Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 3
From the death of Solomon, the kings of Judah had been at war with the kings of northern and central Israel. That ended when Jehoshaphat made a peace agreement with Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:1). From that time, Jehoshaphat, who was the king of Judah, supported the kings from Ahab’s family.
So, in 1 Kings 22:1-36, the armies of Judah and Israel fought together in the battle for Ramoth–Gilead. After that battle, a prophet (holy man) called Jehu warned Jehoshaphat that he should not have tried to support Ahab in battle. Jehoshaphat was a good king who served the true God – but Ahab and his whole family were very wicked (2 Chronicles 19:1-3).
So, it astonishes us to read that Jehoshaphat agreed to support Ahab’s son, Joram, in war against Moab. Jehoshaphat even used the same words that he had spoken to Ahab (1 Kings 22:4; 2 Kings 3:7). He promised to send Judah’s whole army, with its horses which were very important in ancient battles. Together, the armies of Judah and Israel would fight against Moab. Jehoshaphat also controlled Edom, so its army also would join the war against Moab.
The two kings had to decide whether to approach Moab from the north, or from the south. If they approached from the north, Ammon’s powerful army might attack them on the way. Jehoshaphat wanted to approach from the south. Then, his army would be passing through Edom, which was under his control. However, that route included a long march through the desert. The route went along the south side of the Dead Sea.
Next part: The armies of Judah, Israel and Edom have no water (2 Kings 3:9-10)
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© 2025, Keith Simons.