2 Chronicles 18:1
New International Version
Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

New Living Translation
Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter.

English Standard Version
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.

Berean Standard Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had an abundance of riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

King James Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

New King James Version
Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab.

New American Standard Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage to Ahab.

NASB 1995
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.

NASB 1977
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.

Amplified Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and was allied by marriage with Ahab.

Christian Standard Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he made an alliance with Ahab through marriage.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he made an alliance with Ahab through marriage.

American Standard Version
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.

Contemporary English Version
Jehoshaphat was now very rich and famous. He signed a treaty with King Ahab of Israel by arranging the marriage of his son and Ahab's daughter.

English Revised Version
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jehoshaphat was wealthy and honorable and became Ahab's in-law.

Good News Translation
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.

International Standard Version
After Jehoshaphat had become wealthy and was enjoying abundant honor, he allied himself to Ahab.

Majority Standard Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had an abundance of riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

NET Bible
Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab,

New Heart English Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

World English Bible
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jehoshaphat has riches and honor in abundance, and joins affinity to Ahab,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehoshaphat hath riches and honour in abundance, and joineth affinity to Ahab,

Smith's Literal Translation
And there will be to Jehoshaphat riches and honor for multitude, and he will contract affinity by marriage to Ahab.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now Josaphat was rich and very glorious, and was joined by affinity to Achab.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Jehoshaphat was wealthy and very famous, and he was joined by affinity to Ahab.

New American Bible
Jehoshaphat therefore had wealth and glory in abundance; but he became related to Ahab by marriage.

New Revised Standard Version
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
NOW Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he made an alliance with Ahab.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yehoshaphat had very great wealth and honor, and he became close to Akhab.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Josaphat had yet great wealth and glory, and he connected himself by marriage with the house of Achaab.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
1Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. 2And some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him, and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead.…

Cross References
1 Kings 22:1-4
Then three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. / However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel, / who said to his servants, “Do you not know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?” ...

2 Chronicles 19:2
Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

2 Chronicles 21:6
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 22:2-4
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. / Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness. / And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.

1 Kings 16:29-31
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. / However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. / And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.

1 Kings 21:25
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.

2 Chronicles 17:1-5
Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. / He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. / Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, ...

2 Chronicles 20:35-37
Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. / They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber. / Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.

1 Kings 18:4
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

1 Kings 20:1-4
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it. / Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, / saying, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and your best wives and children are mine!’” ...

2 Chronicles 9:26
He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 25:19
You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

2 Chronicles 25:23-24
There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits. / He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God with Obed-edom and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

2 Chronicles 28:16-18
At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria. / The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives. / The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages.

2 Chronicles 30:1
Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

A.

2 Chronicles 1:11-15
And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: …

2 Chronicles 17:5,12
Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance…

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

2 Chronicles 8:18
And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

2 Chronicles 19:1-3
And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem…

2 Chronicles 18:31
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

Jump to Previous
Abundance Affinity Ahab Ahab's Alliance Allied Daughter Great Honor Honour Jehoshaphat Jehosh'aphat Joined Joineth Marriage Married Riches Wealth
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Abundance Affinity Ahab Ahab's Alliance Allied Daughter Great Honor Honour Jehoshaphat Jehosh'aphat Joined Joineth Marriage Married Riches Wealth
2 Chronicles 18
1. Jehoshaphat, joined in affinity with Ahab, is persuaded to go against Ramoth Gilead
4. Ahab, seduced by false prophets, according to the word of Micaiah, is slain there














Now Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat, whose name means "Yahweh has judged," was the fourth king of the Kingdom of Judah. His reign is noted for religious reforms and efforts to bring the people back to the worship of Yahweh. Historically, Jehoshaphat is recognized for his commitment to God, as seen in 2 Chronicles 17, where he strengthens Judah spiritually and militarily. His name itself is a testament to his role as a leader under divine judgment and guidance.

had riches and honor in abundance
The phrase indicates the material and social prosperity that Jehoshaphat enjoyed. The Hebrew word for "riches" (עֹשֶׁר, 'osher) and "honor" (כָּבוֹד, kavod) suggest not only wealth but also a reputation of respect and dignity. This abundance is often seen as a blessing from God, reflecting the covenantal promises of prosperity for obedience. Jehoshaphat's wealth and honor were not merely personal achievements but were seen as divine favor, aligning with the Deuteronomic theology that links faithfulness to God with material blessings.

and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage
This alliance is a pivotal moment in Jehoshaphat's reign. The Hebrew term for "allied" (חָבַר, chabar) implies a joining or binding together, often used in the context of forming a covenant or agreement. Ahab, the king of Israel, was known for his idolatry and marriage to Jezebel, which led Israel into further sin. By marrying his son Jehoram to Ahab's daughter Athaliah, Jehoshaphat sought political stability and peace between the northern and southern kingdoms. However, this alliance is viewed critically in the biblical narrative, as it brought negative spiritual influences into Judah. This decision reflects the tension between political expediency and spiritual fidelity, a recurring theme in the history of Israel and Judah. The alliance serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising faith for political gain, reminding believers of the importance of maintaining spiritual integrity.

(1) Now Jehoshaphat had.--And Jehoshaphat got.

Riches and honour in abundance.--Repeated from 2Chronicles 17:5.

And joined affinity with Ahab.--He married his son Jehoram to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (2Chronicles 21:6; 1Kings 18:8). The high degree of prosperity to which the king of Judah had attained is indicated by the fact that so powerful a monarch as Ahab entered into such an intimate connection with him. (The vav of the second clause is not adversative, as Z?ckler asserts, but rather consecutive.)

Verse 1. - The purport of the verse is to let us into the secret that the riches and honour in abundance of Jehoshaphat were, in fact, the snare by which he was led to entangle himself with one who, probably only on that account, was willing to be entangled by affinity with him (2 Chronicles 21:6; 2 Chronicles 22:2-4; 2 Kings 8:25-29). It is not hard to see how they would both lead him, if not always out of big and patronizing thoughts, to seek and also lay him open to be sought. When this verse says Jehoshaphat joined affinity, etc., it means that he had done so. to wit, not fewer than nine years before, in promoting or allowing, whichever it was, the marriage of his son Jehoram with Ahab's and Jezebel's daughter Athaliah. For the issue of this marriage, Ahaziah, took the throne at the age of twenty-two years, thirteen years hence from this seventeenth year of his grandfather Jehoshaphat's reign, the year of Ahab's death. But as we are told that Ahaziah was the youngest son of Jehoram and Athaliah (for explanation of which see 2 Chronicles 21:17), the "joining affinity" must have been something earlier than nine years, and very probably came yet nearer the prosperity of the earlier years of Jehoshaphat's reign, with which would agree well the keynote touched again significantly here from our 2 Chronicles 17:5. Comp. 2 Kings 8:17, 26; 2 Chronicles 21:20; 2 Chronicles 22:2 (which needs the correction of twenty-two to forty-two). Although it is certain that the act of Jehoshaphat was wrong in principle, disastrous in practice (2 Chronicles 19:2, 3), and threatened fatal consequences to himself (2 Chronicles 18:31, 32), yet it is not impossible to suppose his motives were for the most part good, and he may naturally have thought that the sunshine of his own peace and abundance might be the set time to win influence in and over Israel, rather than strengthen Israel in its ungodly independence. On the other hand, nothing could justify Jehoshaphat risking such intimacy of relationship with such a family, heedless of consequences, looking towards idolatry, which he should have known were overwhelmingly probable.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now Jehoshaphat
לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט (lî·hō·wō·šā·p̄āṭ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3092: Jehoshaphat -- 'the LORD has judged', the name of a number of Israelites

had
וַיְהִ֧י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

riches
עֹ֥שֶׁר (‘ō·šer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6239: Wealth

and honor
וְכָב֖וֹד (wə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness

in abundance,
לָרֹ֑ב (lā·rōḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

and he allied himself with Ahab
לְאַחְאָֽב׃ (lə·’aḥ·’āḇ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet

by marriage.
וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן (way·yiṯ·ḥat·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2859: To give, away in marriage, to contract affinity by marriage


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 17:19
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