Jehoshaphat in Smiths Bible Dictionary
(whom Jehovah judges.)
1. King of Judah, son of Asa, succeeded to the
throne B.C. 914, when he was 35 years old, and reigned 25
years. His history is to be found among the events recorded
in 1Ki 15:24; 2Ki 8:16 or in a continuous narrative in 2Ch
17:1 ... 21:3 He was contemporary with Ahab, Ahaziah and
Jehoram. He was one of the best, most pious and prosperous
kings of Judah, the greatest since Solomon. At first he
strengthened himself against Israel; but soon afterward the
two Hebrew kings formed an alliance. In his own kingdom
Jehoshaphat ever showed himself a zealous follower of the
commandments of God: he tried to put down the high places
and groves in which the people of Judah burnt incense, and
sent the wisest Levites through the cities and towns to
instruct the people in true morality and religion. Riches
and honors increased around him. He received tribute from
the Philistines and Arabians, and kept up a large standing
army in Jerusalem. It was probably about the 16th year of
his reign, B.C. 898, when he became Ahab's ally in the great
battle of Ramoth-gilead, for which he was severely reproved
by Jehu. 2Ch 19:2 He built at Ezion-geber, with the help of
Ahaziah, a navy designed to go to Tarshish; but it was
wrecked at Ezion-geber. Before the close of his reign he was
engaged in two additional wars. He was miraculously
delivered from a threatened attack of the people of Ammon,
Moab and Seir. After this, perhaps, must be dated the war
which Jehoshaphat, in conjunction with Jehoram king of
Israel and the king of Edom, carried on against the
rebellious king of Moab. 2Ki 3:1 ... In his declining years
the administration of affairs was placed, probably B.C. 891,
in the hands of his son Jehoram.
2. Son of Ahilud, who filled the office of recorder
of annalist in the courts of David, 2Sa 8:16 etc., and
Solomon. 1Ki 4:3
3. One of the priests in David's time. 1Ch 15:24
4. Son of Paruah; one of the twelve purveyors of
King Solomon. 1Ki 4:17
5. Son of Nimshi and father of King Jehu. 2Ki 9:2,14
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