The New Rulers
March 2, 2019
Commentary
Jehosaphat and Ahab went up to Ramoth-gilead to face Ben-hadad II, King of Aram. Ahab devised a plan to go into battle disguised as a regular soldier (v. 30). Jehosaphat did not realize that this tactic would put him in greater danger. Ben-hadad wanted to kill Ahab because he knew that without their king the soldiers of Israel would not fight effectively. Dressed in his royal attire Jehosaphat was mistaken for Ahab and became the target of the whole Aramean army. However, under attack he cried out and was spared (vv. 31-33).
In an incident that was regarded as an accident, Ahab was fatally wounded (vv. 34-40). God allowed this to accomplish His purpose. After being wounded, Ahab propped himself up in his chariot and watched the battle until sunset. Ahab died and the dogs licked up his blood as God had predicted (20:42, 21:19). The battle broke up when Ahab died as the Israelites could not take Ramoth-gilead.
Jehosaphat ruled with his father the last three year’s of Asa’s life (vv. 41-50). At Asa’s death Jehosaphat became the sole ruler. He ruled for 25 years and was counted one of Judah’s good kings. At the very last of Ahab’s reign, Jehosaphat entered into a treaty with him that resulted in peace between Judah and Israel during Jehosaphat’s reign. However, this treaty included the marriage of Jehosaphat’s son Jehoram to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah which followed Jezebel’s example and caused trouble. Ahab’s son, Ahaziah became king of Israel in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign (vv. 51-53). He reigned two years and did evil in the sight of the Lord, just like his father.
Application
It was foolish for Ahab to think he could escape the enemy by wearing a disguise. The same is true in my life. It is easy to try to escape reality by changing jobs, moving to a new town or even doing good things to bring glory to myself. However, God sees and evaluates my motives and any attempted disguise is futile.
1 Kings 22:30– 53 (NET)
30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter into the battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers; fight only the king of Israel.” 32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him. 34 Now an archer shot an arrow at random, and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line, because I’m wounded.” 35 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot. 36 As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, “Each one should return to his city and to his homeland.” 37 So the king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him. 38 They washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria. Then the dogs licked his blood, while the prostitutes bathed, in keeping with the Lord’s message that he had spoken.
39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 40 Ahab passed away. His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.
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. (22:44) 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. 46 He removed from the land any male cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father Asa. 47 There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled. 48 Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant ships 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,” but Jehoshaphat refused.
50 Jehoshaphat passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.
51 In the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahab’s son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for two years over Israel. 52 He did evil in the sight of the Lord and followed in the footsteps of his father and mother; like Jeroboam son of Nebat, he encouraged Israel to sin. 53 He worshiped and bowed down to Baal, angering the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.