Jehoshaphat King of Judah
1 Kings 22:41-50
Understanding Series
by Iain W. Provan

Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah: Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah, already characters in Ahab’s story (1 Kgs. 22:2 etc.; 22:40), now find a place of their own. Our expectations differ with respect to each. Jehoshaphat is a Davidic king, so we anticipate no major disasters in his reign (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:36), particularly since he is evidently pious (cf. 1 Kgs. 22:5). Ahaziah, on the other hand, is an Israelite and a son of Ahab. We anticipate wickedness, and disaster of the sort that has fallen upon all the successors of northern kings who receive negative oracles about their house (cf. 1 Kgs. 14:1–18 with 15:29–30; 16:1–4 with 16:11–13; 21:21–24, 27–29). These expectations are largely fulfilled, but there is a surprise in store for us as well, as we discover that Ahaziah is not the only “son of Ahab” whose ex…

Baker Publishing Group, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series, by Iain W. Provan