2 Chronicles 18:1

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

American Standard Version (1901)

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.

Bible in Basic English

Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honour, and his son was married to Ahab's daughter.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Now Josaphat was rich and very glorious, and was joined by affinity to Achab.

Free Bible Version

Now Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and highly honored, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Iehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, but he was ioyned in affinitie with Ahab.

King James (Authorized) Version

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

Translation for Translators

Jehoshaphat became very wealthy and was greatly honored. But then he arranged for one of his family to marry someone from the family of King Ahab of Israel.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; he allied himself with Ahab by having one of his family marry his daughter.

Noah Webster Bible

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

World English Bible

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.

Young's Literal Translation

And Jehoshaphat hath riches and honour in abundance, and joineth affinity to Ahab,

Context

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

¹Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.²And some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him, and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead.

Sermons

The Hated but True Man

Ian Paisley

811

The Lord Stirred Up the Spirit of Cyrus.

F.B. Meyer

Summary

This verse sets the stage for the events that follow by introducing King Jehoshaphat of Judah and his alliance with King Ahab of Israel. It highlights the political and spiritual implications of forming alliances with ungodly rulers, as Ahab's influence led to disastrous consequences for Jehoshaphat. The verse serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of seeking God's guidance and not compromising one's faith for the sake of worldly alliances. It underscores the need for leaders to prioritize obedience to God's commands over political expediency or personal gain.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jehoshaphat had riches and honor - The preceding chapter gives ample proof of this. Joined affinity with Ahab - Took his daughter Athalia to be wife to his son Joram.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Here is, I. Jehoshaphat growing greater. It was said before (Ch2 17:5) that he had riches and honour in abundance; and here it is said again that his wealth and honour increased upon him by piety and good management. II. Not growing wiser, else he would not have joined with Ahab, that degenerate Israelite, who had sold himself to work wickedness. What good could he get by a man that was so bad? What good could he do to a man that was so obstinately wicked - an idolater, a persecutor? With him he joined in affinity, that is, married his son Jehoram to Ahab's daughter Athaliah. 1. This was the worst match that ever was made by any of the house of David. I wonder what Jehoshaphat could promise himself by it. (1.) Perhaps pride made the match, as it does many a one, which speeds accordingly. His religion forbade him to marry his son to a daughter of any of the heathen princes that were about him - Thou shalt not take their daughters to thy sons; and, having riches and honour in abundance, he thought it a disparagement to marry him to a subject. A king's daughter it must be, and therefore Ahab's, little considering that Jezebel was her mother. (2.) Some think he did it in policy, hoping by this expedient to unite the kingdoms in his son, Ahab perhaps flattering him with hopes that he would make him his heir, when he intended no such thing. 2. This match drew Jehoshaphat, (1.) Into an intimate familiarity with Ahab. He paid him a visit at Samaria, and Ahab, proud of the honour which Jehoshaphat did him, gave him a very splendid entertainment, according to the splendour of those times: He killed sheep and oxen for him, plain meat, in abundance, Ch2 18:2. In this Jehoshaphat did not walk so closely as he should have done in the ways of his father David, who hated the congregation of evil-doers and would not sit with the wicked (Psa 26:5), nor desired to eat of their dainties, Psa 141:4. (2.) Into a league with Ahab against the Syrians. Ahab persuaded him to join forces with him in an expedition for the recovery of Ramoth-Gilead, a city in the tribe of Gad, on the other side Jordan. Did not Ahab know that that, and all the other cities of Israel, did of right belong to Jehoshaphat, as heir of the house of David? With what face then could he ask Jehoshaphat to assist him in recovering it for himself, whose title to the crown was usurped and precarious? Yet Jehoshaphat, an easy man, yields to go with him: I am as thou art, Ch2 18:3. Some men's kindnesses are dangerous, as well as their society infectious. The feast Ahab made for Jehoshaphat was designed only to wheedle him into the expedition. The kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

2 Chronicles 18:1

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

American Standard Version (1901)

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.

Bible in Basic English

Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honour, and his son was married to Ahab's daughter.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Now Josaphat was rich and very glorious, and was joined by affinity to Achab.

Free Bible Version

Now Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and highly honored, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Iehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, but he was ioyned in affinitie with Ahab.

King James (Authorized) Version

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

Translation for Translators

Jehoshaphat became very wealthy and was greatly honored. But then he arranged for one of his family to marry someone from the family of King Ahab of Israel.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; he allied himself with Ahab by having one of his family marry his daughter.

Noah Webster Bible

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

World English Bible

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.

Young's Literal Translation

And Jehoshaphat hath riches and honour in abundance, and joineth affinity to Ahab,

Adam Clarke
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jehoshaphat had riches and honor - The preceding chapter gives ample proof of this. Joined affinity with Ahab - Took his daughter Athalia to be wife to his son Joram.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

2 Chronicles 18:1

Verse

Context

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

2 Chronicles 18:1

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

The Hated but True Man

The Lord Stirred Up the Spirit of Cyrus.

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes