Who Was Jehoshaphat in the Bible?

Jehoshaphat stands out among Judah's kings as a man who 'walked in the first ways of his father David,' sought the Lord, and removed idolatry from the land. He was the son of Asa and the fourth king of the separate kingdom of Judah, reigning for twenty-five years. His reign was marked by spiritual reform, military strength, and international influence. In his third year, Jehoshaphat sent Levites and priests throughout Judah to teach the people the book of the law. This national Bible-teaching campaign was unprecedented and demonstrates his commitment to grounding the nation in God's Word. He also reformed the judicial system, appointing judges in every city with the charge: 'Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.' He warned them against partiality, bribery, and injustice, reminding them that 'there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.' Jehoshaphat's greatest moment came when a vast coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites invaded Judah. The enemy army was so large that Judah had 'no might against' them. Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and prayed in the temple: 'O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.' The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who prophesied, 'Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.' The next morning, Jehoshaphat appointed singers to go before the army, praising the beauty of holiness. As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments against the enemy, who turned on one another and destroyed themselves completely. Judah arrived to find only dead bodies and spoils. It took three days to collect the plunder. Jehoshaphat made a strategic error by allying himself with the wicked King Ahab of Israel through marriage — his son Jehoram married Ahab's daughter Athaliah, who later nearly destroyed David's house. Jehoshaphat also joined Ahab in an ill-fated campaign against Ramoth-gilead, where Ahab was killed. Despite these failures, the overall assessment of Jehoshaphat is positive: 'Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD.' His story demonstrates the power of prayer and praise in the face of overwhelming odds, the importance of teaching God's Word to a nation, and the danger of ungodly alliances.