Bible Strands
2 Kings 3:7
And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go,” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Jehoram of Israel dispatches a messenger to Jehoshaphat king of Judah after mobilizing all Israel to confront the rebellious king of Moab. Jehoshaphat accepts the invitation, declaring unified command and shared military resources.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יִּשְׁלַח (va/i.yish.Lach) means "and he sent," denoting the formal transmission of Jehoram’s proposal. The prepositional phrase אֶל\־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֨ט (el- ye.ho.sha.Fat) literally translates to "to Jehoshaphat," specifying the Judahite monarch as the direct recipient.
The thread — This coalition request parallels Ahab’s earlier summons to Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22:4 and 2 Chronicles 18:3 to join a northern campaign. Both instances record allied kings coordinating forces against regional enemies.
Why it lands — The passage records a logistical alliance without narrative evaluation, requiring the reader to track how divided monarchies pool military assets. It demands attention to the political mechanics of royal cooperation rather than moral endorsement.
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 went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 22:4 So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”
- 2 Chronicles 18:3 Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”
- 2 Chronicles 22:10 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.
- 1 Kings 22:32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely this is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.
- 2 Chronicles 18:29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
- 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.
- 2 Chronicles 21:4 When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 22:3 Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness.