1 Kings 22:41-50

Judah's King Jehoshaphat

41 Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Israel's King Ahab.

42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king; he reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

43 He walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them but did what was right in the Lord's sight. However, the high places were not taken away;^[a] the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat's [reign], along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are written about in the Historical Record of Judah's Kings.

46 He removed from the land the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who were left from the days of his father Asa.^[b]

47 There was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.

48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish^[c] to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.^[d]

49 At that time, Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships," but Jehoshaphat was not willing.

50 Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his forefather David. His son Jehoram became king in his place.^[e][f]

1 Kings 22:41-50 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 22

This chapter relates, that after three years' peace with the king of Syria, Ahab was inclined to go to war with him, to take Ramothgilead out of his hands; and he drew in Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to join him in it, 1Ki 22:1-4, but before they went into it, they took advice, Ahab of his four hundred prophets, which Jehoshaphat not being satisfied with, a true prophet of the Lord, Micahah, was sent for, 1Ki 22:5-14 who, when he came, jeered Ahab with what his prophets had said to him; intimated that he should be killed, and explained it to him how he came to be deceived by his prophets, 1Ki 22:15-23 upon which he was smitten on the cheek by Zedekiah, one of the false prophets, and imprisoned by the order of Ahab, 1Ki 22:24-28, after which the two kings went to the battle, and Jehoshaphat was in great danger of his life; but Ahab was wounded, and died, 1Ki 22:29-40, and the chapter is concluded with an account of the reign of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 1Ki 22:41-50, and of Ahaziah king of Israel, 1Ki 22:51-53.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Syr, Vg read he did not remove the high places
• [b]. 1 Kg 15:12
• [c]. 1 Kg 10:22
• [d]. 1 Kg 9:26-28
• [e]. 2 Kg 8:16
• [f]. 2 Ch 20:31-21:1