Jehoshaphat in Chronicles and Kings
A Synopsis by Ralph W. Klein
© 2000 by Ralph W. Klein
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2 Chronicles |
1 Kings |
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Vannutelli 148 continued 17:1 Jehoshaphat (870-845) became king and strengthened himself against (or over) Israel. |
15:24b Jehoshaphat (870-845) became king |
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Vannutelli 149 15:25-31 Reign of Nadab (909-908). Baasha (908-885) killed Nadab in the third year of Asa (911-870) and became king. |
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Vannutelli 150 15:32-16:6 War between Asa and Baasha all their days. Jehu son of Hanani delivered judgment oracle against Baasha. His son Elah (885-884) succeeded him. |
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Vannutelli 151 16:7-10 Elah reigned for two years. Zimri (884) killed him. |
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Vannutelli 152 16:11-20 Zimri killed all the house of Baasha and reigned for seven days. Omri (884-873) made king by the army and Zimri committed suicide. |
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Vannutelli 153 16:21-28 Omri defeated forces of Tibni (884-880?). Omri began in 31st year of Asa. Omri purchased Samaria and was succeeded by his son Ahab (873-852). |
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Vannutelli 154 16:29-34 Ahab began to reign in Asa’s 38th year. He married Jezebel, daughter of the king of the Sidonians. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal. Hiel built Jericho, but lost his two sons because of word of Joshua (Josh 6:36). |
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Vannutelli 155 17:1-24 Elijah predicted a drought, stayed with a widow at Zarephath, and revived her son. |
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Vannutelli 156 18:1-46 Elijah sent message to Ahab via Obadiah. Elijah challenged Ahab to a contest on Mt. Carmel. When Elijah won the contest, the people cried, "Yahweh is God." Elijah killed all the prophets of Baal. Possessed by God’s spirit, Elijah ran 17 miles to Jezreel in front of Ahab’s chariot. |
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Vannutelli 157 19:1-21 Elijah went to Mt. Horeb and heard "sound of sheer silence." Yahweh told him to anoint Hazael as king of Aram, Jehu as king over Israel and Elisha as prophet. Elijah found Elisha, who then followed him. |
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Vannutelli 158 20:1-43 Ben-hadad of Aram attacked Samaria, but was routed by Ahab, who was supported by an anonymous prophet. Ben-hadad returned the next spring, but Ahab, supported by a man of God, killed 100,000 of them. A wall fell on another 27,000. Ben-hadad begged for his life and Ahab made a treaty with him. A lion killed a disobedient prophet. A blind-folded prophet condemned Ahab to death for letting Ben-hadad go. |
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Vannutelli 159 21:1-29 Naboth’s vineyard appropriated by Ahab. Elijah delivered judgment oracle against Ahab and Jezebel. When Ahab humbled himself, Yahweh decided to delay the judgment to Ahab’s son’s days. |
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Vannutelli 160 17:2-19 Jehoshaphat set prefects in Judah (cf. 2 Chr 21:3, where his sons are given these cities) and Ephraim (conquered by his father Asa = 2 Chr 16:6; cf. 2 Chr 13:19). He walked in the earlier ways of his father [so LXX=Asa; MT: adds David] and did not seek the Baals. All Judah brought tribute; he had great riches (v. 5; cf. 18:1). He removed high places and sacred poles (asherahs; also removed by his father Asa in 14:2). In 20:33 (1 Kgs 22:44 [43]) these high places were not removed. This same contradiction is found in the account of Asa (see 2 Chr 14:2 vs. 15:17//1 Kgs 15:14). 3rd year (previously co-regent with Asa?): sent 15 officials (5 laity; 8 Levites [Tob-adonijah is a dittography], and 2 priests) to teach in cities of Judah. They had book of the law (for Chronicler = Pentateuch; historically = some other law code?) with them. The fear of Yahweh was on surrounding kingdoms; they did not attack (v. 10). Philistines and Arabs brought him tribute. Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater; great building program in Judah. Muster of Judah in Jerusalem: Adnah commander of 300,000. Jehohanan (cf. 2 Chr 23:1) with 280,000. Amasiah (who volunteered for Yahweh) with 200,000. Muster of Benjamin: Eliada with 200,000; Jehozabad with 180,000. Total: 1,160,000. Other troops were stationed in other Judean cities. |
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Vannutelli 161 18:1-2 Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor (cf. 17:5b), but he made a marriage alliance with Ahab (=marriage of Jehoram (851-843/842) and Athaliah (842/841-835) [2 Chr 22:10-23:15]), the daughter of Ahab (2 Kgs 8:18) or Omri (2 Kgs 8:26). Opposition to alliances is also found in 16:1-4; 20:35-37; 25:6-8; 28:16-23. Jehoshaphat went down to Ahab to Samaria. Ahab prepared a great sacrificial feast of sheep and cattle and seduced (cf. 1 Chr 21:1) Jehoshaphat to go to Ramoth-gilead. |
22:1-3 Jehoshaphat went down to the king of Israel (without explicit motivation). King of Israel: "Ramoth-Gilead belongs to us. We have done nothing to take it from king of Aram." Omits sacrifice of Ahab. |
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18:3-34 Only lengthy text about the Northern Kingdom in Chronicles. Ahab (vv. 1-3, 19): Will you go with me? 400 prophets urged the two kings to fight. King of Israel mentioned a missing prophet Micaiah, whom he hated. Zedekiah: With these horns you will gore the Arameans. Micaiah: Whatever my God says, that I will speak. Go up and triumph. King rebuked Micaiah, who then said: I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains. A lying spirit in the divine council volunteered to entice prophets. Zedekiah rebuked Micaiah, and king put Micaiah in prison. Micaiah: If you return in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me. King of Israel and Jehoshaphat went to battle. Ahab disguised himself, but urged Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes (v 29). When Jehoshaphat cried out, Yahweh helped him, and God seduced (cf. v. 2 and 2 Chr 21:1) the enemy away from him. A soldier accidentally shot the king of Israel with an arrow, and he died at the end of the day. |
22:4-35 Similar. Ahab is not identified by name in the text until v. 20 (cf. vv. 39-41, 49, 51). DeVries identifies the kings of north and south in this battle as Joram (851-842/841) and Ahaziah (843/842-842/841). Miller detects two battles in the chapter, one involving Joram and Ahaziah and the other involving Jehoahaz of the north (819-804/3) and possibly Joash of Judah (805-790).
Omits Yahweh helped him (homoioarchton), but clause is preserved in Lucianic LXX. + the blood from the wound had flowed to the bottom of the chariot. |
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22:36-40 A shout: "Every man to his own country!" King of Israel was buried in Samaria. They washed the chariot, and the dogs licked up the blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it to fulfill word of the Lord. V. 39 The rest of the acts of Ahab…are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel? Ahaziah (852-851) succeeded Ahab. |
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Vannutelli 162 19:1-3 Jehoshaphat returned safely to Jerusalem. The seer Jehu (cf. 1 Kgs 16:1, 7 where this man prophesies as a "prophet" in the north vs. Baasha; cf. v. 34) ben Hanani (2 Chr 16:7 Hanani comes to Asa) rebuked Jehoshaphat for helping Ahab ("Should one help the wicked and love those who hate Yahweh?") and announced that wrath has gone out against Jehoshaphat), but admitted that there was indeed some good in Jehoshaphat ("some good is found in you") in that the king had destroyed the sacred poles (cf. 17:6). The judicial reform in 19:4-11 and the war against Edom (20) demonstrate the effects of his goodness. |
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19:4-11 Jehoshaphat took up residence in Jerusalem and brought people back to Yahweh from Beer-sheba to Ephraim (cf. 17:7-9). He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of Judah (cf. 17:2 and contrast Deut 16:18-20).
He appointed Levites, priests, and heads of families in Jerusalem to decide disputed cases and instruct kindred in certain cases. Amariah the chief priest (1 Chr 6:11) was over them in all matters of Yahweh, and Zebadiah, the governor of the house of Judah (Deut 17:9 "judge"), in all the king’s matters. Levites served as officers. |
Deut 16:18 You shall appoint judges and officers throughout your tribes, in all your towns. Deut 17:8 If a judicial decision is too difficult for you to make…then you shall immediately go to the place that Yahweh your God will choose, 9 where you shall consult with the levitical priests and the judge….10 Carry out exactly the decision they announce. Chronicles is typologically older than these laws.
Civil law and sacral law were differentiated only when there was no longer a king in Israel. Hence Chronicles is typologically late here. Are Amariah and Zebadiah historical? |
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Vannutelli 163 20:1-30 Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast (1 Chr 10:12) when he was attacked by the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites [Meunites in LXX; Edomites take their place in vv. 10, 22-23. MT: Ammonites]. The enemy was stationed at Hazazon-tamar (En-gedi). In a prayer (vv. 6-12), the king rehearsed the history of Israel (conquest, building of temple). King appealed to Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple (6:28, 34) and God’s promise to answer it (7:12-14). Nations that had been spared at the time of the conquest now attacked. Jehoshaphat expressed his trust. A Levite Jahaziel from the sons of Asaph (1 Chr 6:31-47) spoke by the spirit and urged the people and the king not to fear since victory would come through God (vv. 14-17). He mentions the ascent of Ziz and the wilderness of Jeruel (v. 16). Despite the large army from Judah and Benjamin (17:14-18), the people were not to fight. King and people bowed down, and Levites (of the Kohathites and Korahites) stood to praise. Jehoshaphat (v. 20): Believe in Yahweh your God and you will be established; believe his prophets (cf. Isa 7:9; prophets include Jahaziel and other Levites). Singers: "Give thanks to Yahweh for his loyalty lasts forever." Yahweh set an ambush: Ammonites and Moabites attacked Mount Seir and then killed one another. No one escaped, and Jehoshaphat took much booty for three days. On fourth day they held an assembly in Valley of Beracah (blessing). All returned to Jerusalem with joy and music. Fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries (v. 29; cf. 17:10). God gave Jehoshaphat rest (1 Chr 22:9). |
Cf. 2 Kings 3. |
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Vannutelli 164 20:31-34 Jehoshaphat became king at 35 and reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. He walked in the way of his father Asa. High places were not removed (but see 17:6 where they and the sacred poles were removed!) and people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their ancestors.
v. 34 The rest of his acts…are written in the Annals of Jehu (2 Chr 19:2-3) son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel. |
22:41-47 (46) Similar. Adds: In fourth year of Ahab (873-852) Jehoshaphat (870-845) began to reign..
v. 44 (43) High places not removed and people sacrificed and burned incense in high places.
v. 45 (44) Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. v. 46 (45) The rest of his acts…How he waged war….are they not written in the book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? Cf. v. 39. v. 47 (46) removed "cult prostitutes" |
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Vannutelli 165
20:35-37 Jehoshaphat made a pact with Ahaziah of Israel and this was an evil act (contrast NRSV: Ahaziah, who did wickedly; note how Jehoshaphat’s reign began with consolidation against the north [2 Chr 17:1]). They built ships at Ezion-geber to go to Tarshish. Eliezer son of Dodavahu prophesied against Jehoshaphat that ships would be destroyed because of alliance with Ahaziah. Ships were wrecked in fulfillment of prophecy. |
22:48-50 (47-49) No king in Edom; instead, a deputy was king (in 2 Kings 3 Edom is led into its battle by its king). Jehoshaphat made ships of the Tarshish type to go to Ophir, but they were wrecked at Ezion-geber. King Ahaziah offers to let his servants go with servants of Jehoshaphat in ships, but Jehoshaphat refused. |
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21:1 Jehoshaphat slept with his ancestors (as a result of the preceding incident?) and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. Succeeded by Jehoram 851-843/842) [husband of Athaliah (841/841-835)]. |
22:51 (50) Identical |
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21:2-3 Jehoshaphat had distributed other sons around Judah in its fortified cities. |
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