why did jehoshaphat ally himself with ahab why did jehoshaphat ally himself with ahab

Lets explore some of these verses. When battle is joined, Ahab's plan seems to work. God's people needed three days to carry off the plunder. (NIV), 2 Chronicles 20:32-33He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Ahaziah's parents brought Baal worship into the land and turned God's . Secondly, Jehoshaphat teaches us the importance of breaking the familial cycle of mistakes. Jehoshaphat did so because he did not want to offend Ahab. Only through the intervention of God did Jehoshaphat escape. With whom did Jehoshaphat ally himself with by marriage? Micaiah was brought out from prison (1 Kings 22:26 indicates that he came from prison). Scholars have variously dated his reign to around 873-849 B.C.E. We will see what we can learn from this. He repented when he did wrong. And, sure enough, he predicts that Ahab will be killed and that this is Gods purpose. 1. How? q. The Lord will give you victory., 15 But Ahab replied, When you speak to me in the name of the Lord, tell the truth! Like Jehu told Jehoshaphat about his seeking an alliance with Ahab, he should not love those who hate the Lord. He was not satisfied with what God had given him, but was longing for something else among the nations around him. Jehoshaphat himself stepped before the congregated crowd and fervently implored Gd for help in this hour of distress, for the sake of His own glory and the salvation of His people. God intervened to help him. I. Ahab's proposal (18:1-3) As Jehoshaphat celebrated a feast with the most ungodly king Israel would know, Ahab hits him with a request. and it begins well in chapter 17. b. The Prophet Micaiah Warns Ahab (1 Kings 22.1-28)1 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. b. I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes: Going into the battle, Ahab did not want to be identified as a king and therefore be a special target. Recognized as perhaps the best king that the southern kingdom of Judah ever had, King Jehoshaphat did right in the sight of God with his intense desire to pursue God in his leadership. The way people who live righteously think is as different from those who disregard God's laws as day is from night (compare 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). In a long line of righteous and unrighteous kings that ruled in the northern and southern kingdoms, these men were both evil kings. Jehoshaphat in the Bible was the fourth king of Judah. i. An enormous army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites gathered at En Gedi, near the Dead Sea. Ahab (1 Kings 22.1-38; 2 Chr 18.1-19.3) Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab began when he "had riches and honour in abundance" (2 Chr 18.1). Jehoshaphat made a bad alliance with King Ahab, one of the most wicked kings in Israels history. 1. It appears to be a judgment ground for any nation who came up against Gods people, in a plot of land situated between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives or Kidron Valley. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. We will focus on 2 Chronicles 18. . If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. The Levites have the responsibility of seeing that the decisions of the courts are carried out. b. We begin with noting that there was 3 years without war between Syria and Israel. He was devoted to God in his heart and his actions. Even then, King Ahaziah did not humble himself and repent, as his father Ahab had done at least temporarily (1 Kings 21:17-29). Jehoshaphat was a powerful, prosperous king ( 2 Chr. Jesus stays behind in the temple. He prioritized the worship of Yahweh, the true God of Israel. You have removed all the symbols of the goddess Asherah which people worshiped, and you have tried to follow God's will., 4 Even though King Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, he traveled regularly among the people, from Beersheba in the south to the edge of the hill country of Ephraim in the north, in order to call the people back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Zavada, Jack. He went out with Ahab in battle, and was rebuked by Jehu the son of Hanani. But how did he die, if God protected him in the war in which Ahab drew him into? Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. A. Instead, Jehoshaphat removes places of worship to foreign gods such as Asherah poles, and he fortifies Israels defenses against their enemies. C. Putting anything ahead of God is idolatry. Yet it should be noted, as mentioned previously in the Bible Reading Program, that this was a common oversight attributed to most of Judah's righteous kings, and is perhaps equally if not more due to a lack of wholeheartedness in obeying God on the part of the nation. But Ahab devises what he thinks is a clever plan to avoid the fate prophesied by Micaiah. He went out with Ahab in battle, and was rebuked by Jehu the son of Hanani. In the eighteenth year of his reign Jehosaphat visited Ahab in Samaria, and nearly lost his life accompanying his ally to the siege of Ramoth-Gilead. God did it, says the man of faith. (Morgan), iii. Ahab was greatly influenced towards wickedness by his Phoenician wife Jezebel. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. The rest of chapter 19 he went back to reforming Judah. 3 But even so, there is some good in you. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. Meet King Pharaoh: Arrogant Egyptian Ruler, Biography of King Solomon: The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived, Battle of Jericho Bible Story Study Guide, Scripture Readings for the Fourth Week of Lent, Crossing of the Jordan River Bible Study Guide, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. He accomplishes a great deal in the last 25 years of his life, ushering Israel into a time of prosperity and military fortitude. Scripture tells us to exercise discernment, especially with those in whom we place our trust. He made his son, Jehoram, marry Ahab's daughter. 1 a After the death of Ahab, Moab b rebelled against Israel. THEN he made another disastrous treaty with wicked King Ahaziah which resulted in all their ships wrecked. When his death became known the battle was over. Jeremiah 27-28), based on this occasion on the horns as a symbol of strength. (Selman). Ahab, the father of the daughter, attempts to draw king Jehoshaphat into a war that God does not approve of. Similarly, John tells us Do not love the world or the things in the world. It forced him to comprise his faithfulness to God being away from his job of leading Judah, helping the wicked; participating in the persecution of a true prophet Micaiah. He went out with Ahab in battle, and was rebuked by Jehu the son of Hanani. When choices come along, you may want to keep your commitment to God, but you have to act in a way that works for the unbeliever as well. He required these judges to be just, impartial, and take no bribes, for they "do not judge according to man but the Lord" (see 2 Chronicles 19:4-10). Jehoshaphat and Ahab. He repented when he did wrong. If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. Ahab induced or enticed him to form a league with him to retake a disputed city in northern Israel Ramoth-gilead. Zavada, Jack. Although God protects Jehoshaphat, the king should not have made this friendship in the first place. His story is told in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 17-20. i. He strengthened himself against Israel [2 Chr 17:1], the Lord was with him [2 Chr 17:3], his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord [2 Chr 17:6], he authorized the teaching of the words of God throughout Judah [2 Chr 17:7-9], the fear of God . For God had previously caused the "fear of the Lord [to fall] over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat" (2 Chron. We will look at this briefly to set the stage. Generally speaking, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, walked in the way of God. He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab, 18:2 and after several years went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab knew in his heart that Micaiah would not fear or flatter him, but only declare the word of Jehovah. Following that disaster, Jehoshaphat appointed judges throughout Judah to deal fairly with the people's disputes. This suggests that Jehoshaphat was a strong and effective leader, who worked hard to consolidate his power and improve Judah's position. Jehoshaphat (also spelled Jehoshaphat or Yehoshafat) ( , " Yahweh is judge," Hebrew: Yhoafat) was the son and successor of Asa and king of Judah. To be sure, this is a case of misguided judgment. Together they built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir to collect gold, but God disapproved and the ships were wrecked before they could set sail. Ahab proceeds to imprison Micaiah. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. An Unholy Alliance. What you have done has brought the Lord's anger on you. This chapter lists King Davids bodyguards, a variant form of the name Jehoshaphat within the mix. He was the son of Ahab and Jezebel, who were among the most wicked rulers Israel ever had. But the Valley of Jehoshaphat does seem to be a judgment stomping ground for the enemies of Gods people. King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to help him in this dispute against Syria. Will the actions of orthodox Anglicans be as strong as their words post-Kigali? He had amassed "riches and honor in abundance" ( 2Chronicles 18 . This is what the LORD says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 28 Then King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to attack the city of Ramoth in Gilead. His wife was Jezebel, the infamous queen. He attempts to make peace with the northern kingdom of Israel but ends up getting tangled in some bad friendships along the way. Yet he was willing to listen to the king of Judah when he advised that Ahab should listen to the prophet Micaiah. 19 The Lord asked, Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and get killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, 20 until a spirit stepped forward, approached the Lord, and said, I will deceive him. How? the Lord asked. You shouldn't say that! Jehoshaphat replied. Wait a minute! "Evil communications corrupt good manners."*. 30 The king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders to attack no one else except the king of Israel. I got my facts mixed up. To honor Jehoshaphat and those with him, Ahab had a large number of sheep and cattle slaughtered for a feast. 1 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem. Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. b. Some other examples include a recorder for both king David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:16) and a purveyor for Solomon (1 Kings 4:17). Joining Forces with Ahab - CRIES from among US! Who Were the 12 Disciples of Jesus? To honor his ally's request, Ahab had Micaiah brought to the court. In other words, he should not have made a partnership with an evil king, who was Gods enemy. Although Jehoshaphat didn't die from the friendship, he made a massive mistake by trusting the . This king did great things in the name of the Lord, and yet, we dont christen any children after this king from the kingdom of Judah. That brought further stability to his kingdom. This was in fulfillment of what Isaac foretold many centuries before (Genesis 27:39,40). Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel. So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel! Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God diverted them from him. (see 2 Chronicles 17:10-12). i. Vs. 28 - Micaiah does not back down. He was rescued on the battlefield and was allowed to continue as king. Jehoshaphat made a disastrous treaty with AHAB (as in Ahab and Jezebel). Not even his vast army is a match for the joint forces of the invaders. He certainly did not walk in Gods ways. You can check these in your browser security settings. He improved the military and financial prowess of the southern kingdom. Jehoshaphat immediately agreed to go, but asked that they first inquire of the Lord. This might have daunted the good prophet, but that he had lately seen the Lord sitting upon His throne with all the host of heaven standing by Him, and hence he so boldly looked in the face these two kings in their majesty; for he beheld them as so many mice. (Trapp). Now when Jehoshaphat learned a great army has come against him ( 2 Chronicles 20:1-2 ), he immediately realized three things. And persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead: Previously, the king of Syria promised to return certain cities to Israel (1 Kings 20:34) in exchange for leniency after defeat in battle. He allied with Ahab's house by marrying his son (Jehoram) to Ahab's daughter (Athaliah) (18:1). May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. 10 Whenever your fellow citizens from any of the cities bring before you a case of homicide or any other violation of a law or commandment, you must instruct them carefully how to conduct themselves during the trial, so that they do not become guilty of sinning against the Lord. . A Chronological Daily Bible Study of the Old Testament 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and a Practical Daily Application. The Lord has made these prophets of yours lie to you. . Thats old? Indeed, in ancient times, life expectancies didnt really exceed much beyond the age of 50. We also should not go about longing for what the world has. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. There is a well-intentioned but mistaken teaching that God can allow no evil in His presence, meaning that Satan and other fallen angels could not be in His presence. No matter how powerful and persuasive the presentation, their message was unfaithful. This is a stark change in policy from 17:1, where Jehoshaphat had strengthened himself against Israel. Christian family to appeal after court dismisses school Pride parade complaint, British public don't want a secular coronation, poll finds, Relic of crucifixion cross to be used in King Charles' coronation, Challenged by the faith of those who suffer. God will give you victory., 6 But Jehoshaphat asked, Isn't there another prophet through whom we can consult the Lord?, 7 Ahab answered, There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. 2 Chronicles 18 tells the story of an unlikely partnership: Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, and Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, joined together to make war against Syria.Before going to battle, Jehoshaphat was intent on asking God's will. I'm wounded! he cried out to his chariot driver. Soon after this, Moab, Ammon and Edom declared war against Jehoshaphat. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. 8 So King Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once. i. It was an opportunity to walk away, but he did not take it. God orchestrated the unintended actions of man to result in an exercise of His judgment. It wasnt surprising that Ahab picked prophets who would tell them what they wanted to hear. 18:1 Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. When we hear the name of Jehoshaphat some of us may be thinking of the Valley of Jehoshaphat mentioned in Joel 3:2 and Joel 3:12. 7-27) should have alerted Jehoshaphat to the true character of the man he had befriended. They go to battle, but Ahab tries to be deceitful. You compromise your faithfulness to God, but you will get nothing from it. On His right hand and His left: Since the right hand was the place of favor, this may indicate that God spoke to the combined host of heaven, both faithful and fallen angelic beings. A Chronological Daily Bible Study regarding the Old Testament 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and a Practical Almost Claim. Perhaps some hesitation on his part? . 1 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. The man on the left is generally considered to be Jehoshaphat. In fact, Jehoshaphat was so blessed that aside from different nations or groups bringing tribute to him, he built citadels and storehouses in Judah, signifying much abundance. Asa also did what was right in God's eyes and led Judah in a series of religious reforms. After all, the dangerous one he made almost got him killed. (see 2 Chronicles 19). Check out her books at hopebolinger.comfor clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. 1 Kings 21:25 There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. We will be with you in the war 2 Chronicles 18:3. He used horns of iron to illustrate the thrust of two powerful forces, armies that would rout the Syrians. At sunset he died. A bold and faithful follower of Yahweh, Jehoshaphat consulted God's prophets before making decisions and credited God for every victory. And finally, Jehoshaphat slinks back to Jerusalem, humiliated by his bad decision. Ahab had wanted to restore back what materially belonged to them but spiritually he . Jehoshaphat, the fourth king of Judah, followed after his father, King Asa, and David's footsteps. Three years later, Aram had failed to return the cities that Ben-hadad promised and so Ahab decides to go and take them for himself. Pingback: Joining Forces with Ahab - CRIES from among US! Thankfully, Jehoshaphat repented and returned to his true love: God. May we learn from Jehoshaphat, so that we will not make the same mistakes. And the Lord said, These men have no leader; let them go home in peace., 17 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, I told you that he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad!, 18 Micaiah went on: Now listen to what the Lord says! b. Jehoshaphat in the Bible was the fourth king of Judah. Though disguised, Ahab is killed and Israel is defeated. (NIV), 2 Chronicles 20:15He said: Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire for the word of the LORD today. Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain? So they said, Go up, for God will deliver it into the kings hand. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him? So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. Zedekiah had the agreement of 400 other prophets (all the prophets prophesied so). He cried out to the LORD and was rescued when they turned back from pursuing him. 2. "Who Is Jehoshaphat in the Bible?" Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab. LICENSEE shall reproduce the following trademark and trademark notice on the copyright page of each copy of the Licensed Products: Read the surrounding text of 2 Chronicles 18:1-19:11. Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel: Ahabs previous mercy to Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 20:31-34) did not win any lasting favor with the rulers of Syria. And then we have one of the most interesting stories in the Bible, which we cant get into in detail, but with regard to our focus . His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. Here Micaiah explained the message of the 400 prophets. i. The Lord will give you victory., 12 Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same., 13 But Micaiah answered, By the living Lord I will say what my God tells me to!, 14 When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him, Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?, Attack! Micaiah answered. He made an alliance with marriage with Ahab, 18:2 plus after several years went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. No-one did more to educate the people of God than this man and that's why he's often known as Judah's great teacher, or Judah's teacher-king. God looked with favor on Jehoshaphat, strengthening his kingdom and making him wealthy. a. This strange incident can only be understood against the background of other Old Testament passages, especially Deuteronomy 13:11 and Ezekiel 14:1-11. both these passages speak of people being enticed by false prophets, in each case as a result of a link with idolatry. (Selman), Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you? And Micaiah said, Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide! Then the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the kings son; and say, Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace. But Micaiah said, If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Take heed, all you people!. The partnership between godly Jehoshaphat and wicked Ahab was repulsive to God. The people's hearts were turned from the false worship of Baal that was present in the land during his time in power. Article Images Copyright , Lessons From the Bible Story of King Jehoshaphat. Previous kings had sought the help of foreign gods such as Baal. Unsurprisingly, Ahab still goes into battle. God brought Judgement on Ahab; he would not listen to Elijah and was bent on his evil ways. Registered in England and Wales 5090917, Christian Today, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN, God is on the move in the broken Anglican Communion, Church of England bishops urged 'to step back from the brink' on same-sex blessings, Lessons for today from the Salem Witch Trials. Handling problems in Christian relationships, Letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation, Paul to the Thessalonians. We can assume, from the lack of gory details, that he ended his life in peace and passed away from natural causes. The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.. r. Vs. 29-40 describes the battle. Ahab summoned 400 of his prophets, all of whom, unsurprisingly, foretold victory. Thus doth the unthankful infidel repay the mercy of his late victorbut God had a holy hand in it. (Trapp). In order to succeed, he solicited the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Chapter 22. We know of many good kings of Israel because we name our children after them: David, Josiah, Jedidiah (Solomon). You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. He said, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.". b. Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him: Finding himself as the only identifiable king in the battle, Jehoshaphat found himself quickly in danger. These are but some of Jehoshaphat's achievements. 2 Kings 18:6He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. But we also know that only some good kings came from the Kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat being one of them. Answer (1 of 3): The tone of the book, especially in that chapter, shows Jehoshapat as a humble man who obeys God, and Ahab as a reckless man who does only as he thinks right, without thinking of anything but what he means to do. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. 17:10-13 ). Although Jehoshaphat didnt die from the friendship, he made a massive mistake by trusting the wrong person. 1. After King Ahaziah's death (1:18), his brother Jehoram (called Joram in 8:25), another son of evil King Ahab, became king over Israel since Ahaziah himself had no son (1:17; 3:1). Zavada, Jack. Ahab got King Jehoshaphat of Judah to ally himself with him in war against Ramoth-gilead then held by the Syrians. Unless you do, you and your fellow citizens will feel the force of the Lord's anger. Jehoshaphat stumbles as well. Ahab was a king of Israel, first mentioned in 1 Kings 16. So Ahab brings out . Romans 12:19-21, A true test of character: How you treat those weaker than you, Come to Jesus and find rest. We are first introduced to him in 1 Kings 15:24 but are told nothing more than that he succeeded Asa. Ungodly partners can lead to spiritual compromise (see 1 Corinthians 15:33). More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. It was a certain man, and he pulled his bow at random but it struck as if it were a sin-seeking missile, hitting right between the joints of his armor. ii. Unlike today, many mothers in Ancient Israel decided to name their children Jehoshaphat. i. So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead? And he answered him, I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.. To pry into the future King Ahab religiously consulted his false prophets, about four hundred of them. Jehu says, Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? 19:2. Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, Thus says the LORD: With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the kings hand.. Then Ahab persuades Jehoshaphat to go into battle dressed in his royal robes, whilst Ahab disguises himself so he cannot be recognised in battle (vv. It may be that Jehoshaphat had a fatalistic attitude towards the will of God, figuring that if it all was Gods will then there was nothing he or anyone else could do about it. "Who Is Jehoshaphat in the Bible?" Who Was Isaiah & Why Was He Important? He said similar words to the 400 unfaithful prophets, but delivered a completely different message. Ahab did so because he hated God and his ways. King Jehoshaphat comes to Samaria to visit with Ahab. Micaiah who always prophesies bad things about Ahab. He drove out the male cult prostitutes and destroyed the Asherah poles where the people had worshiped false gods. i. 18 Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab's daughter. But he did not do all that he should have, as he did not remove all the high places from Judah (2 Chronicles 20:33). We will join you. 4 Then he added, But first let's consult the Lord., 5 So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them, Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?, Attack it, they answered. Without God's help, we can do nothing worthwhile. . King Jehoshaphat led a mostly prosperous life. King Ahab said that he wanted the truth but he couldnt handle the truth. He had a total of more than 1.1 million fighting men in his core force, in addition to those he had placed in different areas (see 2 Chronicles 17:14-19). b. But, not only that, so many times our sin ends up wounding those we love more than us. Through which remaining prophet did Ahab say they could inquire of the Lord. After all it was 400 to 1! Go up, for God will deliver it into the kings hand: When Ahab gathered the prophets, they were not faithful prophets of the LORD. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/jehoshaphat-king-of-judah-4114131. Theologians have squabbled over this issue for centuries, and since the passage in Joel is prophetic in nature, we cant definitely say we know what it means. 4 Things You May Not Know About Abraham in the Bible 20 Facts You May Not Know About Moses from the Bible Who Was Mary Magdalene in the Bible? Jehosaphat being a spiritual man wanted to know the will of God, concerning their going to Ramoth Gilead. When Jehoshaphat took over the throne, he quickly established himself as a righteous ruler who feared the Lord. Ahab wanted Micaiah imprisoned and deprived (feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction). Yet on the other hand very few men did more than Jehoshaphat to bring the nation to the brink of ruin. a. After King Ahaziah's death (1:18), his brother Jehoram (called Joram in 8:25), another son of evil King Ahab, became king over Israel since Ahaziah himself had no son (1:17; 3:1). Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of the southern kingdom of Judah, the son of Asa, of the line of David. His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord" - 2 Chronicles 17:3-6.