Jehoshaphat
   Jehovah-judged. (1.) One of David's body-guard (1 Chr. 11:43).
   
     (2.) One of the priests who accompanied the removal of the ark
   to Jerusalem (1 Chr. 15:24).
   
     (3.) Son of Ahilud, "recorder" or annalist under David and
   Solomon (2 Sam. 8:16), a state officer of high rank, chancellor
   or vizier of the kingdom.
   
     (4.) Solomon's purveyor in Issachar (1 Kings 4:17).
   
     (5.) The son and successor of Asa, king of Judah. After
   fortifying his kingdom against Israel (2 Chr. 17:1, 2), he set
   himself to cleanse the land of idolatry (1 Kings 22:43). In the
   third year of his reign he sent out priests and Levites over the
   land to instruct the people in the law (2 Chr. 17:7-9). He
   enjoyed a great measure of peace and prosperity, the blessing of
   God resting on the people "in their basket and their store."
   
     The great mistake of his reign was his entering into an
   alliance with Ahab, the king of Israel, which involved him in
   much disgrace, and brought disaster on his kingdom (1 Kings
   22:1-33). Escaping from the bloody battle of Ramoth-gilead, the
   prophet Jehu (2 Chr. 19:1-3) reproached him for the course he
   had been pursuing, whereupon he entered with rigour on his
   former course of opposition to all idolatry, and of deepening
   interest in the worship of God and in the righteous government
   of the people (2 Chr. 19:4-11).
   
     Again he entered into an alliance with Ahaziah, the king of
   Israel, for the purpose of carrying on maritime commerce with
   Ophir. But the fleet that was then equipped at Ezion-gaber was
   speedily wrecked. A new fleet was fitted out without the
   co-operation of the king of Israel, and although it was
   successful, the trade was not prosecuted (2 Chr. 20:35-37; 1
   Kings 22:48-49).
   
     He subsequently joined Jehoram, king of Israel, in a war
   against the Moabites, who were under tribute to Israel. This war
   was successful. The Moabites were subdued; but the dreadful act
   of Mesha in offering his own son a sacrifice on the walls of
   Kir-haresheth in the sight of the armies of Israel filled him
   with horror, and he withdrew and returned to his own land (2
   Kings 3:4-27).
   
     The last most notable event of his reign was that recorded in
   2 Chr. 20. The Moabites formed a great and powerful confederacy
   with the surrounding nations, and came against Jehoshaphat. The
   allied forces were encamped at Engedi. The king and his people
   were filled with alarm, and betook themselves to God in prayer.
   The king prayed in the court of the temple, "O our God, wilt
   thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great
   company that cometh against us." Amid the silence that followed,
   the voice of Jahaziel the Levite was heard announcing that on
   the morrow all this great host would be overthrown. So it was,
   for they quarrelled among themselves, and slew one another,
   leaving to the people of Judah only to gather the rich spoils of
   the slain. This was recognized as a great deliverance wrought
   for them by God (B.C. 890). Soon after this Jehoshaphat died,
   after a reign of twenty-five years, being sixty years of age,
   and was succeeded by his son Jehoram (1 Kings 22:50). He had
   this testimony, that "he sought the Lord with all his heart" (2
   Chr. 22:9). The kingdom of Judah was never more prosperous than
   under his reign.
   
     (6.) The son of Nimshi, and father of Jehu, king of Israel (2
   Kings 9:2, 14).
   

Jehoshaphat, the Lord is judge