And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat's coming down to the king of Israel took place at Samaria some years after he came to the throne, when he was at the height of prosperity. The visit followed an alliance between Judah and Israel that had been formed by his consent to the marriage of his son Jehoram to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. That union was not in God's order, and in times of crisis it brought disaster upon the king of Judah and his subjects.
On his arrival Ahab honored his royal guest by killing sheep and oxen in abundance for him and for the people who were with him. Against his better judgment, Jehoshaphat was persuaded on this visit to unite with Ahab in an effort to regain Ramoth from the Syrians by force of arms. Ramoth was one of the old cities of refuge, which Ahab declared rightfully belonged to the Israelites.
Jehoshaphat's coming down to the king of Israel took place at Samaria some years after he came to the throne, when he was at the height of prosperity. The visit followed an alliance between Judah and Israel that had been formed by his consent to the marriage of his son Jehoram to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. That union was not in God's order, and in times of crisis it brought disaster upon the king of Judah and his subjects.
On his arrival Ahab honored his royal guest by killing sheep and oxen in abundance for him and for the people who were with him. Against his better judgment, Jehoshaphat was persuaded on this visit to unite with Ahab in an effort to regain Ramoth from the Syrians by force of arms. Ramoth was one of the old cities of refuge, which Ahab declared rightfully belonged to the Israelites.