Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat in Scripture
• More Than One
– Son of Ahilud
• Recorder for David and Solomon
– Another
• One of Solomon’s 12 deputies
– A place
• Valley of Jehoshaphat
– Prophetic valley of judgment
– Joel 3:2 & 14
King Jehoshaphat
• Fourth King of Judah
• Terminology for today
– 10 tribe kingdom called Israel
– “or the northern kingdom”
– 2 tribe kingdom called Judah
– “or the southern kingdom”
Israel’s Faithfulness
Under Their Kings
• Likely peaked under David and shortly into
Solomon’s reign
• Degraded some with Solomon’s allowing his
wives’ idolatry
• Some recovery in the early years of
Rehoboam
– More idolatry in his later years
– Due to wives’ & the split of the nation
Judah’s Faithfulness
Under Their Kings
• King Abijah
– A real reformer against idolatry
– Rehoboam & Judah at war with Israel
• Abijah pleads for the re-uniting of the nations &
for the 10 tribes to seek the Lord
• Judah outnumbered 800,000 to 400,000
• Judah triumphs and Jeroboam loses 500,000
– Does not root out all idolatry
• Allows some idolatrous “high places” to remain
Judah’s Faithfulness
Under Their Kings
• King Asa succeeds Abijah
– Does an even better job of rooting out
idolatry than his father
• King Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa
– 4th King of Judah
– Reigns for 25 years
– One of Judah’s best kings
King Jehoshaphat’s Reign
• Details found in:
– 1 Kings 22:40-50
– 2 Chronicles 17 through 20
2 Chronicles 17:1-4
1 Jehoshaphat his son then became king in his place, and
made his position over Israel firm
2 He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and
set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of
Ephraim which Asa his father had captured
3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he
followed the example of his father David’s earlier days
and did not seek the Baals,
4 but sought the God of his father, followed His
commandments, and did not act as Israel did
What Are We Looking For?
• Good Kings yield…
– Lessons to the prospective kings of the Gospel
Age, the Church
– Not a type or shadow
– Their principles and dedication to God in
governing Israelites correspond to our
governing of a nation of one --- ourselves
– Lessons are only from those Kings which
recognized God as their head
2 Chronicles 17:5
5 So the LORD established the kingdom in
his control, and all Judah brought tribute
to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches
and honor.
Blessings to Jehoshaphat
• For Fidelity to God
– Prosperity and Power
• Converse is not True
– Bad Kings were sometimes prosperous
• Jehoshaphat’s Prosperity
– Was an indication of God’s favor
– Consistent with his desire to bless
– Used it to further the Father’s interests
2Chronicles 17:6-10
6 And he took great pride in the ways of
the LORD and again removed the high
places and the Asherim from Judah.
7 Then in the third year of his reign he
sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah,
Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to
teach in the cities of Judah;
2Chronicles 17:6-10
9 And they taught in Judah, having the
book of the law of the LORD with them;
and they went throughout all the cities of
Judah and taught among the people.
10 Now the dread of the LORD was on all
the kingdoms of the lands which were
around Judah, so that they did not make
war against Jehoshaphat.
Reprint 4730
• Jehoshaphat’s One Mistake
– God gave him
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Success
Military strength
Superiority over neighboring nations
Should have allowed him to be independent
2Chronicles 18:1-4
1 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and
honor; and he allied himself by marriage
with Ahab.
2 And some years later he went down to
visit Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab
slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him
and the people who were with him, and
induced him to go up against Ramothgilead.
2Chronicles 18:1-4
3 And Ahab king of Israel said to
Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go
with me against Ramoth-gilead?" And he
said to him, "I am as you are, and my
people as your people, and we will be with
you in the battle."
4 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king
of Israel, "Please inquire first for the
word of the LORD."
The Mistake
• Obligated to 10 tribe kingdom thorough an
ill advised marriage
• The alliance would cost Judah
• Our earthly alliances must not damage the
spiritual interests
– Ideally they would aide our sacrifice
2Chronicles 18:5-8
5 Then the king of Israel assembled the
prophets, four hundred men, and said to
them, "Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead
to battle, or shall I refrain?" And they
said, "Go up, for God will give it into the
hand of the king."
6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not yet a
prophet of the LORD here that we may
inquire of him?"
2Chronicles 18:5-8
7 And the king of Israel said to
Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by
whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I
hate him, for he never prophesies good
concerning me but always evil. He is
Micaiah, son of Imla." But Jehoshaphat
said," Let not the king say so."
8 Then the king of Israel called an officer
and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla’s
son."
The Battle
• Jehoshaphat ignores the prophet
• Deceived by Ahab
– Clothed in royal garb
– Ahab is disguised as a regular soldier
• Ahab targeted by the Syrian king
– Desired Jehoshaphat’s death in battle
2Chronicles 18:31-34
31 So it came about when the captains of
the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they
said, "It is the king of Israel," and they
turned aside to fight against him. But
Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD
helped him, and God diverted them from
him.
2Chronicles 18:31-34
32 Then it happened when the captains of
the chariots saw that it was not the king
of Israel, that they turned back from
pursuing him.
33 And a certain man drew his bow at
random and struck the king of Israel in a
joint of the armor. So he said to the
driver of the chariot, "Turn around, and
take me out of the fight; for I am
severely wounded."
2Chronicles 18:31-34
34 And the battle raged that day, and the
king of Israel propped himself up in his
chariot in front of the Arameans until the
evening; and at sunset he died.
2Chronicles 19:4-10
4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and
went out again among the people from
Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim
and brought them back to the LORD, the
God of their fathers.
5 And he appointed judges in the land in all
the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.
2Chronicles 19:4-10
6 And he said to the judges, "Consider what
you are doing, for you do not judge for
man but for the LORD who is with you
when you render judgment.
7 Now then let the fear of the LORD be
upon you; be very careful what you do, for
the LORD our God will have no part in
unrighteousness, or partiality, or the
taking of a bribe."
2Chronicles 19:4-10
8 And in Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat
appointed some of the Levites and priests,
and some of the heads of the fathers’
households of Israel, for the judgment of
the LORD and to judge disputes among the
inhabitants of Jerusalem.
9 Then he charged them saying, "Thus you
shall do in the fear of the LORD,
Faithfully and wholeheartedly.
2Chronicles 19:4-10
10 And whenever any dispute comes to you
from your brethren who live in their cities,
between blood and blood, between law and
commandment, statutes and ordinances,
you shall warn them that they may not be
guilty before the LORD, and wrath may
not come on you and your brethren. Thus
you shall do and you will not be guilty."
Attacked by Moab & Ammon
• Order of attacks not clear
– From scripture or secular sources
• Jehoshaphat attacks Moab in 2 Kings
• Is attacked by Moab in 2 Chronicles 20
– No reason for being attacked
– Could it be for attacking first (2 Kings)
• Response is the lesson for us
2 Chronicles 20:3-4
3 And Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned
his attention to seek the LORD; and
proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 So Judah gathered together to seek help
from the LORD; they even came from all
the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.
2 Chronicles 20:9
9 Should evil come upon us, the sword, or
judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will
stand before this house and before Thee
(for Thy name is in this house) and cry to
Thee in our distress, and Thou wilt hear
and deliver us.
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
15 and Jahaziel the son of Zechariah said,
"Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus
says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be
dismayed because of this great multitude,
for the battle is not yours but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold,
they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and
you will find them at the end of the valley
in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
17 You need not fight in this battle; station
yourselves, stand and see the salvation of
the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and
Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed;
tomorrow go out to face them, for the
LORD is with you."
2 Chronicles 20:20-24
20 And they rose early in the morning and
went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and
when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood
and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and
inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in
the LORD Your God, and you will be
established. Put your trust in His prophets
and succeed."
2 Chronicles 20:20-24
21 And when he had consulted with the
people, he appointed those who sang to
the LORD and those who praised Him in
holy attire, as they went out before the
army and said, "Give thanks to the LORD,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting."
2 Chronicles 20:20-24
22 And when they began singing and
praising, the LORD set ambushes against
the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount
Seir, who had come against Judah; so
they were routed.
2 Chronicles 20:20-24
23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose
up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir
destroying them completely, and when
they had finished with the inhabitants of
Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
2 Chronicles 20:20-24
24 When Judah came to the lookout of the
wilderness, they looked toward the
multitude; and behold, they were corpses
lying on the ground, and no one had
escaped.
2 Chronicles 20:29-30, 32
29 And the dread of God was on all the
kingdoms of the lands when they heard
that the LORD had fought against the
enemies of Israel.
30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at
peace, for his God gave him rest on all
sides.
32 And he walked in the way of his father
Asa and did not depart from it, doing right
in the sight of the LORD.
Battle with Moab & Amnon
• Found in the 3rd chapter of 2 Kings
• A somewhat obscure reference
– No comments by Bro. Russell
The 10 Tribe Kingdom
• Ahab has died; Jehoram is the king
• Not as bad as Ahab
• King of Moab was giving aid to Ahab
– Protection money?
– Not paid to Jehoram
– Edom may have been paying Judah too
• Jehoram: lack of payment means war
– Not strong enough to attack alone
• Another Jehoshaphat mistake
2 Kings 3:10-13
10 Then the king of Israel said, "Alas! For
the LORD has called these three kings to
give them into the hand of Moab."
2 Kings 3:10-12
11 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not a
prophet of the LORD here, that we may
inquire of the LORD by him?" And one of
the king of Israel’s servants answered and
said, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here,
who used to pour water on the hands of
Elijah."
2 Kings 3:10-12
12 And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the
LORD is with him." So the king of Israel
and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom
went down to him.
2 Kings 3:13-18
13 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel,
"What do I have to do with you? Go to the
prophets of your father and to the
prophets of your mother." And the king of
Israel said to him, "No, for the LORD has
called these three kings together to give
them into the hand of Moab."
2 Kings 3:13-18
14 And Elisha said, "As the LORD of
hosts lives, before whom I stand,
were it not that I regard the
presence of Jehoshaphat the king of
Judah, I would not look at you nor
see you.
2 Kings 3:13-18
15 But now bring me a minstrel." And it
came about, when the minstrel played,
that the hand of the LORD came upon
him.
16 And he said, "Thus says the LORD, ‘Make
this valley full of trenches.
2 Kings 3:13-18
17 For thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not
see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that
valley shall be filled with water, so that
you shall drink, both you and your cattle
and your beasts.
18 And this is but a slight thing in the sight
of the LORD; He shall also give the
Moabites into your hand.
2 Kings 3:22-23
22 And they rose early in the morning, and
the sun shone on the water, and the
Moabites saw the water opposite them as
red as blood.
23 Then they said, "This is blood; the kings
have surely fought together, and they
have slain one another. Now therefore,
Moab, to the spoil!"
The Defeat of Moab
• Moabites comes out to Jehoshaphat
• Rising sun makes lake appear bloody
– Moabites think infighting destroyed the army
of the 3 kings
• Moabites attack without coordination
expecting resistance of just a few
survivors of infighting
2 Kings 3:24-26
24 But when they came to the camp of
Israel, the Israelites arose and struck
the Moabites, so that they fled before
them; and they went forward into the
land, slaughtering the Moabites.
2 Kings 3:24-26
25 Thus they destroyed the cities; and
each one threw a stone on every piece of
good land and filled it. So they stopped
all the springs of water and felled all the
good trees, until in Kir-hareseth only
they left its stones;
2 Kings 3:24-26
26 When the king of Moab saw that the
battle was too fierce for him, he took with
him 700 men who drew swords, to break
through to the king of Edom; but they
could not.
2 Kings 3:27
27 Then he took his oldest son who was to
reign in his place, and offered him as a
burnt offering on the wall.
And there came great wrath against
Israel, and they departed from him and
returned to their own land.
Lessons from Jehoshaphat
• Not a type, but lessons to us
• Principles to apply to our lives
• Warnings to Jehoshaphat are warnings to
us
• His noble characteristics are to be
emulated
• Use of what the Lord has given us is risky,
yet we must risk “alliances”