What does 1 Kings 22:2 mean?
"And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel." - 1 Kings 22:2
1 Kings 22:2 - "And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel."
The verse 1 Kings 22:2 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel."
This verse captures a significant moment in the history of ancient Israel, as it depicts the meeting of two prominent kings - Jehoshaphat of Judah and Ahab of Israel. The context of this verse is important in understanding its significance. The reign of Ahab, king of Israel, was marked by conflict and tension with neighboring kingdoms, particularly the kingdom of Judah. Ahab was known for his wickedness and idolatry, and his marriage to the notorious Queen Jezebel only furthered his reputation as a king who led his people astray from the worship of the one true God.
Jehoshaphat, on the other hand, was a king who sought to follow the ways of the Lord and uphold righteousness in his kingdom of Judah. His decision to visit Ahab, the king of Israel, demonstrates a willingness to engage in diplomatic relations and possibly seek unity and peace between the two kingdoms.
The meeting between Jehoshaphat and Ahab sets the stage for a significant series of events that will ultimately test the faith and loyalty of both kings. The themes of political alliance, compromise, and the tension between righteousness and the ways of the world are evident in this verse.
Symbolically, the visit of Jehoshaphat to Ahab represents the interaction between righteousness and wickedness, and the struggle to maintain one's faith and values in the face of opposition. It serves as a reminder that as believers, we are called to engage with the world and its leaders, even when they may oppose our beliefs.
The encounter between Jehoshaphat and Ahab also highlights the complex nature of leadership and the challenges that kings and rulers face in maintaining their allegiance to God. It foreshadows the conflicts and moral dilemmas that will arise in the subsequent events that unfold between the two kingdoms.
Furthermore, this verse serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of forming alliances with those who do not share our faith and values. While diplomatic relations and seeking peace may be admirable goals, it is essential to be vigilant and steadfast in upholding our beliefs and not compromise our faith for the sake of political expediency.
In conclusion, 1 Kings 22:2 captures the historic meeting between Jehoshaphat and Ahab, two kings representing righteousness and wickedness respectively. This encounter sets the stage for a series of significant events that will test the faith and loyalty of both kings, and serves as a reminder of the complex nature of leadership and the need to uphold one's faith in the face of worldly pressures. This verse resonates with themes of political alliance, compromise, and the struggle to maintain one's faith in a hostile world, and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's faith for the sake of political expediency.
1 Kings 22:2 Artwork
1 Kings 22:2 - "And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel."
1 Kings 22:47 - "There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king."
1 Kings 22:44 - "And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel."
1 Kings 22:1 - "And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel."
2 Kings 23:22 - "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;"
2 Chronicles 9:22 - "And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom."
2 Kings 13:22 - "¶ But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz."
1 Kings 1:22 - "¶ And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in."
1 Kings 22:37 - "¶ So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria."
2 Kings 14:22 - "He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers."
2 Kings 2:22 - "So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake."
2 Kings 21:22 - "And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD."
2 Kings 22:1 - "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath."
1 Kings 12:22 - "But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,"
1 Kings 22:40 - "So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead."
1 Kings 22:29 - "So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead."
2 Kings 22:6 - "Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house."
2 Kings 15:22 - "And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead."
1 Kings 22:9 - "Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah."
1 Kings 7:22 - "And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished."
2 Kings 22:7 - "Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully."
1 Kings 22:45 - "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
1 Kings 22:21 - "And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him."
1 Kings 22:7 - "And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?"
1 Kings 22:39 - "Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
2 Kings 17:22 - "For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;"
1 Kings 22:41 - "¶ And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel."
1 Kings 22:5 - "And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day."
2 Kings 22:11 - "And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes."
1 Kings 4:22 - "¶ And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,"