Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.
Parallel translations
- KJV Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
- BSB Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
- 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 17:5Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
- 2 Chr 21:6He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did Ahab’s house; for he had Ahab’s daughter as his wife. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight.
- 2 Kgs 8:18He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did Ahab’s house; for he married Ahab’s daughter. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight.
- 2 Chr 19:2Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? Because of this, wrath is on you from before Yahweh.
- Matt 6:33But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
- 1 Kgs 21:25But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
- 2 Chr 1:11–15God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor yet have you asked for long life; but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king,
- 1 Kgs 16:31–33As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
- 2 Chr 17:12Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.
- 2 Chr 22:2–3Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
- 2 Chr 18:31When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
- 2 Kgs 8:26–27Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
- 2 Kgs 11:1Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring.
- 2 Cor 6:14Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
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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.
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