2 Chronicles 18:28 Komentář

The story of this chapter we had just as it is here related in the story of the reign of Ahab king of Israel, 1 Kings 22. There it looks more creditable to Ahab than any thing else recorded of him that he was in league with so good a man as Jehoshaphat; here it is a great blemish in the reign of Jehoshaphat that he thus connected himself with so bad a man as Ahab. Here is, I. The alliance he contracted himself with Ahab (Ch2 18:1). II. His consent to join with him in his expedition for the recovery of Remoth - Gilead out of the hands of the Syrians (Ch2 18:2, Ch2 18:3). III. Their consulting with the prophets, false and true, before they went (v. 4-27). IV. The success of their expedition. Jehoshaphat hardly escaped (Ch2 18:28-32) and Ahab received his death's wound (Ch2 18:33, Ch2 18:34).

We have here, 1. Good Jehoshaphat exposing himself in his robes, thereby endangered, and yet delivered. We have reason to think that Ahab, while he pretended friendship, really aimed at Jehoshaphat's life, to take him off, that he might have the management of his successor, who was his son-in-law, else he would never have advised him to enter into the battle with his robes on, which was but to make himself an easy mark to the enemy: and, if really he intended that, it was as unprincipled a piece of treachery as ever man was guilty of, and justly was he himself taken in the pit he digged for his friend. The enemy had soon an eye upon the robes, and vigorously attacked the unwary prince who now, when it was too late, wished himself in the habit of the poorest soldier, rather than in his princely raiment. he cried out, either to his friends to relieve him (but Ahab took no care of that), or to his enemies, to rectify their mistake, and let them know that he was not the king of Israel. Or perhaps he cried to God for succour and deliverance (to whom else should he cry?) and he found it was not in vain: The Lord helped him out of his distress, by moving the captains to depart from him, Ch2 18:31. God has all men's hearts in his hand, and turns them as he pleases, contrary to their own first intentions, to serve his purposes. Many are moved unaccountably both to themselves and others, but an invisible power moves them. 2. Wicked Ahab disguising himself, arming himself thereby as he thought securing himself, and yet slain, Ch2 18:33. No art, no arms, can save those whom God has appointed to ruin. What can hurt those whom God will protect? And what can shelter those whom God will destroy? Jehoshaphat is safe in his robes, Ahab killed in his armour; for the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong.

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance,.... Still more and more, see Ch2 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.

Jehoshaphat joins affinity with Ahab, king of Israel, Ch2 18:1, Ch2 18:2; who invites him to assist him in the war against the Syrians, to which Jehoshaphat agrees, Ch2 18:3. They consult the prophets concerning the success of the war; and all, except Micaiah, promise Ahab victory, Ch2 18:4-17. Micaiah relates his vision concerning the lying spirit in the mouth of Ahab's prophets, Ch2 18:18-22. Zedekiah, a false prophet, opposes Micaiah; and Micaiah is put in prison, Ch2 18:23-27. Both the kings go against the Syrians; the confederate armies are defeated, and the king of Israel slain, Ch2 18:28-31.

JEHOSHAPHAT AND AHAB GO AGAINST RAMOTH-GILEAD. (2Ch. 18:1-34) after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria--This is word for word, the same as 1Ki. 22:1-53. (See commentary on that chapter). Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 19

The prophet Jehu's declaration as to Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab, and Jehoshaphat's further efforts to promote the fear of God and the administration of justice in Judah. - Ch2 19:1-3. Jehu's declaration. Jehoshaphat returned from the war in which Ahab had lost his life, בּשׁלום, i.e., safe, uninjured, to his house in Jerusalem; so that the promise of Micah in Ch2 18:16 was fulfilled also as regards him. But on his return, the seer Jehu, the son of Hanani, who had been thrown into the stocks by Asa (Ch2 16:7.), met him with the reproving word, "Should one help the wicked, and lovest thou the haters of Jahve!" (the inf. with ל, as in Ch1 5:1; Ch1 9:25, etc.). Of these sins Jehoshaphat had been guilty. "And therefore is anger from Jahve upon thee" (על קצף as in Ch1 27:24). Jehoshaphat had already had experience of this wrath, when in the battle of Ramoth the enemy pressed upon him (Ch2 18:31), and was at a later time to have still further experience of it, partly during his own life, when the enemy invaded his land (2 Chron 20), and when he attempted to re-establish the sea trade with Ophir (Ch2 20:35.), partly after his death in his family (2 Chron 21 and Ch2 22:1-12). "But," continues Jehu, to console him, "yet there are good things found in thee (cf. Ch2 12:12), for thou hast destroyed the Asheroth..." אשׁרות = אשׁרים, Ch2 17:6. On these last words, comp. Ch2 12:14 and Ch2 17:4.