the goat’s throat and prepares it for the altar. Jehoshaphat stands nearby as all is done. Then he watches as the priest ascends the incline to the altar and places his sin offering on it.
“Please accept my sacrifice, Lord. I am sorry for my sin and the pain I have inflicted on You.”
When the priest comes back down from the altar, Jehoshaphat hands him the rope of the oxen. “Please accept this as a burnt offering to the Lord.”
The priest takes the rope and moves again to the stand. There he slits the throat of the oxen and prepares it for the fire. He calls for an assistant to help him carry it to the altar. After placing the oxen on the altar to be fully consumed by the fire, the priest retrieves the sin offering portion from the fire that he and the male members of his family are to eat. Jehoshaphat watches as the priests descend and take the roasted lam to the place where the priests will eat it. He stays back but does not leave until the last of his sin offering has been consumed. Only then does he turn and return to his home.
Jehoshaphat doesn’t end there with his service to the Lord. He returns to going through the land of Judah. He works on bringing them back to the Lord. He demolishes any Asherah poles, tears down any remaining idols, appoints Levites to teach the people and appoints righteous judges for the Lord.
When Jehoshaphat returns to Jerusalem, he appoints special Levites and their families to judge over the people. They hear the most involved cases. He charges them solemnly to judge rightly.
“Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart: whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!” (2 Chronicles 19:9-11).
After all is set in place, Jehoshaphat is able to rest for a short time. But a coalition of nations come against Judah. The Moabites and Ammonites, and some of the Meunites band together to attack Judah.
Some men come from the country, who had seen this army on the march. They stand before Jehoshaphat with their observations. “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (2 Chronicles 20:2)
Jehoshaphat is afraid but he learned well the lesson from his Abba about seeking help from other nations. He goes instead to the Lord. He proclaims a fast throughout all of Judah and calls for the people to seek the Lord.
The people begin assembling at Jerusalem to come to the House of the Lord as well. They came from every part of Judah. Whole families come to stand before the Lord. Men, women, and children bow before the Lord and call out for His help.
Before all these people, Jehoshaphat cries out to God for Judah.
“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment,[c] or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:6-12).
While Jehoshaphat and the people are calling out to the Lord, He sends His spirit onto “Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph” (2 Chronicles 20:14), who was in the middle of all the people. He begins to prophecy in the name of the Lord to the people.
“Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).
At these words Jehoshaphat’s fear melts like ice in the heat of the desert. He bows down with his face to the ground and begins worshiping and thanking the Lord. The entire congregation joins him in this.
As the people bow in worship, the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites stand and offer songs of praise to the Lord, for they were appointed by David for this purpose. All of Judah worships the Lord for the victory to come.
Very early in the morning, Judah gathers to see the hand of the Lord at work. They all gather in the wilderness of Tekoa. Jehoshaphat calls out to all of them.
“Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed” (2 Chronicles 20:20).
The people can’t see the hoard before them but can hear it. They refuse to fear. The Levites begin to sing praises to the Lord. “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21).
As the Levites sing, the Lord goes to work. The men of Ammon and Moab begin attacking the men of Mount Seir, the Meunites. As soon as they have all fallen, the Ammonites and Moabites turn on one another. Battle sounds are heard all around with no one but the coalition itself involved physically in the battle. Judah stands still, listening in.
When silence descends on the place where the hoard camped, Jehoshaphat and the people move forward. When they reach the watchtower in the wilderness, they can see the hoard bent on their destruction. They have nothing to fear from them now, for every one of them lies dead on the ground. NONE escaped.
“Gather the spoils that the Lord has provided for us” commands Jehoshaphat.
The men of Judah begin moving through the camp and battlefield, removing anything of value or use. This includes food, clothing, armor, weapons, gold, silver, livestock, and anything else that they find. They have to send for carts because they cannot carry it all. There is so much spoils that it takes three full days to complete the task.
On the fourth day, Jehoshaphat calls all of Israel together in the Valley of Beracah. Here they will bless the Lord for all He has done and all He has provided. The people praise the Lord in this place for His mighty hand and share a meal together.
When the celebration ends, Jehoshaphat leads the people back to Jerusalem with praise. The sounds of harps, lyres, trumpets, and singing reverberate throughout the whole congregation. This worship continues all the way to the House of the Lord where a portion of the spoils are given to the Lord.
The story of the Lord’s hand for His people reverberates through all the nations and the fear of God falls on ALL of them. NONE dare lift a hand against Judah as long as Jehoshaphat is on the throne.
Jehoshaphat got himself into trouble again. He goes together with King Ahaziah, King Ahab’s son, and they build sailing ships together. Their plan is to sale to Tarshish and bring back gold. They are building them at Ezion-geber. It is an impressive fleet.
Ahaziah is no more of a godly king than his father was, so God, once again, sends Jehoshaphat correction. This correction comes through the mouth of Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah.
“Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made” (2 Chronicles 20:37).
The entire fleet that Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah built is wrecked in one night. Masts are broken, hulls are breeched, whole boats sink, and fire breaks out in the most unlikely places. Nothing remains of the great fleet.
Ahaziah offers to let Jehoshaphat’s men join his in sailing to Tarshish. “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships” (1 Kings 22:49).
Jehoshaphat has already heard the voice of the Lord on partnering with him. “No. The Lord has forbidden me from making such a journey with you.”
Ahaziah does not argue with Jehoshaphat on this matter. He already knows it will do no good.
Jehoshaphat sees one more king take the throne of Judah. It is Joram, also called Jehoram. He is Ahaziah’s younger brother. Ahaziah had an accident that eventually took his life.
When Joram becomes king, Mesha the king of Moab, rebels against him. Mesha is a sheep breeder and he is under obligation to deliver to Israel 100,000 sheep and the wool of 100,000 rams. He decided that he didn’t want to do this; he rebelled. Joram does not believe he can subdue Moab on his own. He turns to the same man his father turned to; Jehoshaphat.
“The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” (2 Kings 3:7a)
Jehoshaphat gives Joram the same answer he gave his father when asked to go into battle with him. “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses” (2 Kings 3:7b).
Joram needs all the help he can get, so he asks for it. “By which way shall we march?” (2 Kings 3:8a).
“By the way of the wilderness of Edom” (2 Kings 3:8b), answers Jehoshaphat.
Edom joins in with Israel and Judah on their march to put down the rebellion of Moab. They do not go straight at Moab but by a circuitous route. After seven days of marching, they find themselves without any water for either man or beast. Even the flocks that follow the army as their food, have no water to drink.
Joram becomes despondent and cries out.
“Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:10).
Jehoshaphat is not so quick to give up. He knows where to turn.
“Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” (2 Kings 3:11a).
One of the king of Israel’s servants knows exactly who to ask. “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah” (2 Kings 3:11b).
Jehoshaphat recognizes the name immediately and the power of the Lord on him. “The word of the Lord is with him” (2 Kings 3:12).
All three kings turn to go to where Elisha is. When Elisha sees Joram, he is not willing to help him.
“What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother” (2 Kings 3:13a).
Joram believes that it is the Lord who has caused this lack of water and only by seeking Him will he find answers. “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:13b).
Elisha answers him; “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand, and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones” (2 Kings 3:14-19).
Elisha will speak no more to the three kings. They return to their troops. The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice at the House of the Lord in Jerusalem, water begins to come from the direction of Edom, until the country is filled with water. There is plenty of water for the army and the animals, just as the Lord promised. And His fulfillment of this promise builds faith in the rest of His promise in the heart of Joram. Jehoshaphat already knows that the Lord will fulfill ALL His promises.
While the men of Israel, Judah, and Edom are drinking their fill and preparing for battle, the people of Moab heard that the kings have come up to fight against them. An immediate call goes out to ALL who are able to put on armor, from the youngest to the oldest. “Go to the border and draw up ranks. They shall not pass through!”
Israel and her allies do not attack that day, which allows the men of Moab to assemble across from them. When the sun rises the next morning, they see the water that the Lord sent to Israel, but the way the sun shines on it, it looks like blood. The army of Moab is excited!
“This is blood; the kings have surely fought together and struck one another down. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!” (2 Kings 3:23).
The people of Moab rush to the camp of Israel to take the spoils, only to find the men of Israel, Judah, and Edom ready and willing to fight them. Israel’s coalition goes on the offensive. They easily repel and scatter the army of Moab. And they continue pushing. They go through the land of Moab, fouling every good field by dropping rocks all over it, cutting down every good tree, and stopping up every stream; exactly as the Lord instructed.
The king of Moab sees the battle going against him and he takes 700 swordsmen and tries to break through the lines of Edom. He fails miserably and then retreats to the city of Kir-hareseth. He is so desperate that he offers his son, who was supposed to take the throne after him, as a burnt offering on the city wall as an offering to his god.
A great anger came against Israel for this bloodshed. Israel could easily have survived without the tribute of Moab. But Joram pressed for war. Because of this, an innocent child was sacrificed. All the armies turned from the field and returned to their own homes.
Jehoshaphat will never go to battle again with Israel. He KNOWS that the Lord is displeased with his alliance with the house of Ahab.
Jehoshaphat was a very godly king and did much good in Israel. He walked in the early ways of his father Asa and did not turn from following the Lord, even when he was old. He took the throne at 35, reigned for 25 years, and was buried in the tomb of the kings at the age of 60.
(to be continued)
Jehoshaphat is a king I can identify with. He does all he knows how to do in serving the Lord. He cares about the people and gives all he has to bring them back to the Lord. But he is not perfect. He has a flaw of trying to bring peace, even to those who he should be staying away from. Ahab was actually ‘family’ in Jehoshaphat’s mind. To him, Israel should not have been split in to and he wanted to reunite it as much as he could.
But he didn’t take into account that bringing that part of the ‘family’ back under the same roof could have disastrous consequences. Sometimes, it is better for the ‘healthy part of the family’ to be separated from the corrupt part. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was NOT ready to give up their idols, no matter how much Jehoshaphat wanted them to. And infusing Judah with Ahab’s bloodline brought trouble to the line of David. God took care not to allow it to be completely wiped out, but Ahab’s daughter tried to do it.
I would say this had direct implications on my mother’s insistence that her children married people who also believe in the Lord. Unfortunately, not everyone who says they are a “Christian” truly walk after the Lord. Ahab’s daughter brought corruption back into the line of godly kings. I wonder what Jehoram of Judah would have been like without Ahab’s daughter directing his life. Careful who you align, ally, associate, and agree with.
Father God, thank You for sharing Your stories again with me today. I pray that I don’t try and help so much, or seek peace where separation should remain, that I bring into my life bad results. Give me wisdom in providing directions and strength to keep separation.
