Jehoshaphat: Jehovah-judged.1. One of David's body-guard
(1 Chronicles 11:43)
2. One of the priests who accompanied the removal of the ark to
Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 15:24)
3. Son of Ahilud, "recorder" or annalist under David and Solomon
(2 Samuel 8:16) a state officer of high rank, chancellor or vizier of
the kingdom.
4. Solomon's purveyor in Issachar
(1 Kings 4:17)
5. The son and successor of Asa, king of Judah. After fortifying
his kingdom against Israel
(2 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 20:1)ff
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. The Song of Solomon it was, for
they quarrelled 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 (B.C. 890) 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 Chronicles 22:9) The
kingdom of Judah was never more prosperous than under his reign.
6. The son of Nimshi, and father of Jehu, king of Israel
(2 Kings 9:2,14)