Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.
- KJV Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
- NKJV Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab.
- NASB Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage to Ahab.
- NLT Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Despite his riches and honor, Jehoshaphat allies himself with Ahab through marriage. A godly king makes a dangerous alliance with a wicked house.
Overview
Already blessed with wealth and honor, Jehoshaphat needlessly binds himself to Ahab, the idolatrous king of Israel, likely by the marriage of his son to Athaliah. The Chronicler hints at the spiritual peril of such a union, which will bring lasting trouble to Judah. The episode warns that even faithful believers can compromise by yoking themselves to the ungodly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Chr 17:5So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.
- 2 Chr 21:6And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Kgs 8:18And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Chr 19:2Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
- Matt 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- 1 Kgs 21:25(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.
- 2 Chr 1:11–15God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king—
- 1 Kgs 16:31–33And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
- 2 Chr 17:12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah
- 2 Chr 22:2–3Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.
- 2 Chr 18:31When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “This is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him.
- 2 Kgs 8:26–27Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.
- 2 Kgs 11:1When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
- 2 Cor 6:14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 18:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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