Jehoshaphat

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Jehoshaphat
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Jehoshaphat in Scripture

• More Than One
• Son of Ahilud
• Recorder for David and Solomon
• Another
• One of Solomons 12 deputies
• A place
• Valley of Jehoshaphat
• Prophetic valley of judgment
• Joel 32 14

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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

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Israels FaithfulnessUnder Their Kings

• Likely peaked under David and shortly into
  Solomons reign
• Degraded some with Solomons 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

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Judahs FaithfulnessUnder 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

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Judahs FaithfulnessUnder 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 Judahs best kings

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King Jehoshaphats Reign

• Details found in
• 1 Kings 2240-50
• 2 Chronicles 17 through 20

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2 Chronicles 171-4

• 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 Davids
  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

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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

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2 Chronicles 175

• 5 So the LORD established the kingdom in his
  control, and all Judah brought tribute to
  Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.

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Blessings to Jehoshaphat

• For Fidelity to God
• Prosperity and Power
• Converse is not True
• Bad Kings were sometimes prosperous
• Jehoshaphats Prosperity
• Was an indication of Gods favor
• Consistent with his desire to bless
• Used it to further the Fathers interests

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2Chronicles 176-10

• 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

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2Chronicles 176-10

• 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.

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Reprint 4730

• Jehoshaphats One Mistake
• God gave him
• Success
• Military strength
• Superiority over neighboring nations
• Should have allowed him to be independent

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2Chronicles 181-4

• 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
  Ramoth-gilead.

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2Chronicles 181-4

• 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."

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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

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2Chronicles 185-8

• 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?"

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2Chronicles 185-8

• 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, Imlas son."

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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 Jehoshaphats death in battle

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2Chronicles 1831-34

• 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.

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2Chronicles 1831-34

• 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."

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2Chronicles 1831-34

• 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.

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2Chronicles 194-10

• 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.

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2Chronicles 194-10

• 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."

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2Chronicles 194-10

• 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.

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2Chronicles 194-10

• 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."

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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

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2 Chronicles 203-4

• 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.

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2 Chronicles 209

• 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.

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2 Chronicles 2015-17

• 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 Gods.

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2 Chronicles 2015-17

• 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.

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2 Chronicles 2015-17

• 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."

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2 Chronicles 2020-24

• 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."

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2 Chronicles 2020-24

• 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."

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2 Chronicles 2020-24

• 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.

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2 Chronicles 2020-24

• 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.

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2 Chronicles 2020-24

• 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.

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2 Chronicles 2029-30, 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.

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Battle with Moab Amnon

• Found in the 3rd chapter of 2 Kings
• A somewhat obscure reference
• No comments by Bro. Russell

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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

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2 Kings 310-13

• 10 Then the king of Israel said, "Alas! For the
  LORD has called these three kings to give them
  into the hand of Moab."

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2 Kings 310-12

• 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 Israels servants
  answered and said, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is
  here, who used to pour water on the hands of
  Elijah."

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2 Kings 310-12

• 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.

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2 Kings 313-18

• 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."

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2 Kings 313-18

• 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.

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2 Kings 313-18

• 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.

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2 Kings 313-18

• 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.

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2 Kings 322-23

• 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!"

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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

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2 Kings 324-26

• 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.

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2 Kings 324-26

• 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

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2 Kings 324-26

• 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.

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2 Kings 327

• 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.

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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

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