Jehoshaphat Commits To Follow God

Asa had been a great king for Judah, following the Lord his entire life, although there were a couple of times when he put his faith in other people rather than God.  It was an example his son Jehoshaphat would follow throughout his lifetime.   Two dynasties of kings had already been destroyed because they would not follow God, and another wicked king, Ahab was in power when Jehoshaphat became king, as I Kings 22:41-42 tells us.  “And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.  Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.”

Under Baasha, Israel had attacked Judah, interfering with their immigration policies.  Recognizing that a change in leadership might be seen as an opportunity, to attack and reclaim some of the land Asa had taken, Jehoshaphat took steps to fortify the border as we see in II Chronicles 17:1-2.  “ And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.  And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.”

Jehoshaphat followed the example his father had set, and God blessed him as a result, as we see in II Chronicles 17:3-6.  “And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.  Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.  And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.”

Jehoshaphat did his best to destroy the high places and stop the people from worshipping there, and was successful to a degree, but I Kings 22:43  tells us, “…nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.” Asa had tried to eradicate homosexuality and Jehoshaphat was completed the job according to I Kings 22:46.  “And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. “

In his efforts to draw the people to God, Jehoshaphat also sent out teachers to teach the people what God demanded, as II Chronicles 17:7-9 tells us.  “Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.  And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.  And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.”

When the people learned what God commanded, and began to obey, God began to bless even more, and II Chronicles 17:10-11 tells us other nations began to notice.  “And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.  Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.”

Years before, Israel had defeated the Edomites, and Edom was under an Israelite governor according to I Kings 22:47.  “There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.”  The Arabians want ed to establish good relations with Israel so that they would not use Edom as a point to attack them, so they offered large herds of sheep and goats as a sign of good will.  Some of the Philistine cities made similar overtures.