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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 18:1-3

Here is, I. Jehoshaphat growing greater. It was said before (2 Chron. 17:5) that he had riches and honour in abundance; and here it is said again that his wealth and honour increased upon him by piety and good management. II. Not growing wiser, else he would not have joined with Ahab, that degenerate Israelite, who had sold himself to work wickedness. What good could he get by a man that was so bad? What good could he do to a man that was so obstinately wicked?an idolater, a persecutor? With... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 18:2-34

And after certain years ,.... Two years, according to the Syriac and Arabic versions, or in the third year after the affinity was contracted, see 1 Kings 22:2 , he went down to Ahab to Samaria ; to pay him a visit upon the alliance, civil and matrimonial, contracted between them: and Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him ; entertained him and his retinue in a very grand and liberal manner: and persuaded him to go up with him to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 18:3

To Ramoth-gilead - This place belonged to the Israelites, and was now held by the king of Syria. The whole of this chapter is circumstantially explained in the notes on 1 Kings 22:1-53. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 18:1-3

The false steps of a good king. I. AN UNFORTUNATE ALLIANCE . Jehoshaphat joins affinity with Ahab ( 2 Chronicles 18:1 ). This refers to the marriage of Jehoram his son with Athaliah, Ahab's daughter ( 2 Chronicles 21:6 ), eight or nine years before. The date may be approximately determined thus. Athaliah's son ascended the throne of Judah at the age of twenty-two ( 2 Kings 8:26 ), not forty-two ( 2 Chronicles 22:2 ). But Jehoram his father reigned eight years ( 2 Chronicles... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 18:1-34

The second chapter in Jehoshaphat's career. This chapter opens with the statement of a fact that portends no good—the "affinity' which Jehoshaphat "joined with Ahab," the King of Israel. This came to pass in the incident of the marriage of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, with Athaliah, daughter of Ahab. Eight years, or a little more, and it seems to bear no evil fruit; but, if so, it was only that it was taking its time to form and ripen, and now too surely is found. Clusters of lessons in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 18:2

After certain years he went down . In lieu of the italic type " certain " here, the English idiom, "years after," would aptly reproduce the facts of the case. This journey to Samaria to see Ahab was made in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat's reign. What were the precise antecedent circumstances of this visit of Jehoshaphat to Ahab it is interesting to surmise—whether it were the fruit of an invitation direct from Ahab, who had his own designs, or whether it were for diplomatic... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 18:2-3

Spiritual unwariness. When Jehoshaphat came into contact with Ahab, he encountered a man who was more than his match in respect of policy. Indeed, he may be said to have fallen readily into the trap which his neighbour laid for him. Ahab received him as his guest with ostentatious hospitality; and when Jehoshaphat was in a grateful and perhaps elated mood, he proposed a combination in which they were to share the risks and losses, but not to divide the gains. To this the King of Judah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 18:3

I am as thou , etc. The same unqualified kind of language was used By Jehoshaphat on another occasion ( 2 Kings 3:7 ), two years later, when Jehoram, son of the deceased Ahab, also asked his help against Moab. Whether on the one occasion or the other, it is quite possible that Jehoshaphat thought he was serving common interests, and the cause of his own kingdom, as well as of Israel; nevertheless "Jehu the son of Hanani the seer" ignores the supposed justification ( 2 Chronicles 19:2 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 18:2

After certain years - In Jehoshaphat’s 17th year 1 Kings 22:51, not less than 8 years after the marriage (marginal reference note). read more

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