And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for Yahweh’s word.”
- BSB But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”
- NKJV Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”
- NASB However, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please request the word of the Lord first.”
- NLT Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.”
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
Before committing to battle, Jehoshaphat rightly insists on first seeking the LORD's word.
Overview
Amid his compromised alliance, Jehoshaphat's instinct to consult Yahweh shows the genuine faith that still marked him. Seeking God's guidance before action is the pattern of the righteous. Yet the request comes after he has already pledged himself, exposing how partial obedience can blunt even sincere devotion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Jer 21:2Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
- 1 Sam 23:4Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
- 2 Sam 5:23And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
- 2 Sam 5:19And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
- 1 Sam 23:2Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
- 2 Sam 2:1And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
- 1 Sam 23:9–12And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
- 1 Kgs 22:5–6And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
- 2 Chr 34:26And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;
- Ezek 20:3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
- Ps 27:4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
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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 18:4 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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