2 Chronicles 18:1

_NOW JEHOSHAPHAT HAD RICHES AND HONOUR IN ABUNDANCE, AND JOINED AFFINITY WITH AHAB._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THIS VERSE....

CHAPTER XVIII _Jehoshaphat joins affinity with Ahab, king of Israel_, 1, 2; _who invites him to assist him in the war against the Syrians,_ _to which Jehoshaphat agrees_, 3. _They consult the prophets concerning the success of the war;_ _and all, except Micaiah, promise Ahab victory_, 4-17. _Micaiah relates his vision concerning the lying spirit in the_ _mouth of Ahab's prophets_, 18-22. _Zedekiah, a false prophet, opposes Micaiah; and Micaiah is put_ _in prison_, 23-27. Both the kings go against the Syrians; the confederate arm

The present chapter runs parallel with Kings, which it closely follows, only adding a few touches....

EXPOSITION This chapter, from its second verse, finds its parallel in 1 Kings 22:2. It opens with dangerous symptoms, recording in one sentence the event that was to bear ill fruit, if not till "years" afterward (1 Kings 22:2), of Jehoshaphat "joining affinity with Ahab." His son Jehoram married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (2 Chronicles 21:6). The further steps by which Jehoshaphat became entangled with Ahab are graphically described. He forms an alliance with him in the war with Ramoth-Gilead (1 Kings 22:1); be urges Ahab to consult "a prophet of the Lord" ...

NOW JEHOSHAPHAT HAD RICHES AND HONOUR IN ABUNDANCE,.... Still more and more, see 2 Chronicles 17:5, and which moved Ahab to desire friendship and affinity with him, to which Jehoshaphat agreed: AND JOINED AFFINITY WITH AHAB; king of Israel, married his son Joram to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab by Jezebel of Zidon; which marriage proved of bad consequence to Jehoshaphat and his family....

CHAPTER 18 JEHOSHAPHAT'S SINFUL ALLIANCE WITH AHAB _ 1. The alliance with Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:1)_ 2. Ahab's false prophets (2 Chronicles 18:4) 3. Micaiah's prophecy (2 Chronicles 18:12) 4. The fatal battle at Ramoth-Gilead (2 Chronicles 18:28) The same record also appears in 1 Kings 22, to which the reader may turn for further annotations. Jehoshaphat's prosperity became a snare to him. Riches and honor he had in abundance. No doubt lifted up in his heart and self secur

The alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab against Syria; their defeat. See notes on 1 Kings 22:1; the variations are unimportant....

NOW. &C. This chapter is complementary to 1 Kings 22. RICHES AND HONOUR IN ABUNDANCE. This is repeated from 2 Chronicles 17:5, to show that there was no need for any alliance of any kind. JOINED AFFINITY. By marrying his son Jehoram to Athaliah the daughter of Ahab (2 Chronicles 21:6; 2 Kings 8:18). Contrast 2 Chronicles 17:1, where he began by strengthening himself against Ahab, and now "joined affinity" with him. See App-55. Compare Asa's alliance with Syria ...

2 Chronicles 18:1-3 (cp. 1 Kings 22:1-4). The Alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab 1. _joined affinity_ Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat married Athaliah the daughter of Ahab (2Ki 8:16; 2 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 8:26). Athaliah though called "daughter" of Omri in 2 Kings 8:26 was really his grand-daughter....

5. THE REIGN OF JEHOSHAPHAT (17-21:3) TEXT 2 Chronicles 17:1. And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2. And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. 3. And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim, 4. but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5. Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance. 6. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Jehovah: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah. 7. Also in the third year of his reign he sent his pri