1 Kings 22:49 kjv
Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
1 Kings 22:49 nkjv
Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not.
1 Kings 22:49 niv
At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my men sail with yours," but Jehoshaphat refused.
1 Kings 22:49 esv
Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships," but Jehoshaphat was not willing.
1 Kings 22:49 nlt
At one time Ahaziah son of Ahab had proposed to Jehoshaphat, "Let my men sail with your men in the ships." But Jehoshaphat refused the request.
1 Kings 22 49 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 19:2 | "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?..." | Rebuke for aiding Ahab. |
| 2 Chr 20:35-37 | "After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel... And the ships were broken." | Direct parallel, cause of shipwreck stated. |
| Ex 23:32 | "You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods." | Command against unholy alliances. |
| Deut 7:2 | "and when the LORD your God gives them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them..." | Prohibition against ungodly ties. |
| Prov 13:20 | "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." | Principle of association. |
| Prov 22:24-25 | "Make no friendship with a man given to anger... lest you learn his ways..." | Avoid corrupting companions. |
| 1 Cor 15:33 | "Bad company corrupts good character." | New Testament warning on influences. |
| 2 Cor 6:14 | "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers." | Call to spiritual separation. |
| Eph 5:11 | "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." | Active avoidance of ungodly deeds. |
| Rev 18:4 | "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins..." | Call for ultimate separation. |
| Deut 8:5 | "know in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you." | Divine discipline for growth. |
| Job 5:17 | "Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty." | God's discipline as a blessing. |
| Ps 119:67 | "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word." | Learning through hardship. |
| Ps 119:71 | "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." | Affliction for spiritual learning. |
| Heb 12:6 | "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." | Discipline as a mark of love. |
| Rom 5:3-4 | "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." | Suffering refines character. |
| Prov 1:5 | "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." | Seek wisdom and understanding. |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." | Wisdom comes from God. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously..." | Pray for wisdom. |
| Heb 5:14 | "but solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained..." | Discernment in spiritual maturity. |
| Ps 1:1 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked..." | Blessedness of avoiding evil counsel. |
| Jer 35:14 | "The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab... that they should not drink wine, have been kept..." | Example of firm refusal to compromise. |
| Acts 4:19-20 | "But Peter and John answered them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak...'" | Refusal to obey ungodly commands. |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 49 Meaning
This verse records a significant pivot in King Jehoshaphat's behavior. After repeated questionable alliances with the ungodly kings of the northern kingdom of Israel, Jehoshaphat firmly rejects King Ahaziah's offer to collaborate on a second commercial maritime venture to Ophir. This resolute "No" indicates a critical shift towards discerning wisdom and a newfound caution, likely stemming from the prior disastrous shipwreck and the divine judgment it represented. It shows him finally taking a decisive stand against the perils of associating in joint enterprises with those who do not follow the Lord.
1 Kings 22 49 Context
The immediate context in 1 Kings 22:48 states that Jehoshaphat built "ships of Tarshish" to sail to Ophir for gold, but these ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber. The broader chapter chronicles King Ahab of Israel's death during an ill-fated battle against Aram, which Jehoshaphat of Judah foolishly joined despite prophetic warning. Jehoshaphat himself nearly died due to this unholy alliance. Historically, Jehoshaphat's reign (873-849 BC) was marked by reforms and a general piety, but also by these recurring strategic alliances with the ungodly Northern Kingdom. King Ahaziah of Israel, mentioned in this verse, was Ahab's wicked son, perpetuating his father's idolatrous ways (1 Kgs 22:52-53). Jehoshaphat's refusal in 1 Kings 22:49 follows directly after the failed shipping venture, which 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 explicitly links to divine judgment because of his partnership with Ahaziah. Thus, this refusal is not a capricious decision but a decisive lesson learned from painful, divinely ordained experience.
1 Kings 22 49 Word analysis
- But: A strong conjunction, signaling a shift or contrast, indicating a turning point from Jehoshaphat's previous pattern of compliance with northern kings.
- Jehoshaphat: (Heb. יְהוֹשָׁפָט, Yehoshaphat), meaning "Yahweh has judged" or "Yahweh is judge." His name resonates with his experience of divine judgment and discipline, prompting this shift.
- would not: (Heb. לֹא אָבָה, lo 'avah). Avah denotes willingness, consent, or desire. Preceded by the negative particle lo, it conveys a strong and deliberate unwillingness or firm refusal, rather than mere inability. It indicates a clear choice not to comply.
- for he said: Standard biblical narrative formula, introducing direct speech and the rationale behind the action.
- 'No: (Heb. לֹא, lo). A direct, emphatic negative. Its placement as a single word before the expanded refusal ("I will not let them go...") underscores the decisive and absolute nature of his rejection.
- I will not: (Heb. לֹא אֲשַׁלַּח, lo ashallech). Shallach means "to send" or "to let go." Combined with lo, it reinforces his resolve and kingly authority in preventing the proposed action, demonstrating active intent behind his refusal.
- let them go with you': (Heb. לָלֶכֶת עִמָּךְ, lalekhet immach). Lalekhet means "to go," and immach means "with you." This phrase specifically identifies the collaborative nature of the venture and the intended partners, the joint servants, highlighting the precise alliance Jehoshaphat is now severing.
- Words-group analysis:
- "But Jehoshaphat would not": This phrase establishes Jehoshaphat's changed disposition. It contrasts his earlier willingness to go into battle with Ahab (1 Kgs 22:4) with his new firm stand against a joint enterprise, suggesting a direct response to divine discipline and past consequences.
- "No, I will not let them go with you": This double emphasis on refusal ("No," and "I will not") signifies Jehoshaphat's absolute determination to avoid future entanglement with the ungodly king of Israel. It represents a practical application of a hard-learned lesson: separation from wicked partnerships is essential for protection and spiritual integrity, particularly when the Lord has clearly shown displeasure with such alliances.
1 Kings 22 49 Bonus section
The strong nature of Jehoshaphat's refusal in 1 Kings 22:49 implies more than simply "not wanting to." The parallel account in 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 significantly clarifies the immediate backdrop for this refusal. There, the prophet Eliezer explicitly pronounces God's judgment: "Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy your works." Following this, the ships were indeed broken. This direct prophetic warning and immediate fulfillment serve as the catalyst for Jehoshaphat's definitive "No." Thus, his refusal is an act of obedience and recognition of God's hand in his previous setback, signifying a practical response to divine truth revealed through consequence and prophecy.
1 Kings 22 49 Commentary
1 Kings 22:49 records Jehoshaphat's firm resolve to disassociate from King Ahaziah of Israel in future ventures. This decision is not spontaneous but a learned response to previous failures, most immediately the destruction of his ships (1 Kgs 22:48), which was a direct divine judgment for his alliance with Ahaziah as explicitly stated in 2 Chronicles 20:37. Jehoshaphat, despite his general piety, repeatedly struggled with unholy alliances. Here, he demonstrates growth, heeding God's corrective discipline by drawing a clear boundary and refusing further entanglement that could bring spiritual or material harm. This stands as a crucial lesson in discernment and the importance of severing ties with ungodly influences for the protection and flourishing of God's people.
- Examples: A young believer who faced severe relational consequences from engaging in gossip within a specific peer group resolves to no longer participate in such conversations, firmly choosing godly speech instead. A church, having previously suffered division due to accepting certain compromising financial or ethical practices, makes a firm and public commitment to stricter biblical guidelines, refusing to engage in such practices again.