ISRAEL'S POSTEXILIC HISTORY--LESSON 20 NOTES, PART 2

CHAPTER 19

After these tragic experiences with Ahab, Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem. His alliance with wicked Ahab did not go unrebuked. A prophet named Jehu stood in Jehoshaphat’s presence and condemned him. Judah’s king was also informed that Jehovah approved his efforts to rid his land of Baalism. With renewed determination Jehoshaphat visited all of his people from Beersheba in the south to Ephraim in the north encouraging them to worship Jehovah. He set up a system of judges and courts throughout his kingdom charging these officials to fear the Lord and not respect persons or accept bribes. He also re-established the high court at the Temple in Jerusalem in which the priests passed judgment on very serious matters which the Iesser courts couId not handle (Deuteronomy 17:8-13). Amariah, the high priest, was in charge of the Temple court and all of the matters of business that were associated with God’s House.[1]

CHAPTER 20

While Jehoshaphat was busy in reforming the kingdom, his enemies (Moab, Ammon, and others) were coming against him (2 Chr. 20:1). Upon being informed of the action Jehoshaphat did four things: (1) He feared God; (2) he set himself to seek the Lord; (3) he proclaimed a fast; and (4) he called Judah together (2 Chr. 20:1-4).[2]

Jehoshaphat's prayer is one of the most remarkable prayers recorded in the Bible and it is worthy of careful study. The prayer contains the following thoughts:

1. He appealed to God as the ruler of the universe (2 Chr. 20:6).

2. He appealed to God as the friend of Abraham and to the covenant God made with him (2 Chr. 20:7).

3. He next appealed to God because they had built Him a temple (2 Chr. 20:8).

4. He then appealed to God's promise to hear His people when they prayed toward this house (2 Chr. 20:9; cf. 1 Kings 8).

5. He then reminded God that these very people whom He forbade Israel to attack in the wilderness (Deut. 2:4-5; Num. 20:21) were now manifesting their gratitude by turning on them (2 Chr. 20:10-11).

6. He then confessed, "We have no might against this great company ... our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chr. 20:12).

Through Jehaziel, the prophet, God gave the answer to Jehoshaphat's prayer: "Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's ... ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you" (2 Chr. 20:15, 17).

The strategy of ambush was such that the Ammonites and Moabites, supposing that the Edomites had turned against them, fought among themselves. 2 Chronicles 20:24-30 describe God's complete overthrow of Judah's enemies.

Jehoshaphat reigned twenty-five years over Judah. His life is described in these words: "And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it; doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord. Howbeit the high places were not taken away; for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers" (2 Chr. 20:32-33).[4]

Sometime after Jehoshaphat had been humiliated in his alliance with Ahab he covenanted with Ahaziah, son of Ahab and king of Israel. This venture involved building and equipping ships like those used on the Mediterranean by the Phoenicians for the Tarshish trade. Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah intended to use Eziongeber at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba for their home port. They would send the vessels to Ophir which was far to the South and from there extend their trade to the East. The project was disastrous because Jehovah sent a prophet named Eliezer to condemn Jehoshaphat for his renewed alliance with Israel. The ships were ruined by a terrible storm before they ever left the home port.[5]

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[1] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.

[2] James Meadows. “Judah Under Abijah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.

[4] James Meadows. “Judah Under Abijah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.

[5] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.