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Biblical Person · Old · Divided Monarchy · -0904-01-0 – -0848-01-0

Jehoshaphat

Jehoshaphat

via Wikimedia Commons

Jehoshaphat was a king of Judah noted for his religious reforms and alliance with the northern kingdom of Israel, particularly with King Ahab.

AI-assisted summary — may contain inaccuracies.

From Wikidata

Biographical facts

Born
-0904-01-0
Died
-0848-01-0
More
Wikipedia →

Family

Parents
Asa (father)

Children
Jehoram

Where Jehoshaphat appears

77 verses across 7 books.

2Chr38×1Kgs21×2Kgs10×1Chr3×2Sam2×Joel2×Matt1×

Verses mentioning Jehoshaphat

  • 1Chr 3:10 — And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
  • 1Chr 15:24 — And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeep
  • 1Chr 18:15 — And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.
  • 1Kgs 4:3 — Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
  • 1Kgs 4:17 — Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:
  • 1Kgs 15:24 — And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1Kgs 22:2 — And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
  • 1Kgs 22:4 — And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
  • 1Kgs 22:5 — And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
  • 1Kgs 22:7 — And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
  • 1Kgs 22:8 — And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.
  • 1Kgs 22:10 — And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied befo
  • 1Kgs 22:18 — And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
  • 1Kgs 22:29 — So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
  • 1Kgs 22:30 — And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
  • 1Kgs 22:32 — And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.
  • 1Kgs 22:41 — And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
  • 1Kgs 22:42 — Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
  • 1Kgs 22:44 — And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
  • 1Kgs 22:45 — Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
  • 1Kgs 22:48 — Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
  • 1Kgs 22:49 — Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
  • 1Kgs 22:50 — And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1Kgs 22:51 — Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.
  • 2Chr 17:1 — And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
  • 2Chr 17:3 — And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
  • 2Chr 17:5 — Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
  • 2Chr 17:10 — And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
  • 2Chr 17:11 — Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats
  • 2Chr 17:12 — And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.
  • 2Chr 18:1 — Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
  • 2Chr 18:3 — And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the w
  • 2Chr 18:4 — And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
  • 2Chr 18:6 — But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
  • 2Chr 18:7 — And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the s
  • 2Chr 18:9 — And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the proph
  • 2Chr 18:17 — And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
  • 2Chr 18:28 — So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
  • 2Chr 18:29 — And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
  • 2Chr 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 h
  • 2Chr 19:1 — And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
  • 2Chr 19:2 — And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the
  • 2Chr 19:4 — And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
  • 2Chr 19:8 — Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jeru
  • 2Chr 20:1 — It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
  • 2Chr 20:2 — Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
  • 2Chr 20:3 — And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
  • 2Chr 20:5 — And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
  • 2Chr 20:15 — And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the batt
  • 2Chr 20:18 — And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
  • 2Chr 20:20 — And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the L
  • 2Chr 20:25 — And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselve
  • 2Chr 20:27 — Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
  • 2Chr 20:30 — So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
  • 2Chr 20:31 — And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
  • 2Chr 20:34 — Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
  • 2Chr 20:35 — And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
  • 2Chr 20:37 — Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they
  • 2Chr 21:1 — Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2Chr 21:2 — And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
Voices from the tradition

The Church Fathers on Jehoshaphat

Patristic commentary on the Scriptures that name Jehoshaphat.

Of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, it is written, "And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, who walked in the first ways of David, his father." From this it is clear that Jehoshaphat possessed the justice that David first possessed and that he did not commit the sins that David later committed. "He trusted not in Baalim," he says, "but in…

(Verse 12 and following) Let the nations arise and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Send in the sickles, for the harvest is ripe. Come and go down, for the winepress is full; the vats overflow, for their wickedness is multiplied. LXX: Let all the nations arise and come up…

The words "come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat" will not gather them and bring them down, but he will let them accomplish their plan. In fact, he talks about the people over whom the house of Gog rules. "To the valley of Jehoshaphat," that is, to the valley of judgment. "Jehoshaphat" is interpreted as judgment and sentence.

Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, which is taken to mean living on high, because the one appointed judge ought to live on high: "He will dwell on the heights" (Is 33:6). How this happens is told by the Apostle: "Our commonwealth is in heaven" (Phil 3:20). And this befits Christ, because "the Lord is high above all the nations." Joram…