Jump to: Hitchcock's • Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, was the fourth king of the Kingdom of Judah, reigning from approximately 873 to 849 BC. He is noted for his religious reforms, military campaigns, and efforts to strengthen the kingdom both spiritually and politically. His reign is documented primarily in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 17-20. Reign and Religious Reforms: Jehoshaphat ascended to the throne following the death of his father, Asa. He is commended for walking in the ways of his ancestor David, seeking the Lord and not the Baals. 2 Chronicles 17:3-4 states, "Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in His commandments rather than the practices of Israel." Jehoshaphat's religious reforms were significant. He removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah, striving to purify the worship of Yahweh. He also sent officials, Levites, and priests throughout the land to teach the people the Book of the Law of the LORD, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 17:7-9. This initiative helped to solidify the spiritual foundation of Judah and distinguish it from the idolatrous practices of the northern kingdom of Israel. Military and Political Alliances: Jehoshaphat fortified the cities of Judah and maintained a strong military presence. He is noted for his strategic alliances, most notably with Ahab, king of Israel. This alliance was solidified through the marriage of Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, to Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. However, this alliance was not without its challenges, as it led Jehoshaphat into the ill-fated battle at Ramoth-gilead alongside Ahab, where Ahab was killed (1 Kings 22:29-33). Despite this setback, Jehoshaphat's reign was marked by relative peace and prosperity. He also formed alliances with other neighboring nations, which contributed to the stability and security of Judah. Judicial Reforms: Jehoshaphat is credited with establishing a system of judicial reform to ensure justice and righteousness in the land. He appointed judges in the fortified cities of Judah and charged them to judge with integrity and the fear of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 19:6-7 records his instructions: "Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful in what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery." The Battle of Jehoshaphat: One of the most notable events during Jehoshaphat's reign was the coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites that came against Judah. In response, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and sought the LORD in prayer, demonstrating his reliance on divine intervention. The LORD responded through the prophet Jahaziel, assuring victory without the need for battle. 2 Chronicles 20:15 states, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." Jehoshaphat's faith was rewarded as the enemy forces turned on each other, leading to a miraculous victory for Judah. This event further solidified Jehoshaphat's reputation as a king who trusted in the LORD. Legacy: Jehoshaphat's reign is remembered for its emphasis on spiritual renewal, judicial integrity, and reliance on God. Despite some political missteps, his commitment to the LORD and his efforts to lead Judah in righteousness left a lasting impact on the kingdom. His son, Jehoram, succeeded him, but the spiritual and political groundwork laid by Jehoshaphat continued to influence Judah for years to come. Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary JehoshaphatSmith's Bible Dictionary Jehoshaphat(whom Jehovah judges.)
ATS Bible Dictionary JehoshaphatA pious king of Judah, the son and successor of Asa. He began to reign at the age of thirty-five, about the year 914 B. C., and reigned twenty-five years. His history is found in 1 Kings 15:24 22:1-53 2 Chronicles 17:1-20:37. He was distinguished by his zeal for true religion, and his firm trust in God. He thoroughly cleansed the land from idolatry, restored the divine ordinances, and provided for the religious instruction of the people. His government was highly prospered at home and abroad. The great error of his life was an entangling alliance with the wicked Ahab, whose infamous daughter Athaliah early began to afflict the kingdom of Judah, of which she was afterwards the queen. Jehoshaphat was beguiled by Ahab into an unsuccessful war with the Syrians, but soon resumed his labors in behalf of religion and justice. Having failed in a commercial enterprise with Ahaziah, he declined a second trial, 1 Kings 22:48,49 but united with Joram, his successor, in a war with Moab. This seems to have led to his being assailed by a vast host of Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Syrians; but again he was victorious through his faith in God. He died at the age of sixty years. Easton's Bible Dictionary 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. 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. So 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). Jehoshaphat, Valley of Mentioned in Scripture only in Joel 3:2, 12. This is the name given in modern times to the valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, and the Kidron flows through it. Here Jehoshaphat overthrew the confederated enemies of Israel (Psalm 83:6-8); and in this valley also God was to overthrow the Tyrians, Zidonians, etc. (Joel 3:4, 19), with an utter overthrow. This has been fulfilled; but Joel speaks of the final conflict, when God would destroy all Jerusalem's enemies, of whom Tyre and Zidon, etc., were types. The "valley of Jehoshaphat" may therefore be simply regarded as a general term for the theatre of God's final judgments on the enemies of Israel. This valley has from ancient times been used by the Jews as a burial-ground. It is all over paved with flat stones as tombstones, bearing on them Hebrew inscriptions. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia JEHOSHAPHAT (1)je-hosh'-a-fat (yehoshaphaT, "Yahweh has judged"): JEHOSHAPHAT (2) je-hosh'-a-fat (yehoshaphaT, "Yahweh judges"): The 4th king of Judah, son of Asa. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi, of whom nothing further is known. He was 35 years of age at his accession, and reigned 25 years, circa 873-849 B.C. The history of his reign is contained in 1 Kings 22:41-50 and in 2 Chronicles 17:1-21:1. The narrative in 1 Kings 22:1-35 a and in 2 Kings 3:4; belongs to the history of the Northern Kingdom. The absence from Ki of the details contained in 2 Chronicles affords no presumpt against their truth. Neither do high numbers, embellished statements, and the coloring of the writer's own age destroy the historical perspective. JEHOSHAPHAT, VALLEY OF (`emeq yehoshaphaT); the latter word means "Yahweh judgeth," and `emeq, "wide," "open valley"; Septuagint he koilas Iosaphat): The name is used in Joel 3:2, 12 of the scene of Judgment: "Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about" (Joel 3:12). "The valley of decision" (or "sharp judgment") is another name the prophet gives to this spot (Joel 3:14). Some have identified it with the valley (`emeq) of BERACAH (which see) of 2 Chronicles 20:26, where King Jehoshaphat obtained a great victory, but this is improbable. Greek 2498. Iosaphat -- Jehoshaphat, an Israelite ... Jehoshaphat, an Israelite. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Iosaphat Phonetic Spelling: (ee-o-saf-at') Short Definition: Jehoshaphat ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2498.htm - 6k 2496. Ioram -- Joram, an Israelite 760. Asaph -- Asa, a king of Judah Strong's Hebrew 1134. Ben-chayil -- "son of might," one of Jehoshaphat's leaders... Ben-chayil. 1135 . "son of might," one of Jehoshaphat's leaders. Transliteration: Ben-chayil Phonetic Spelling: (ben-khah'-yil) Short Definition: Benhail. ... /hebrew/1134.htm - 6k 7977. Shilchi -- Jehoshaphat's grandfather 3092. Yehoshaphat -- "the LORD has judged," the name of a number ... Library Jehoshaphat's Reform Jehoshaphat How Joram and Jehoshaphat Made an Expedition against the Moabites ... Concerning Jehoshaphat the King of Jerusalem and How Ahab Made an ... Concerning Jehoshaphat Again; How He Constituted Judges And, Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat; How Joram, his Namesake, King of ... Micaiah's Courage in Telling the Truth 'A Mirror for Magistrates' The Kingdom Op Judah. The Valley of Hinnom. Thesaurus Jehoshaphat (79 Occurrences)... The Moabites formed a great and powerful confederacy with the surrounding nations, and came against Jehoshaphat. ...Jehoshaphat, Valley of. ... /j/jehoshaphat.htm - 51k Jehoshaphat's (2 Occurrences) Jeho'ram (21 Occurrences) Prophesies (17 Occurrences) Jehosh'aphat (75 Occurrences) Micaiah (27 Occurrences) Enquire (42 Occurrences) Ahazi'ah (33 Occurrences) Recorder (10 Occurrences) Ahilud (5 Occurrences) Resources Who was Micaiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHow many prophets are in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was King Ahaziah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Jehoshaphat (79 Occurrences)Matthew 1:8 2 Samuel 8:16 2 Samuel 20:24 1 Kings 4:3 1 Kings 4:17 1 Kings 15:24 1 Kings 22:2 1 Kings 22:4 1 Kings 22:5 1 Kings 22:7 1 Kings 22:8 1 Kings 22:10 1 Kings 22:18 1 Kings 22:29 1 Kings 22:30 1 Kings 22:32 1 Kings 22:41 1 Kings 22:42 1 Kings 22:44 1 Kings 22:45 1 Kings 22:48 1 Kings 22:49 1 Kings 22:50 1 Kings 22:51 2 Kings 1:17 2 Kings 3:1 2 Kings 3:7 2 Kings 3:11 2 Kings 3:12 2 Kings 3:14 2 Kings 8:16 2 Kings 9:2 2 Kings 9:14 2 Kings 12:18 1 Chronicles 3:10 1 Chronicles 15:24 1 Chronicles 18:15 2 Chronicles 17:1 2 Chronicles 17:3 2 Chronicles 17:5 2 Chronicles 17:10 2 Chronicles 17:11 2 Chronicles 17:12 2 Chronicles 18:1 2 Chronicles 18:2 2 Chronicles 18:3 2 Chronicles 18:4 2 Chronicles 18:6 2 Chronicles 18:7 2 Chronicles 18:9 2 Chronicles 18:17 2 Chronicles 18:28 2 Chronicles 18:29 2 Chronicles 18:31 2 Chronicles 19:1 2 Chronicles 19:2 2 Chronicles 19:4 2 Chronicles 19:8 2 Chronicles 20:1 2 Chronicles 20:2 2 Chronicles 20:3 2 Chronicles 20:5 2 Chronicles 20:15 2 Chronicles 20:18 2 Chronicles 20:20 2 Chronicles 20:21 2 Chronicles 20:25 2 Chronicles 20:27 2 Chronicles 20:30 2 Chronicles 20:31 2 Chronicles 20:34 2 Chronicles 20:35 2 Chronicles 20:37 2 Chronicles 21:1 2 Chronicles 21:2 2 Chronicles 21:12 2 Chronicles 22:9 Joel 3:2 Joel 3:12 Subtopics Iconoclasm: Destroyed by Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat: A Priest Who Assisted in Bringing the Ark of the Covenant from Obed-Edom Jehoshaphat: A Valley: Called the Valley of Decision Jehoshaphat: Joins Jehoram, King of Israel, in an Invasion of the Land of Moab, Defeats the Moabites Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Bequests of, to his Children Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Builds Ships for Commerce With Tarshish, Ships are Destroyed Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Death of Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: His Military Forces and Armaments Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: His System of Taxation Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: His Wise Reign Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Inaugurates a System of Public Instruction in the Law Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Joins Ahab in an Invasion of Ramoth-Gilead Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Makes Valuable Gifts to the Temple Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Prosperity of Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Rebuked by the Prophet Jehu Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Religious Zeal of Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Strengthens Himself Against Israel Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Succeeds Asa Jehoshaphat: One of Solomon's Commissariat officers Jehoshaphat: The Allied Forces of the Amorites, Moabites Related Terms |