Bible Strands
1 Kings 22:43
And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator evaluates King Jehoshaphat’s reign immediately after listing his age and twenty-five-year rule, and just before recording his diplomatic treaty with Israel. The account functions as a transitional summary of his character and partial reforms.
The words — The text uses וַיֵּלֶךְ (va.ye.lekh), meaning “he walked,” to describe Jehoshaphat’s consistent adherence to his father Asa’s path. It also records הַבָּמוֹת (ha.ba.mot), “the high places,” as remaining standing while the people continued sacrificing there.
The thread — The same pattern of tolerated high places appears in 1 Kings 15:14 regarding Asa and 2 Kings 12:3 regarding Jehoash. The contrast between royal approval and persistent popular worship aligns with the Proverbs 4:27 warning to keep one’s feet from turning aside.
Why it lands — The verse states Jehoshaphat did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet explicitly notes the high places were not removed. It requires a reader to confront the reality that a ruler’s personal piety or official policy does not instantly eradicate entrenched local idolatry.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 15:14 The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.
- 2 Kings 12:3 Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
- Proverbs 4:27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
- Exodus 32:8 How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”
- 1 Samuel 12:20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
- 1 Kings 14:23 They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
- 1 Kings 15:5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
- 1 Kings 15:11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.
- 2 Kings 14:3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. He did everything as his father Joash had done.
- 2 Kings 15:3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.