Bible Dictionaries
Jehoshaphat

Holman Bible Dictionary

(jih hahssh' uh fat) Personal name meaning, “Yahweh judged” or “Yahweh established the right.” 1. Son and successor of Asa as king of Judah (1 Kings 15:24 ). He occupied the throne for twenty-five years (873-848 B.C.). The biblical record of his reign is contained in the final chapters of 1Kings and in 2 Chronicles 17-20 . He was an able ruler and a faithful worshiper of Yahweh (1 Kings 22:43 ). Nevertheless, he did one thing that ultimately proved to be disastrous: he made an alliance with Ahab, king of Israel. The immediate result was beneficial to both kingdoms. Years of conflict between them came to an end, and both kingdoms were strengthened. But, the alliance involved a marriage between Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram and Ahab's daughter Athaliah. Athaliah's influence in Judah finally proved to be horrific. See Athaliah; Israel; Chronology of Biblical Period; Micaiah .

2. Father of Jehu (2Kings 9:2,2 Kings 9:14 ). 3 . An official at David's court (2 Samuel 8:16 ), called the “recorder” or “secretary of state” (REB). The Hebrew term's root meaning is “remember.” Some Bible students compare the office to the Egyptian court herald who reported events to the king and made public announcements. Others think the office maintained public records, while others speak of a foreign minister. As with many Hebrew offices, certainty is not possible. Jehoshaphat retained the office under Solomon (1 Kings 4:3 ). 4 . Solomon's official in tribal territory of Issachar in charge of providing provisions for the royal court one month a year (1 Kings 4:17 ).