2 Chronicles 18:28-19:3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ahab’s Death
28 Then the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.(A)
30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”
31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out(B) and the Lord helped him. God drew them away from him. 32 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
33 But a man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to the charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,[a] for I am badly wounded!”(C) 34 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.
Jehu’s Rebuke of Jehoshaphat
19 Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his home in Jerusalem in peace. 2 Then Jehu(D) son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him[b] and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Do you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?(E) Because of this, the Lord’s wrath is on you.(F) 3 However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have decided to seek God.”(G)
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 18:33 LXX, Vg; MT reads camp
- 2 Chronicles 19:2 Lit to his face
2 Chronicles 18:28-19:3
Common English Bible
28 So Israel’s king and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat attacked Ramoth-gilead. 29 Israel’s king said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself when we go into battle, but you should wear your royal attire.” When the king of Israel had disguised himself, they entered the battle.
30 Meanwhile, Aram’s king had commanded his chariot officers, “Don’t bother with anyone big or small. Fight only with Israel’s king.” 31 When the chariot officers saw Jehoshaphat, they assumed that he must be Israel’s king, so they turned to attack him. But when Jehoshaphat cried out, the Lord helped him, and God lured them away from him. 32 When the chariot officers realized that he wasn’t Israel’s king, they stopped chasing him.
33 Someone, however, randomly shot an arrow that struck Israel’s king between the joints in his armor. “Turn around and get me out of the battle,” the king told his chariot driver. “I’ve been hit!” 34 While the battle raged all that day, Israel’s king stood propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. But that evening he died, just as the sun was going down.
19 Upon the safe arrival of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat to his palace in Jerusalem, 2 Jehu son of Hanani the seer came out to meet him and said, “Why did you help the wicked? Why have you loved those who hate the Lord? This is why the Lord is angry with you. 3 Nevertheless, there is some good to be found in you, in that you have removed the sacred poles[a] from the land and set your mind to seek God.”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 19:3 Heb asherot, perhaps objects devoted to the goddess Asherah
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