1 Kings 22:45

And all the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and all his might that he showed, and all his wars, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? Many of them are recorded in the canonical book of Scripture, which bears the name of Chronicles; and more might be in this referred to, out of which might be taken what God has thought fit to transmit to future times; see 2 Chronicles 17:1 .

45 . and how he warred ] The words are not represented in the LXX. On the wars of Jehoshaphat, see above on 1 Kings 22:41 , and the chapters in 2 Chronicles there referred to. in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah ] The Chronicler gives, as the authority for Jehoshaphat’s history, the book of Jehu, the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

29-38. went up to Ramoth-gilead—The king of Israel, bent on this expedition, marched, accompanied by his ally, with all his forces to the siege; but on approaching the scene of action, his courage failed, and, hoping to evade the force of Micaiah's prophecy by a secret stratagem, he assumed the uniform of a subaltern, while he advised Jehoshaphat to fight in his royal attire. The Syrian king, with a view either to put the speediest end to the war, or perhaps to wipe out the stain of his own humiliation (1Ki 20:31), had given special instructions to his generals to single out Ahab, and to take or kill him, as the author of the war. The officers at first directed their assault on Jehoshaphat, but, becoming aware of their mistake, desisted. Ahab was wounded by a random arrow, which, being probably poisoned, and the state of the weather increasing the virulence of the poison, he died at sunset. The corpse was conveyed to Samaria; and, as the chariot which brought it was being washed, in a pool near the city, from the blood that had profusely oozed from the wound, the dogs, in conformity with Elijah's prophecy, came and licked it [1Ki 21:19]. Ahab was succeeded by his son Ahaziah [1Ki 22:40].

Verse 45. - Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might [as in 1 Kings 15:23 ; 1 Kings 16:27 , etc. It is noticeable that this word is not used of Ahab, notwithstanding his wars and victories] that he showed [see 2 Kings 3:9 sqq.; 2 Chronicles 17:12 sqq. His judicial reforms are hardly referred to here], and how he warred [ 2 Chronicles 18, 20 .] , are they not written in the book of he chronicles of the kings of Judah? 1 Kings 22:45

The brave deeds (הגּבוּרה) which he performed include both his efforts to strengthen his kingdom, partly by raising fortifications and organizing the military force, and partly by instructing the people in the law and improving the administration of justice ( 2 Chronicles 17:7-19 and 2 Chronicles 19:4-11 ), and also the wars which he waged, viz., the expeditions already mentioned. - For 1 Kings 22:46 see 1 Kings 15:12 .

Concluding notes on Jehoshaphat's reign, which are found also in 1 Kings 22:41-51 , where they, supplemented by some notes ( 1 Kings 22:45 , 1 Kings 22:48 , and 1 Kings 22:49 ) which are wanting in the Chronicle, form the whole account of his reign. In the statements as to Jehoshaphat's age at his accession, and the length and character of his reign, both accounts agree, except that the author of the Chronicle has, instead of the stereotyped formula, "and the people still sacrificed and offered incense upon the high places," a remark more significant of the state of affairs: "and the people had not yet determinedly turned their heart to the God of their fathers" ( 2 Chronicles 20:33 ). The notice that Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel ( 1 Kings 22:45 ) is not found in the Chronicle, because that would, as a matter of course, follow from Jehoshaphat's having joined affinity with the royal house of Ahab, and had been already sufficiently attested by the narrative in 2 Chronicles 18 , and is so still further by the undertaking spoken of in 2 Chronicles 20:35 . For the same reason, the clause introduced in 1 Kings 22:46 about the valiant acts and the wars of Jehoshaphat is omitted in the Chronicle, as these acts have been specially narrated here. As to Jehu's speeches, which were put into the book of Kings, see the Introduction.

Concluding notes on Jehoshaphat's reign, which are found also in 1 Kings 22:41-51 , where they, supplemented by some notes ( 1 Kings 22:45 , 1 Kings 22:48 , and 1 Kings 22:49 ) which are wanting in the Chronicle, form the whole account of his reign. In the statements as to Jehoshaphat's age at his accession, and the length and character of his reign, both accounts agree, except that the author of the Chronicle has, instead of the stereotyped formula, "and the people still sacrificed and offered incense upon the high places," a remark more significant of the state of affairs: "and the people had not yet determinedly turned their heart to the God of their fathers" ( 2 Chronicles 20:33 ). The notice that Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel ( 1 Kings 22:45 ) is not found in the Chronicle, because that would, as a matter of course, follow from Jehoshaphat's having joined affinity with the royal house of Ahab, and had been already sufficiently attested by the narrative in 2 Chronicles 18 , and is so still further by the undertaking spoken of in 2 Chronicles 20:35 . For the same reason, the clause introduced in 1 Kings 22:46 about the valiant acts and the wars of Jehoshaphat is omitted in the Chronicle, as these acts have been specially narrated here. As to Jehu's speeches, which were put into the book of Kings, see the Introduction.