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jehoshaphat


jehoshaphat


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Jehoshaphat 
  Jehovah-judged.  (1.)  One  of  David's  body-guard  (1  Chr.  11:43). 
 
  (2.)  One  of  the  priests  who  accompanied  the  removal  of  the  ark 
  to  Jerusalem  (1  Chr.  15:24). 
 
  (3.)  Son  of  Ahilud,  recorder"  or  annalist  under  David  and 
  Solomon  (2  Sam.  8:16),  a  state  officer  of  high  rank,  chancellor 
  or  vizier  of  the  kingdom. 
 
  (4.)  Solomon's  purveyor  in  Issachar  (1  Kings  4:17). 
 
  (5.)  The  son  and  successor  of  Asa,  king  of  Judah.  After 
  fortifying  his  kingdom  against  Israel  (2  Chr.  17:1,  2),  he  set 
  himself  to  cleanse  the  land  of  idolatry  (1  Kings  22:43).  In  the 
  third  year  of  his  reign  he  sent  out  priests  and  Levites  over  the 
  land  to  instruct  the  people  in  the  law  (2  Chr.  17:7-9).  He 
  enjoyed  a  great  measure  of  peace  and  prosperity,  the  blessing  of 
  God  resting  on  the  people  "in  their  basket  and  their  store." 
 
  The  great  mistake  of  his  reign  was  his  entering  into  an 
  alliance  with  Ahab,  the  king  of  Israel,  which  involved  him  in 
  much  disgrace,  and  brought  disaster  on  his  kingdom  (1  Kings 
  22:1-33).  Escaping  from  the  bloody  battle  of  Ramoth-gilead,  the 
  prophet  Jehu  (2  Chr.  19:1-3)  reproached  him  for  the  course  he 
  had  been  pursuing,  whereupon  he  entered  with  rigour  on  his 
  former  course  of  opposition  to  all  idolatry,  and  of  deepening 
  interest  in  the  worship  of  God  and  in  the  righteous  government 
  of  the  people  (2  Chr.  19:4-11). 
 
  Again  he  entered  into  an  alliance  with  Ahaziah,  the  king  of 
  Israel,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  maritime  commerce  with 
  Ophir.  But  the  fleet  that  was  then  equipped  at  Ezion-gaber  was 
  speedily  wrecked.  A  new  fleet  was  fitted  out  without  the 
  co-operation  of  the  king  of  Israel,  and  although  it  was 
  successful,  the  trade  was  not  prosecuted  (2  Chr.  20:35-37;  1 
  Kings  22:48-49). 
 
  He  subsequently  joined  Jehoram,  king  of  Israel,  in  a  war 
  against  the  Moabites,  who  were  under  tribute  to  Israel.  This  war 
  was  successful.  The  Moabites  were  subdued;  but  the  dreadful  act 
  of  Mesha  in  offering  his  own  son  a  sacrifice  on  the  walls  of 
  Kir-haresheth  in  the  sight  of  the  armies  of  Israel  filled  him 
  with  horror,  and  he  withdrew  and  returned  to  his  own  land  (2 
  Kings  3:4-27). 
 
  The  last  most  notable  event  of  his  reign  was  that  recorded  in 
  2  Chr.  20.  The  Moabites  formed  a  great  and  powerful  confederacy 
  with  the  surrounding  nations,  and  came  against  Jehoshaphat.  The 
  allied  forces  were  encamped  at  Engedi.  The  king  and  his  people 
  were  filled  with  alarm,  and  betook  themselves  to  God  in  prayer. 
  The  king  prayed  in  the  court  of  the  temple,  "O  our  God,  wilt 
  thou  not  judge  them?  for  we  have  no  might  against  this  great 
  company  that  cometh  against  us."  Amid  the  silence  that  followed, 
  the  voice  of  Jahaziel  the  Levite  was  heard  announcing  that  on 
  the  morrow  all  this  great  host  would  be  overthrown.  So  it  was 
  for  they  quarrelled  among  themselves,  and  slew  one  another, 
  leaving  to  the  people  of  Judah  only  to  gather  the  rich  spoils  of 
  the  slain.  This  was  recognized  as  a  great  deliverance  wrought 
  for  them  by  God  (B.C.  890).  Soon  after  this  Jehoshaphat  died, 
  after  a  reign  of  twenty-five  years,  being  sixty  years  of  age, 
  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Jehoram  (1  Kings  22:50).  He  had 
  this  testimony,  that  "he  sought  the  Lord  with  all  his  heart"  (2 
  Chr.  22:9).  The  kingdom  of  Judah  was  never  more  prosperous  than 
  under  his  reign. 
 
  (6.)  The  son  of  Nimshi,  and  father  of  Jehu,  king  of  Israel  (2 
  Kings  9:2,  14). 
 
 
  From  Hitchcock's  Bible  Names  Dictionary  (late  1800's)  [hitchcock]: 
 
  Jehoshaphat,  the  Lord  is  judge