So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up together to Ramoth-gilead for battle, an old city of refuge claimed by Israel, to retake it from the Syrians by force of arms. That joint going up was the fruit of an alliance between Judah and Israel formed by the marriage of Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Such a union was not in God's order, and in a time of crisis it brought disaster.
They went up despite the prophet Micaiah's warning that the undertaking was not favored by Heaven. He had foretold that Israel would be scattered upon the hills as sheep that have not a shepherd, and that every man should return to his house in peace. Ahab went because he had marked out his course and was determined to follow his own plan. Jehoshaphat went because against his better judgment he had been persuaded and had rashly promised, saying, We will be with thee in the war, and in a moment of weakness he was reluctant to withdraw his forces and break his promise of help.
The expedition ended in a disastrous battle in which Ahab was shot by an arrow and died at eventide, and the army was dismissed every man to his city and to his country. Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem, where he was rebuked for helping the ungodly, though good was also found in him.
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up together to Ramoth-gilead for battle, an old city of refuge claimed by Israel, to retake it from the Syrians by force of arms. That joint going up was the fruit of an alliance between Judah and Israel formed by the marriage of Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Such a union was not in God's order, and in a time of crisis it brought disaster.
They went up despite the prophet Micaiah's warning that the undertaking was not favored by Heaven. He had foretold that Israel would be scattered upon the hills as sheep that have not a shepherd, and that every man should return to his house in peace. Ahab went because he had marked out his course and was determined to follow his own plan. Jehoshaphat went because against his better judgment he had been persuaded and had rashly promised, saying, We will be with thee in the war, and in a moment of weakness he was reluctant to withdraw his forces and break his promise of help.
The expedition ended in a disastrous battle in which Ahab was shot by an arrow and died at eventide, and the army was dismissed every man to his city and to his country. Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem, where he was rebuked for helping the ungodly, though good was also found in him.