they utterly ravaged and destroyed most of its cities. Kirharaseth alone remained, the there the
king of Moab made his last stand. An attempt to break through the besieging army having failed,
he resorted to the desperate expedient of offering up his eldest son, as a burnt offering, upon the
wall of the city, in the sight of the enemy. Upon this the Israelites retired and returned to their own
land. (2 Kings 3:1) ... A little later, when war broke out between Syria and Israel, we find Elisha
befriending Jehoram; but when the terrible famine in Samaria arose, the king immediately attributed
the evil to Elisha, and determined to take away his life. The providential interposition by which
both Elisha’s life was saved the city delivered is narrated (2 Kings 7:1) ... and Jehoram appears
to have returned to friendly feeling toward Elisha. (2 Kings 8:4) It was soon after these vents that
the revolution in Syria predicted by Elisha took place, giving Jehoram a good opportunity of
recovering Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians. he accordingly made an alliance with his nephew
Ahaziah, who had just succeeded Joram on the throne of Judah, and the two kings proceeded to
occupy Ramoth-gilead by force. The expedition was an unfortunate one. Jehoram was wounded
in battle, and obliged to return to Jezreel to be healed of his wounds. (2 Kings 8:29; 9:14,15) jehu
and the army under his command revolted from their allegiance to Jehoram, (2 Kings 9:1) ... and
hastily marching to Jezreel, surprised Jehoram, wounded and defenseless as he was. Jehoram,
going out to meet him, fell pierced by an arrow from Jehu’s bow on the very plot of ground which
Ahab had wrested from Naboth the Jezreelite; thus fulfilling to the letter the prophecy of Elijah.
(1 Kings 21:29) With the life of Jehoram ended the dynasty of Omri.
•Eldest son of Jehoshaphat, succeeded his father on the throne of Judah at the age of 32, and reigned
eight years, from B.C. 893-2 to 885-4. As soon as he was fixed on the throne, he put his six brothers
to death, with many of the chief nobles of the land. He then, probably at the instance of his wife
Athaliah the daughter of Ahab, proceeded to establish the worship of Baal. A prophetic writing
from the aged prophet Elijah, (2 Chronicles 21:12) failed to produce any good effect upon him.
The remainder of his reign was a series of calamities. First the Edomites, who had been tributary
to Jehoshaphat, revolted from his dominion and established their permanent independence. Next
Libnah, (2 Kings 19:8) rebelled against him. Then followed invasion by armed bands of Philistines
and of Arabians, who stormed the king’s palace, put his wives and all his children, except his
youngest son Ahaziah, to death, (2 Chronicles 22:1) or carried them into captivity, and plundered
all his treasures. he died of a terrible disease. (2 Chronicles 21:19,20)
Jehoshabeath
(whose oath is Jehovah). (2 Chronicles 22:11) [See Jehosheba]
Jehoshaphat
(whom Jehovah judges.)
•King of Judah, son of Asa, succeeded to the throne B.C. 914, when he was 35 years old, and
reigned 25 years. His history is to be found among the events recorded in (1 Kings 15:24; 2 Kings
8:16) or in a continuous narrative in (2 Chronicles 17:1; 2 Chronicles 21:3) He was contemporary
with Ahab, Ahaziah and Jehoram. He was one of the best, most pious and prosperous kings of
Judah, the greatest since Solomon. At first he strengthened himself against Israel; but soon afterward
the two Hebrew kings formed an alliance. In his own kingdom Jehoshaphat ever showed himself
a zealous follower of the commandments of God: he tried to put down the high places and groves
in which the people of Judah burnt incense, and sent the wisest Levites through the cities and
towns to instruct the people in true morality and religion. Riches and honors increased around
him. He received tribute from the Philistines and Arabians, and kept up a large standing army in
frankie
(Frankie)
#1