Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 18:1
Now Jehoshaphat had an abundance of riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The chronicler records this event after detailing Jehoshaphat’s divine establishment and wealth in Judah, immediately preceding the narrative of his journey to Samaria.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן (va/i.yit.cha.Ten) denotes a reciprocal marriage alliance, literally meaning "he became a son-in-law" to Ahab.
The thread — The text states Jehoshaphat possessed "an abundance of riches and honor" before forming this pact, a blessing previously noted in 2 Chronicles 17:5, while the marriage alliance directly precedes the later record of Jehoram walking in the ways of the house of Ahab (2 Chronicles 21:6; 2 Kings 8:18).
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to observe how a ruler's strategic marital union, divorced from divine instruction, establishes a generational pattern that compromises covenant fidelity.
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
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 17:5 So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.
- 2 Chronicles 21:6 And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Kings 8:18 And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 19:2 Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
- 1 Kings 16:31 And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
- 1 Kings 21:25 (Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.
- 2 Kings 8:26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.
- 2 Kings 11:1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
- 2 Chronicles 1:11 God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or honor for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king—
- 2 Chronicles 17:12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah