The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 213

EXPOSITION. how they would both lead him, if not al ways CHAPTER XVIII. out of big e.nrl patronizing thoughts, to seek This chapter, from its second verse, finds and also lay him open to be sought. When this verse says Jehoshaphat joined affinity, its parallel in I Kings xxii. :!-35. It opens etc., it means that he had doue so, to wit, with dangerous symptoms, recording in one not fewer tJian nine yeara before, in pro- sentence the event that was to bear ill fruit, moting or allowing, whichever it was, the if not till "years" e.fterward (ver. 2), of marriage of his son Jehoram with Ahab's Jehoshaphat ••joining affinity with Ahab." e.ud Jezebel's daughter Athalie.h. For the issue of this marriage, Ahaziah, took the His son Jehoram married Atha.liah, throne e.t the e.ge of twenty-t,vo years, thir- daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (eh. x.xi. 6). teen yea.re hence from this seventeenth year The further steps by which Jehoshaphat of his grandfather J ehoshe.phat's reign, tbe became entangled with Ahab a.re graphi- year of Ahab's death. But as we a.re told cally described. He forms au alliance with that Ahe.zie.h was the yoongest son of J eho- re.m and Athe.lia.h (for explanation of which him in the war with Ramoth-Gilead (vers. see eh. xxi. 17), the '' joining affinity" must 1-3); he urges Ahab to consult "a prophet have been something earlier than nine years, of the Lord" (vers. 4-12). Ahab unwil- and very probably ea.me yet nearer the pros- lingly consents, and receives Mice.iah's perity of the earlier years of Jehoshaphat•~ answer (vers. 18-27); and finally the note reign, with which would agree well the key- touched a.gain significantly here from chapter tells us how Ahab went up to battle, our eh. xvii. 5. Comp. 2 Kings viii. 17, 26; and in battle received his mortal wound eh. xxi. 20; :uii. 2 (which needs the correc- (vers. 28-34). tion of twenty-two to forty-two). Although it is certain that the act of Jehoshaphat w<1s Ver. 1.-The purport of the verse ie to let wrong in principle, disastrous in practice ue into the secret that the riohes and honour ( eh. xix. 2, 3), and threatened fa.to.I conse- in abundanoe of Jehoshaphat were, in fa.et, quences to himself (eh. xviii. 31, 32), yet it the snare by whioh he was led to entangle is not impossible to suppose his motives himself with one who, probably only on that were for the most pa.rt good, and he may account, was willing to be entangled by naturally have thought that the sunshine of affinity with him (oh. xxi. 6; xxii. 2-4; his own peace and abundance might be the 2 Kings viii, 25-2\1). It is not hnrd to see set time to win iulluence in and o,er Israel,  214 '!'HE S~COND BOOK 011' Tllt CHRONtCtES. Con. ~\'m. 1-84,'