2 Chronicles 18:1 – 34 Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab (1 Kings 22:1-12)
“Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. And some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him, and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead.
Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am like you, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”
But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”
So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?” The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied. So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”
Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’” And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab (1 Kings 22:13-28)
Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me.”
When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for they will be given into your hand.”
But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”
So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left. And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that. Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD. And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”
Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak to you?” Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”
And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’” But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”
Ahab’s Defeat and Death (1 Kings 22:29-40)
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” When 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.
And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!” The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. And at sunset he died.”
This passage is a little long; however, there is really no way to break it up without losing the point of the story. Probably desiring to eliminate Israel as a threat, Jehoshaphat marries one of Ahab’s daughters. Now, alliances are all well and good, but you need to be careful when forging them. Ahab is a wimpy idol worshiper dominated by his Baal – priestess wife, Jezebel. This daughter whom Jehoshaphat has married is likely also an idolater and therefore not a proper match for Jehoshaphat at all.
Perhaps Jehoshaphat marries Ahab’s daughter anticipating that he will then be able to manipulate Ahab. When Jehoshaphat visits Ahab, Ahab “sacrifices” many sheep and cattle for Jehoshaphat’s entourage and then urges him to partner with Ahab to attack Ramoth – gilead, a town east of the Jordan that is held by the Syrians. Jehoshaphat wants to please his father – in – law and makes a sweeping “my people are as your people” speech. But Jehoshaphat is also wise enough to ask that they first ask for God’s guidance.
Ahab assembles four hundred pagan prophets who all encourage him to attack Ramoth – gilead; however, Jehoshaphat realizes that these men are fakes and asks for a prophet of the Lord. Ahab admits that he does have one prophet of the Living God, Micaiah, but Micaiah never tells him what he wants to hear. True to form, Micaiah advises the kings that attacking Ramoth – gilead will end in disaster and that Ahab will die during the battle. Micaiah also adds that the lying spirit inspiring Ahab’s prophets is from the Lord, who has pronounced disaster against Ahab.
Ahab sulks and throws Micaiah in prison but then comes up with a “fool – proof” plan. Ahab convinces Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes while Ahab dresses like a common soldier. Ahab figures the Syrians will target Jehoshaphat and leave him alone; unfortunately, Ahab is wrong. When the Syrians begin attacking Jehoshaphat, he cries to the Lord for help and the Lord protects him. Then one Syrian soldier draws his bow and shoots an arrow at random; that arrow pierces Ahab through a gap in his armor. Ahab makes it out of the battle, but he dies at sunset and all the army scatters, just as Micaiah has prophesied.
Jehoshaphat has really compromised himself. Not only has he married into an evil family, but he even has a father – in – law willing to use him as a pawn in battle. Jehoshaphat must be a special kind of stupid to enter such an alliance and not expect terrible repercussions. Why would Jehoshaphat possibly agree to wear his royal robes into a battle, thereby making himself a target? Perhaps Jehoshaphat is now trusting in his own faith, believing that God would never put him into danger. But it’s not God who asks Jehoshaphat to wear fancy dress into a battle. Only the grace of God saves Jehoshaphat!
APPLICATION: Sometimes believers can be impossibly foolish. We blunder around, never asking God for guidance and then begging God to save us from the results of our own bad choices. Jehoshaphat has married into one of the most evil families around, never considering the fact that demons can transfer through sex. Next, Jehoshaphat agrees to go to war with Ahab, even persisting after a graphic warning from the Lord through the prophet Micaiah. And finally, Jehoshaphat agrees to wear his royal robes into battle, instantly attracting the attention of Syrian bowmen.
While we might criticize Jehoshaphat, we too can make foolish decisions that put us into unnecessary danger. Several years ago, I was visiting Jerusalem and returning to a hotel on the Mount of Olives at twilight. Despite several warnings from various people, I chose to walk across the Kidron Valley. Just as I was about to be mugged for my camera, an American couple came along. The husband was a tall strong Marine; would – be mugger #1 promptly disappeared. As we climbed the slope of the Mount of Olives, three Israeli police officers arrested another mugger who was hiding behind a tombstone. After that, I LISTENED when people were advising me! During that same trip, I was also jogging several miles each morning on the Mount of Olives. Who knows how many times God protected me from kidnappers?
What can we learn from Jehoshaphat’s story? Be careful about your choice of spouse. There is nothing to indicate that Jehoshaphat prayed before marrying Ahab’s daughter. Be careful about alliances. Surely, Jehoshaphat must have heard about Jezebel’s perfidy and Ahab’s weak character; everybody would know such things. When God gives you a clear word, listen and obey; don’t compromise!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Help us to seek Your guidance and then to obey. Thank You for the countless times You have delivered us from the results of our own foolishness. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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