1 Kings 22:47 kjv
There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
1 Kings 22:47 nkjv
There was then no king in Edom, only a deputy of the king.
1 Kings 22:47 niv
There was then no king in Edom; a provincial governor ruled.
1 Kings 22:47 esv
There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king.
1 Kings 22:47 nlt
(There was no king in Edom at that time, only a deputy.)
1 Kings 22 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 25:23 | "...Two nations are in your womb...the older shall serve the younger." | Prophecy of Edom (Esau) serving Israel (Jacob). |
| Num 20:18-21 | Edom refused Israel passage through their land. | Early refusal of subservience, defiance. |
| 2 Sam 8:13-14 | "He put garrisons in Edom...all the Edomites became David's servants." | David's subjugation of Edom. |
| 1 Chr 18:12-13 | "Abishai struck down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt...Edom became David's servants." | Parallel account of Edom's defeat by David. |
| 1 Kgs 11:14 | "The Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite..." | Edomite attempts to resist/rebel against Israel. |
| 1 Kgs 22:47 | There was then no king in Edom; a deputy was king. | (Current verse for direct analysis) |
| 2 Kgs 3:9 | The kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom set out. | Edomite king/deputy joining Judah. |
| 2 Kgs 8:20-22 | In Joram's days, Edom revolted from Judah and made a king over themselves. | Edom's later rebellion and gaining independence. |
| 2 Chr 20:1, 10, 22-23 | "Moab and Ammon, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat...sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir destroyed themselves." | Jehoshaphat's victory over Edomites. |
| Isa 11:14 | "They shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines to the west; together they shall plunder the people of the east. Edom and Moab shall be subject to them..." | Prophetic subjugation of Edom by Israel. |
| Jer 27:6-7 | "Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar...all the nations shall serve him..." | God appoints foreign rulers over nations. |
| Ez 25:12-14 | "Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah...I will stretch out My hand against Edom..." | Divine judgment on Edom for hostility to Judah. |
| Amos 1:11 | "Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Edom and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword..." | Prophetic judgment for Edom's hatred. |
| Obadiah 1:1 | "The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom..." | Extensive prophecy of Edom's destruction. |
| Mal 1:3-4 | "But Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a desolation...they may build, but I will tear down..." | God's enduring judgment and desolation for Edom. |
| Rom 9:13 | "As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'" | Reinforces the prophetic relationship. |
| Ps 60:8 | "Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe..." | Symbolic declaration of Israel's dominion. |
| Ps 108:9 | "Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe..." | Parallel declaration of dominion over Edom. |
| Dan 2:37-38 | "You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom...He has given into your hand wherever they dwell..." | God's ultimate authority over all rulers/kingdoms. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | God institutes governmental authority, even foreign. |
| Tit 3:1 | "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities..." | Reminder to Christians about submission to earthly rule. |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 47 Meaning
1 Kings 22:47 states that at this specific time during King Jehoshaphat's reign, the nation of Edom did not have its own native king but was ruled by a foreign-appointed deputy. This indicates Edom's subjugated status, highlighting its lack of national sovereignty and likely its dependence on the Kingdom of Judah.
1 Kings 22 47 Context
This verse appears in the closing summary of Jehoshaphat's reign as king of Judah. His rule was generally marked by righteousness, reforms, and a focus on YHWH. The preceding verses detail his alliance with Ahab (king of Israel) against Ramoth-gilead, resulting in Ahab's death. The political statement in 1 Kings 22:47 provides a detail about the contemporary geo-political situation. Edom, located south-east of Judah, had a long history of enmity and subjugation by Israel, particularly since David's conquest. This specific detail highlights that at this point in Jehoshaphat's reign, Edom had not yet regained its full independence from Judah's influence. Its rule by a "deputy" implies it was a vassal state, likely under Judah's dominion, or at least under the dominion of another power approved by or working in conjunction with Judah. This contrasts with Edom's later successful rebellion mentioned in 2 Kings 8:20-22, indicating a shift in their status over time.
1 Kings 22 47 Word analysis
- There was then: This temporal phrase pinpoints the period of Jehoshaphat's reign, differentiating it from earlier or later times when Edom's status might have changed.
- no king: Hebrew: אֵין מֶלֶךְ (
'ein melek). "Ein" signifies negation or absence. "Melek" (king) refers to a sovereign ruler from Edom's own lineage, emphasizing the lack of indigenous royal autonomy. - in Edom: Refers to the geographical territory and the nation descended from Esau, southeast of Judah. Its mountainous terrain historically made it a strategic but often rebellious neighbor of Israel and Judah.
- a deputy: Hebrew: נְצָב (
natzavornitzav). This term often means a prefect, governor, or officer appointed by a superior authority, typically a foreign power. It signifies someone who stands (appointed) over an area. The use of this word implies that the "king" of Edom was not truly independent but a vassal, answerable to another sovereign. This directly contrasts with an autonomous "king." - was king: Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ (
melek). Despite being a deputy, he still held the title or function of a king locally, exercising power on behalf of his overlord. This paradoxically underscores the absence of a truly independent Edomite king, as the authority emanated from outside Edom.
1 Kings 22 47 Bonus section
The detail about Edom having a "deputy" rather than its own king is particularly notable as it highlights the continued political subservience of a historically independent and often hostile nation. This reflects the fulfillment of prophetic statements regarding Esau serving Jacob (Gen 25:23), albeit in the political realm. The system of appointing deputies or governors in conquered territories was a common ancient Near Eastern practice to maintain control, collect tribute, and prevent rebellion. For the biblical reader, it would underscore Judah's maintained, even if tenuous, ascendancy and divine blessing during Jehoshaphat's reign. This specific information helps to understand the fluidity of ancient alliances and dominations in the Levant.
1 Kings 22 47 Commentary
This concise note within the summary of Jehoshaphat's reign reveals a significant geopolitical fact: Edom, a perennial rival of Israel and Judah, remained a dependent state at this juncture. Having been thoroughly subdued by David, its independent royal line had been disrupted. The appointment of a "deputy" rather than an indigenous monarch clearly signifies that Edom was a vassal kingdom, likely controlled or influenced by Judah during Jehoshaphat's strong and prosperous rule. This detail provides context for Judah's regional power and stability during this time, contrasting with Edom's subsequent successful rebellion against Judah in the days of Jehoshaphat's successor, Jehoram, recorded in 2 Kings 8. The verse thus sets the historical stage for understanding the shifting dynamics between Judah and its neighbors.