Asbury Bible Commentary – e. The conclusion of Jehoshaphat’s reign (20:31-21:3)
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e. The conclusion of Jehoshaphat’s reign (20:31-21:3)
e. The conclusion of Jehoshaphat’s reign (20:31-21:3)

The only negative feature of this monarch’s generally positive reign is that popular worship is not brought into line with orthodoxy. The high places remain, and the people are not motivated to worship the Lord.

The chronicler frames the story of Jehoshaphat’s life with accounts of bad alliances (20:35-37). At an unspecified time, Jehoshaphat enters into a trading alliance with Israel. Eliezer’s words against this shipbuilding enterprise form the centerpiece of this vignette. The Lord shipwrecks the trading vessels prior to their maiden voyage in what the author presents as an example of immediate divine retribution.

Asbury Bible Commentary Copyright © 1992 by The Zondervan Corporation.