Jehoshaphat's Reign in Judah
1 Kings 22:41-50
1 K.22.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהושפט: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- על: PREP
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- בשנת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ארבע: NUM,card,f
- לאחאב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,prop
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2Chr.17.1 (structural): Chronicles' parallel account of Jehoshaphat's accession—repeats the beginning of his reign and provides the Chronicler's perspective on the same event.
- 1Kgs.22.42 (structural): Immediate continuation in Kings: the next verse continues the royal formula about Jehoshaphat's conduct and the length/location of his reign, forming one accession summary with 22:41.
- 1Kgs.16.29 (verbal): Ahab’s accession notice (dated to Asa’s reign) uses the same cross-dating practice between Israel and Judah monarchs; 1 Kgs 22:41 reverses that relationship by dating Jehoshaphat to Ahab’s reign.
- 2Chr.20.31 (thematic): Later summary in Chronicles of Jehoshaphat’s reign (age on accession and years reigned); complements and expands the Kings’ accession notice in 1 Kgs 22:41.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
- Jehoshaphat son of Asa reigned over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
1 K.22.42 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- וחמש: CONJ+NUM,card,pl,abs
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- במלכו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ועשרים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- וחמש: CONJ+NUM,card,pl,abs
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אמו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- עזובה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- שלחי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 20:31 (quotation): Verbatim/near-verbatim parallel: repeats Jehoshaphat’s age at accession, length of reign in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name (Azubah daughter of Shilhi).
- 1 Kings 22:41 (structural): Immediate narrative context in the same royal formula—introduces Jehoshaphat (son of Asa) and situates the beginning of his reign, forming the paired biographical summary with v.42.
- 2 Chronicles 17:1-6 (thematic): Summary of Jehoshaphat’s early reign—strengthening Judah, walking in Asa’s ways, and the LORD’s favor; thematically linked to the biographical note in 1 Kgs 22:42 about his rule and character.
- 2 Chronicles 19:4-11 (thematic): Account of Jehoshaphat’s judicial and religious reforms as king—provides concrete actions that elaborate the brief regnal summary in 1 Kgs 22:42 and its assessment of his governance.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
- Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
1 K.22.43 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- סר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- הישר: ADJ,m,sg,def
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chron.20.31 (quotation): Parallel account in Chronicles: repeats the same claim that Jehoshaphat 'walked in the ways of his father Asa' and 'did not turn aside,' effectively a retelling of 1 Kgs 22:43.
- 1 Kgs.15.11 (verbal): Uses the same evaluative formula about Asa: 'Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD,' linking the character of Asa (whom Jehoshaphat is said to follow) with the praise in 1 Kgs 22:43.
- 2 Chron.17.3 (thematic): Chronicles elsewhere praises Jehoshaphat for walking in the earlier ways (of David) and for the LORD's favor—shows a thematic emphasis on a king's 'ways' and divine approval, and provides a different prototypal model (David) than Kings does (Asa).
- 2 Kgs.18.3 (verbal): Hezekiah is described with the identical royal formula 'he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD,' illustrating the recurring scriptural evaluative phrase applied to righteous kings.
Alternative generated candidates
- He walked in all the ways of his father Asa and did not turn from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.
- He walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn aside from doing what was right in the sight of the LORD.
1 K.22.44 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- הבמות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- סרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עוד: ADV
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מזבחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ומקטרים: CONJ+VERB,piel,ptcp,3,m,pl
- בבמות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 15:14 (verbal): Uses the same recurrent royal-summary formula — 'the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places' — indicating continued local high‑place worship despite reforms.
- 2 Kings 17:10–11 (thematic): Describes Israel's persistent worship on high places and burning of incense there, connecting the practice described in 1 Kgs 22:44 with the broader pattern of syncretistic worship that provoked prophetic judgment and exile.
- 2 Kings 21:3 (thematic): Reports Manasseh rebuilding the high places and causing Judah to sacrifice on them — a direct parallel in content (restoration/continuance of high‑place worship) to the situation noted in 1 Kgs 22:44.
- 2 Chronicles 33:3–7 (thematic): Narrates Manasseh's reinstitution of high‑place cults, including altars and child sacrifice; thematically parallels the continued high‑place sacrifices and incense mentioned in 1 Kgs 22:44.
Alternative generated candidates
- Nevertheless the high places were not removed; the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
- Nevertheless the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
1 K.22.45 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 22:1 (verbal): The opening verse of the chapter states the same fact that Jehoshaphat joined himself to Ahab king of Israel; a near-verbatim parallel within the same narrative.
- 2 Chronicles 18:1 (verbal): Chronicles retells the episode: Jehoshaphat had riches and honor and allied himself with Ahab—an explicit retelling of the Kings account.
- 2 Chronicles 19:2 (allusion): A prophetic rebuke to Jehoshaphat for aiding the wicked (Ahab); directly comments on the moral/theological problem posed by his alliance with Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 (thematic): A later episode where Jehoshaphat again forms a political alliance with a king of Israel (Ahaziah) to build ships—shows the recurring theme of Judah–Israel alliances and their negative outcome.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jehoshaphat allied himself with the king of Israel.
- And Jehoshaphat allied himself with the king of Israel.
1 K.22.46 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וגבורתו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,suff
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- נלחם: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- הלא: PART
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- כתובים: VERB,pual,ptcp,m,pl
- על: PREP
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- למלכי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
Parallels
- 2 Chr.20.34 (quotation): A direct Chronicles parallel to 1 Kgs 22:46 summarizing Jehoshaphat’s acts and wars and referring readers to the official royal records (same closing remark in the regnal summary).
- 1 Kgs.14.29 (verbal): Uses the same formula found throughout Kings: 'The rest of the acts of [the king]... are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah' — a standard regnal closing line (here applied to Rehoboam).
- 2 Chr.9.29 (structural): A comparable regnal closing for Solomon that directs the reader to a separate record of the king’s deeds (same literary function of citing an external 'book' for full details).
- 1 Kgs.11.41 (verbal): Another Kings passage that closes a king’s account with the same convention — referring readers to a written source containing the remainder of the king’s deeds and wisdom (Solomon’s regnal summary).
Alternative generated candidates
- The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might and the wars that he fought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
- Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his valor, and the wars in which he fought—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
1 K.22.47 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- הקדש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נשאר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בימי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- אסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- בער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Kings 15:14 (thematic): Referencing Asa and the persistence of cultic high places in his reign—parallels the idea that some sacred/abominable items remained (or were dealt with only partially) during Asa’s days.
- 2 Chronicles 14:3 (verbal): Describes Asa removing foreign altars, high places, pillars and Asherim—directly parallels the reforming/cleansing actions associated with Asa’s reign.
- 2 Chronicles 15:8 (thematic): Speaks of removing foreign altars and high places in Judah and Benjamin during a reform; thematically parallels the eradication (or burning) of cultic objects mentioned in the verse.
- 2 Chronicles 15:16 (verbal): Records Asa cutting down the image of his mother Maacah and burning it by the brook Kidron—explicitly parallels the language of burning cultic objects 'from the land.'
Alternative generated candidates
- And the remaining sacred things that were left in the days of Asa his father were consumed from the land.
- And the remnant of the sacred things that remained in the days of Asa his father were burned out of the land.
1 K.22.48 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- באדום: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נצב: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
Parallels
- Judges 17:6 (verbal): Uses the same formula, "In those days there was no king in Israel," highlighting absence of centralized kingship and local/alternative rulers — a verbal parallel to Edom's lack of a king.
- Judges 21:25 (verbal): Repeats the refrain "there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes," underscoring the consequence and social context of having no sovereign — parallel wording and theme to Edom's leadership situation.
- 1 Samuel 8:6–7 (thematic): Israel's request for a king and God's response treats the issue of centralized monarchy and its necessity; thematically contrasts/illuminates the political reality expressed by 'no king in Edom.'
- Obadiah 1:1–4 (allusion): An oracle addressing Edom's political vulnerability and fate; thematically connected to statements about Edom's rulership and the consequences of its political condition.
Alternative generated candidates
- There was no king in Edom; a deputy was set over the land.
- And there was no king in Edom; a king was established.
1 K.22.49 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אניות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- תרשיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ללכת: VERB,qal,inf
- אופירה: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- לזהב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- הלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- נשברו: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,pl
- אניות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בעציון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גבר: NOUN,m,sg,prop
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 (structural): Chronicles retells the same episode: Jehoshaphat joins with Ahaziah to make ships at Ezion‑geber to go to Tarshish/Ophir, and the ships are broken (a parallel narrative of the failed venture).
- 1 Kings 9:26-28 (verbal): Solomon’s account: he built a fleet at Ezion‑geber and the ships went to Ophir and brought back gold—shares the same locations (Ezion‑geber, Ophir) and maritime project for obtaining gold.
- 1 Kings 10:22 (thematic): Describes the ‘ships of Tarshish’ bringing gold from Ophir; parallels the purpose and terminology (Tarshish ships, Ophir, import of gold) of Jehoshaphat’s intended voyage.
- 2 Chronicles 8:17-18 (verbal): Another Chronicles passage recounting Solomon’s navy at Ezion‑geber and sailors/Hiram’s men bringing gold from Ophir—verbal and thematic overlap with the locations and commercial voyage in 1 Kgs 22:49.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-Geber.
- Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold; but they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-Geber.
1 K.22.50 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אז: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אחזיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- עם: PREP
- עבדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,2ms
- באניות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- אבה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 (structural): Parallel account of the same episode: Jehoshaphat joins with Ahaziah to build ships at Ezion‑geber for a sea-voyage; Chronicles expands the outcome (the ships are broken and the voyage fails).
- 2 Chronicles 18:1-3 (thematic): Earlier narrative of the political alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab (their cooperation at Ramoth‑Gilead); provides background for the cooperative/ambivalent relationship that makes the request to sail together plausible.
- 1 Kings 22:41-44 (structural): Immediate literary context summarizing Jehoshaphat’s reign and policies; situates verse 50 within the king’s broader relations with Israel and his ambivalent association with Ahab’s house.
- 2 Chronicles 21:6 (thematic): Record of the later consequences of Judah’s ties to Ahab’s family (Jehoram’s marriage to Ahab’s daughter and ensuing apostasy); thematically underscores the risks of alliances with Ahab’s house that frame the significance of Jehoshaphat’s refusal.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants on the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not consent.
- Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not consent.
Jehoshaphat son of Asa reigned over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty‑five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty‑five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
He walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD.
Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might, and the wars that he fought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And the remnant of the sacred things that remained in the days of Asa his father—he burned them out of the land.
There was no king in Edom; a governor was appointed over the land.
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion‑Geber.
Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat did not agree.