III. JEHOSHAPHAT, King of Judah, the son of Asa, who also was King of Judah, and Azabah the daughter of Shilhi. He ascended the throne at the age of five and thirty, and reigned five and twenty years. He had always the advantage over Baasha King of Israel, and placed good garisons in the Cities of Judah, and in those of Ephraim also, which were conquered by his father. God was always with him, because he was always faithful to him. He demolished the High-Places and Groves, where abominable actions were committed. In the third year of his reign he sent some of the Officers of his Court, together with some of the Priests and Levites, into all the Cantons of Judah, with the book of the Law, in order to instruct the people in their duty. God blessed the zeal of this Prince in such a manner, that he was feared and reverenced by all his neighbours. The Philistins and Arabians were tributaries to him. He built several Houses in Judah in the form of Towers, and fortified several Cities. He generally kept an army of eleven hundred thousand men without reckoning the Troops in his strong holds. This number seems prodigious for so small a State as that of Judah; and but one quarter of these troops did service probably at a time. But after all, Jehoshaphat was able to set on foot such a number of soldiers. 1 Kings xxii. and 2 Chron. xviii. In the year of the World 3107, before J. C. 893, before the Vulgar Æra 897.him with, which is, the alliance which he made with Ahab King of Israel. Some time after he went to visit Ahab at Samaria; and Ahab invited him to march with him against Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat consented: but desired first, that some Prophet of the Lord should be consulted concerning this undertaking. Micaiah therefore, the son of Imlah, was sent for, who said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills like sheep without shepherds. And the Lord said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace. Immediately the King said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee, that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? Ahab therefore commanded Micaiah to be put in prison; and notwithstanding marched against Ramoth with Jehoshaphat in his company; to whom Ahab said, That he would change his dress before he went to the battle; but advised him to put on his usual habit. Now the King of Syria, who defended Ramoth, had given orders, that his Officers should keep close to the King of Israel only, and bring him alive or dead to him. When therefore they perceived Jehoshaphat with the Royal Ornaments, they made no question but that he was the King of Israel; and the heat of the engagement was near him. But Jehoshaphat began to cry unto the Lord; whereby he was discovered, and they ceased pursuing him. In the mean time it happened, that a Syrian Soldier shot a random arrow, and pierced Ahab, who thereupon died in his chariot. As for Jehoshaphat, he returned in peace to Jerusalem. But the Prophet Jeush, the son of Hanani, reproved him smartly for assisting Ahab; and Jehoshaphat repaired this fault by the good regulations which he 2 Chron. xix. 1, 2, 3, &c.made, and the good order which he established in his dominions, both as to civil and religious affairs, by appointing honest and able Judges, by regulating the Discipline and Order of the Priests and Levites, and by enjoining them to perform punctually their duty. After this, the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meonians, people of Arabia Petræa, declared war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Chron. xx. 1, 2, 3, &c. In the year of the World 3108, before J. C. 892, before the Vulgar Æra 896.They advanced as far as Hazazon-Tamar, otherwise called En-gedi. Jehoshaphat had recourse to fasting and prayer. He went with all the people to the Temple, and put up his prayers to God. Then Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, animated by the Spirit of the Lord, encouraged the King, and promised from God, that the next day he should obtain the victory without fighting. Accordingly these people being the next day assembled against Judah, they were struck with a frenzy, and killed one another; so that Jehoshaphat and his army had nothing to do but to gather up the spoils and arms of the dead.
In the year of the World 3115, before J. C. 885, before the Vulgar Æra 889.Some time after, Jehoshaphat made a covenant with Ahaziah King of Israel. They equipp’d jointly a fleet in the port of Ezion-gaber upon the Red Sea, in order to go to Tarshish. God did not herein approve the conduct of Jehoshaphat, because Ahaziah King of Israel was an impious Prince. Eliezer the son of Dodovah of Mareshah, came to Jehoshaphat, and said to him, Because thou hast made an alliance with Ahaziah, God hath disappointed thy designs, and thy ships have been shattered, so as to be unfit for their voyage to Tarshish. This Prince continued all the rest of his life to walk in the ways of the Lord, without being diverted from them. Nevertheless he did not destroy the High-places, and the hearts of his people were not turned intirely to the God of their fathers. Jehoshaphat died after a reign of five and One thing the Scripture reproaches twenty years, and was buried in the Royal Sepulchre. His son Jehoram reigned in his stead a.