According to some sources (such as the eleventh-century Jewish commentator Rashi), he actually died two years later, but gave up his throne earlier for unknown reasons. Soon after this victory Jehoshaphat died after a reign of twenty-five years at the age of sixty. So it was, for they quarreled among themselves, and slew one another, leaving to the people of Judah only to gather the rich spoils of the slain. We do not know what to do but our eyes are upon you." The voice of Jahaziel the Levite was heard announcing that the next day all this great host would be overthrown. The king prayed in the court of the Temple, "O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. The king and his people were filled with alarm. The allied forces were encamped at Ein Gedi. Triumph of Jehoshaphat over Adad of Syria as illustrated by Jean Fouquet (1470s) for Josephus' Antiquities of the JewsĪccording to Chronicles, the Moabites formed a great and powerful confederacy with the surrounding nations, and marched against Jehoshaphat. The Moabites were subdued, but seeing Mesha's act of offering his own son (and singular heir) as a propitiatory human sacrifice on the walls of Kir of Moab filled Israel with horror, and they withdrew and returned to their own land. He subsequently joined Jehoram of Israel in a war against the Moabites, who were under tribute to Israel. Later it appears that Jehoshaphat entered into an alliance with Ahaziah of Israel, for the purpose of carrying on maritime commerce with Ophir. We are told that Jehoshaphat repented, and returned to his former course of opposition to all idolatry, and promoting the worship of God and in the government of his people. While Jehoshaphat safely returned from this battle, he was reproached by the prophet Jehu, son of Hanani, about this alliance. In the eighteenth year of his reign Jehosaphat visited Ahab in Samaria, and nearly lost his life accompanying his ally to the siege of Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram married Athaliah, daughter of king Ahab of Israel. Jehoshaphat also pursued alliances with the kingdom of Israel in the North. The man on the left is generally considered to be Jehoshaphat. The author of the Books of Chronicles generally praises his reign, stating that the kingdom enjoyed a great measure of peace and prosperity, the blessing of God resting on the people "in their basket and their store". Ecclesiastical and secular jurisdictions, according to 2 Chronicles 19:11, were by royal command kept distinct. Later reforms in Judah instituted by Jehoshaphat appear to have included further religious reforms, appointment of judges throughout the cities of Judah and a form of "court of appeal" in Jerusalem. In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent out priests and Levites over the land to instruct the people in the Law, an activity which was commanded for a Sabbatical year in Deuteronomy 31:10-13 (taking place in Jerusalem). His zeal in suppressing the idolatrous worship of the "high places" is commended in 2 Chronicles 17:6. He spent the first years of his reign fortifying his kingdom against the Kingdom of Israel. He "walked in the ways" of his father or ancestor, King David.
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According to these passages, Jehoshaphat ascended the throne at the age of thirty-five and reigned for twenty-five years. The Jerusalem Bible states that " the Chronicler sees Asa as a type of the peaceful, Jehoshaphat of the strong king". 1 Kings 15:24 mentions him as successor to Asa, and 1 Kings 22:1-50 summarizes the events of his life. Statues of Kings Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah at El Escorial, SpainĢ Chronicles 17 to 21 is devoted to the reign of Jehoshaphat.