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Jehoshaphat’s Reign over Judah

41 In the fourth year of Ahab’s reign over Israel, Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.[a] (22:44)[b] However, the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. 44 (22:45) Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.

45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, including his successes and military exploits, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.[c] 46 He removed from the land any male cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father Asa.[d] 47 There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled. 48 Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant ships[e] to travel to Ophir for gold, but they never made the voyage because they were shipwrecked in Ezion Geber. 49 Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my sailors join yours in the fleet,”[f] but Jehoshaphat refused.

50 Jehoshaphat passed away[g] and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor[h] David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 22:43 tn Heb “he walked in all the way of Asa his father and did not turn from it, doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord.”
  2. 1 Kings 22:43 sn Beginning with 22:43b, the verse numbers through 22:53 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), because 22:43b in the English Bible = 22:44 in the Hebrew text. The remaining verses in the chapter differ by one, with 22:44-53 ET = 22:45-54 HT.
  3. 1 Kings 22:45 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jehoshaphat, and his strength that he demonstrated and how he fought, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
  4. 1 Kings 22:46 tn Heb “and the rest of the male cultic prostitutes who were left in the days of Asa his father, he burned from the land.” Some understand the verb בִּעֵר (biʿer) to mean “sweep away” here rather than “burn.” See the note at 1 Kgs 14:10.sn Despite Asa’s opposition to these male cultic prostitutes (see 1 Kgs 15:12) some of them had managed to remain in the land. Jehoshaphat finished what his father had started.
  5. 1 Kings 22:48 tn Heb “Tarshish ships.” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.
  6. 1 Kings 22:49 tn Heb “Let my servants go with your servants in the fleet.”
  7. 1 Kings 22:50 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
  8. 1 Kings 22:50 tn Heb “with his fathers in the city of his father.”

Jehoshaphat Reigns over Judah

41 Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah during the fourth year of the reign of[a] King Ahab of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. He reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah. She was the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He lived like his father Asa and never abandoned that life. He did what the Lord considered to be right. Nevertheless, the high places were not demolished, and the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places.[b] 44 Jehoshaphat also made a peace treaty with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of Jehoshaphat’s accomplishments, the power that he demonstrated, and how he waged war are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 46 He also eliminated the male cult prostitutes who still remained from the time of his father Asa.

47 There was no king reigning in Edom; there was only a stand-in[c] king. 48 Jehoshaphat had ocean-going vessels from Tarshish sail to Ophir[d] for gold, but they never made it because they were shipwrecked at Ezion-geber. 49 Ahab’s son Ahaziah had offered to go. “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships!” he said. But Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50 Later, Jehoshaphat died, as did his ancestors, and he was buried alongside his ancestors in the City of David. Jehoram his son became king in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 22:41 The Heb. lacks the reign of
  2. 1 Kings 22:43 This last sentence of v 43 is v44 in MT, v44 is v45 in MT, and so through the rest of the chapter.
  3. 1 Kings 22:47 Or deputy
  4. 1 Kings 22:48 Or a source of fine gold; cf. 1Chr 29:4