1 Kings 22 42

1 Kings 22:42 kjv

Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

1 Kings 22:42 nkjv

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

1 Kings 22:42 niv

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

1 Kings 22:42 esv

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

1 Kings 22:42 nlt

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

1 Kings 22 verses

1 Kings 22 42 Meaning

1 Kings 22:42 succinctly describes King Jehoshaphat of Judah, the son of Asa, as a righteous monarch. The verse states that he consistently followed the same path of faithfulness and obedience to God as his father, Asa, implying a continuation of spiritual and moral uprightness in the Southern Kingdom. His conduct was always in alignment with what God deemed correct and pleasing, indicating a life lived in accordance with divine standards.

1 Kings 22 42 Context

1 Kings chapter 22 marks the conclusion of Ahab's reign in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and shifts focus to the beginning of Jehoshaphat's reign in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Following Ahab's death in battle at Ramoth-Gilead (where Jehoshaphat had initially joined him in an ill-advised alliance, despite divine warning), the narrative resumes a summary of the Judean kings. This verse functions as the initial positive assessment of Jehoshaphat, setting the tone for his generally righteous reign in contrast to the persistent wickedness of the kings of Israel. It emphasizes the historical continuity of good kingship in Judah through the line of David, with Asa serving as a righteous predecessor. Within the broader Deuteronomic history framework of Kings, this kind of summary evaluation (doing "what was right/evil in the sight of the LORD") is a recurring theological judgment on each monarch, underscoring adherence or deviation from God's covenant commands as the ultimate measure of their rule.

1 Kings 22 42 Word analysis

• And he walked (וַיֵּלֶךְ - wayyelekh, from the verb הָלַךְ - halakh): This signifies more than mere physical movement. In Hebrew Scripture, "walking" often metaphorically describes one's way of life, conduct, behavior, or lifestyle. It implies a consistent pattern of spiritual and moral engagement.
• in all the way (בְּכָל־דֶּרֶךְ - b'khol-derekh, where דֶּרֶךְ - derekh means "way" or "path"): This emphasizes a comprehensive and consistent adherence to a particular manner of living. It indicates that his entire life course and actions were guided by this 'path'.
• of Asa his father: This identifies Jehoshaphat's immediate royal predecessor and spiritual role model. King Asa of Judah was largely portrayed as a righteous king (1 Kgs 15:11), though not without flaws (e.g., relying on Syria, failure to completely remove high places). This phrase indicates that Jehoshaphat followed the commendable aspects of his father's religious reforms and devotion.
• he turned not aside from it (לֹא סָר מִמֶּנָּה - lo sar mimmenah): This strong negation emphasizes steadfastness and unwavering commitment. It highlights Jehoshaphat's dedication and persistence, implying that he did not deviate from the righteous course, despite potential temptations or pressures.
• doing that which was right (לַעֲשׂוֹת הַיָּשָׁר - la'asot hayashar, from יָשָׁר - yashar meaning "straight," "upright," "right"): This is an active participle emphasizing continuous action. "Yashar" means something that is straight, morally upright, or proper. It implies actions that conform to a divine standard, demonstrating moral integrity and adherence to the law.
• in the sight of the LORD (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה - b'eyney Adonai): This phrase indicates the ultimate criterion by which Jehoshaphat's life was judged: God's divine perspective. It signifies that his conduct met with God's approval and was in alignment with His will, not merely with human opinion or secular standards.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• And he walked in all the way of Asa his father: This phrase establishes Jehoshaphat's reign as a continuity of the positive religious and administrative practices of King Asa. It suggests a foundational commitment to God's covenant from the start of his rule, reflecting a stable and righteous dynasty in Judah.
• he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right: This conveys Jehoshaphat's unswerving dedication to a righteous path. It speaks of a determined will to remain aligned with divine commands, implying integrity and consistency in his decisions and actions throughout his reign. This firmness highlights his personal devotion.
• doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD: This phrase functions as the comprehensive theological assessment of Jehoshaphat's rule. It means his actions and decisions were not based on human wisdom or political expediency, but on alignment with God's moral and spiritual law. This divine endorsement distinguishes him as a faithful king in the eyes of the inspired biblical writer.

1 Kings 22 42 Bonus section

The phrase "doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD" is a theological assessment found throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles. It acts as a primary evaluative criterion for Israelite and Judean kings, establishing God's covenant standard as the supreme measure of their leadership, irrespective of their political successes or failures. In the context of the divided kingdom, this commendation for Jehoshaphat stands in stark contrast to most of the Northern Kingdom's kings, who are almost uniformly judged as having "done evil in the sight of the LORD," highlighting Judah's relative faithfulness and the divine preservation of the Davidic line. Although this verse extols Jehoshaphat's steadfastness to the way of Asa, it is important to note that later verses and the book of Chronicles add more depth to his character, particularly his significant religious reforms alongside his notable flaw of entering into an ill-advised alliance with the wicked King Ahab and failing to fully remove the high places. Thus, this verse provides a crucial foundational assessment, upon which further complexities of his reign are built.

1 Kings 22 42 Commentary

1 Kings 22:42 provides a positive and summary judgment on Jehoshaphat's reign, marking him as a king who consistently honored God. This verse positions him as a worthy successor to Asa, emphasizing continuity in the lineage of righteous kings of Judah. His unwavering commitment ("turned not aside") signifies personal integrity and steadfast adherence to divine commands as the foundation of his rule. While other biblical passages (like the next verse, 1 Kgs 22:43, or 2 Chronicles) offer more nuanced details or minor qualifications about his reign, this verse captures the essence of his core walk with God, defining his path as one truly "right in the sight of the LORD." It sets God's approval as the ultimate standard for evaluating leadership and life.