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Matthew George Easton
Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition (1897) · 3,964 entries on site
Beheld by God. (1.) The third son of Hebron ( 1 Chr. 23:19 ). (2.) A Benjamite chief who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:4 ). (3.) A priest who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 16:6 ). (4.) The son of Zechariah, a Levite of the family of Asaph ( 2 Chr. 20:14-17 ). He encouraged Jehoshaphat against the Moabites and Ammonites.
God’s living one. (1.) The father of Gibeon ( 1 Chr. 9:35 ). (2.) One of David’s guard ( 1 Chr. 11:44 ). (3.) One of the Levites “of the second degree,” appointed to conduct the music on the occasion of the ark’s being removed to Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 15:18 , 20 ). (4.) A Hachmonite, a tutor in the family of David toward the close of his reign ( 1 Chr. 27:32 ). (5.) The second of Jehoshaphat’s six sons ( 2 Chr. 21:2 ). (6.) One of the Levites of the family of Heman who assisted Hezekiah in his work of reformation ( 2 Chr. 29:14 ). (7.) A “prince” and “ruler of the house of God” who contributed liberally to the renewal of the temple sacrifices under Josiah ( 2 Chr. 35:8 ). (8.) The father of Obadiah ( Ezra 8:9 ). (9.) One of the “sons” of Elam ( Ezra 10:26 ). (10.) Ezra 10:21 .
Jehovah-granted, Jeroboam II. (1.) A Korhite, the head of one of the divisions of the temple porters ( 1 Chr. 26:3 ). (2.) One of Jehoshaphat’s “captains” ( 2 Chr. 17:15 ). (3.) The father of Azariah ( 2 Chr. 28:12 ). (4.) The son of Tobiah, an enemy of the Jews ( Neh. 6:18 ). (5.) Neh. 12:42 . (6.) Neh. 12:13 .
Jehovah-exalted. (1.) Son of Toi, king of Hamath, sent by his father to congratulate David on the occasion of his victory over Hadadezer ( 2 Sam. 8:10 ). (2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom ( 1 Chr. 26:25 ). (3.) A priest sent by Jehoshaphat to instructruct the people in Judah ( 2 Chr. 17:8 ). (4.) The son of Ahab and Jezebel, and successor to his brother Ahaziah on the throne of Israel. He reigned twelve years, B.C. 896-884 ( 2 Kings 1:17 ; 3:1 ). His first work was to reduce to subjection the Moabites, who had asserted their independence in the reign of his brother. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, assisted Jehoram in this effort. He was further helped by his ally the king of Edom. Elisha went forth with the confederated army ( 2 Kings 3:1-19 ), and at the solicitation of Jehoshaphat encouraged the army with the assurance from the Lord of a speedy victory. The Moabites under Mesha their king were utterly routed and their cities destroyed. At Kir-haraseth Mesha made a final stand. The Israelites refrained from pressing their victory further, and returned to their own land. Elisha afterwards again befriended Jehoram when a war broke out between the Syrians and Israel, and in a remarkable way brought that war to a bloodless close ( 2 Kings 6:23 ). But Jehoram, becoming confident in his own power, sank into idolatry, and brought upon himself and his land another Syrian invasion, which led to great suffering and distress in Samaria ( 2 Kings 6:24-33 ). By a remarkable providential interposition the city was saved from utter destruction, and the Syrians were put to flight ( 2 Kings 7:6-15 ). Jehoram was wounded in a battle with the Syrians at Ramah, and obliged to return to Jezreel ( 2 Kings 8:29 ; 9:14 , 15 ), and soon after the army proclaimed their leader Jehu king of Israel, and revolted from their allegiance to Jehoram ( 2 Kings 9 ). Jehoram was pierced by an arrow from Jehu’s bow on the piece of ground at Jezreel which Ahab had taken from Naboth, and there he died ( 2 Kings 9:21-29 ). (5.) The eldest son and successor of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. He reigned eight years (B.C. 892-885) alone as king of Judah, having been previously for some years associated with his father ( 2 Chr. 21:5 , 20 ; 2 Kings 8:16 ). His wife was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. His daughter Jehosheba was married to the high priest Jehoiada. He sank into gross idolatry, and brought upon himself and his kingdom the anger of Jehovah. The Edomites revolted from under his yoke, and the Philistines and the Arabians and Cushites invaded the land, and carried away great spoil, along with Jehoram’s wives and all his children, except Ahaziah. He died a painful death from a fearful malady, and was refused a place in the sepulchre of the kings ( 2 Kings 8:16-24 ; 2 Chr. 21 ).
Jehovah-judged. (1.) One of David’s body-guard ( 1 Chr. 11:43 ). (2.) One of the priests who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 15:24 ). (3.) Son of Ahilud, “recorder” or annalist under David and Solomon ( 2 Sam. 8:16 ), a state officer of high rank, chancellor or vizier of the kingdom. (4.) Solomon’s purveyor in Issachar ( 1 Kings 4:17 ). (5.) The son and successor of Asa, king of Judah. After fortifying his kingdom against Israel ( 2 Chr. 17:1 , 2 ), he set himself to cleanse the land of idolatry ( 1 Kings 22:43 ). In the third year of his reign he sent out priests and Levites over the land to instruct the people in the law ( 2 Chr. 17:7-9 ). He enjoyed a great measure of peace and prosperity, the blessing of God resting on the people “in their basket and their store.” The great mistake of his reign was his entering into an alliance with Ahab, the king of Israel, which involved him in much disgrace, and brought disaster on his kingdom ( 1 Kings 22:1-33 ). Escaping from the bloody battle of Ramoth-gilead, the prophet Jehu ( 2 Chr. 19:1-3 ) reproached him for the course he had been pursuing, whereupon he entered with rigour on his former course of opposition to all idolatry, and of deepening interest in the worship of God and in the righteous government of the people ( 2 Chr. 19:4-11 ). Again he entered into an alliance with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, for the purpose of carrying on maritime commerce with Ophir. But the fleet that was then equipped at Ezion-gaber was speedily wrecked. A new fleet was fitted out without the co-operation of the king of Israel, and although it was successful, the trade was not prosecuted ( 2 Chr. 20:35-37 ; 1 Kings 22:48-49 ). He subsequently joined Jehoram, king of Israel, in a war against the Moabites, who were under tribute to Israel. This war was successful. The Moabites were subdued; but the dreadful act of Mesha in offering his own son a sacrifice on the walls of Kir-haresheth in the sight of the armies of Israel filled him with horror, and he withdrew and returned to his own land ( 2 Kings 3:4-27 ). The last most notable event of his reign was that recorded in 2 Chr. 20 . The Moabites formed a great and powerful confederacy with the surrounding nations, and came against Jehoshaphat. The allied forces were encamped at Engedi. The king and his people were filled with alarm, and betook themselves to God in prayer. The king prayed in the court of the temple, “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us.” Amid the silence that followed, the voice of Jahaziel the Levite was heard announcing that on the morrow all this great host would be overthrown. So it was, for they quarrelled among themselves, and slew one another, leaving to the people of Judah only to gather the rich spoils of the slain. This was recognized as a great deliverance wrought for them by God (B.C. 890). Soon after this Jehoshaphat died, after a reign of twenty-five years, being sixty years of age, and was succeeded by his son Jehoram ( 1 Kings 22:50 ). He had this testimony, that “he sought the Lord with all his heart” ( 2 Chr. 22:9 ). The kingdom of Judah was never more prosperous than under his reign. (6.) The son of Nimshi, and father of Jehu, king of Israel ( 2 Kings 9:2 , 14 ).
Mentioned in Scripture only in Joel 3:2 , 12 . This is the name given in modern times to the valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, and the Kidron flows through it. Here Jehoshaphat overthrew the confederated enemies of Israel ( Ps. 83:6-8 ); and in this valley also God was to overthrow the Tyrians, Zidonians, etc. ( Joel 3:4 , 19 ), with an utter overthrow. This has been fulfilled; but Joel speaks of the final conflict, when God would destroy all Jerusalem’s enemies, of whom Tyre and Zidon, etc., were types. The “valley of Jehoshaphat” may therefore be simply regarded as a general term for the theatre of God’s final judgments on the enemies of Israel. This valley has from ancient times been used by the Jews as a burial-ground. It is all over paved with flat stones as tombstones, bearing on them Hebrew inscriptions.
Jehovah is he. (1.) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah ( 1 Chr. 2:38 ). (2.) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:3 ). (3.) The son of Hanani, a prophet of Judah ( 1 Kings 16:1 , 7 ; 2 Chr. 19:2 ; 20:34 ), who pronounced the sentence of God against Baasha, the king of Israel. (4.) King of Israel, the son of Jehoshaphat ( 2 Kings 9:2 ), and grandson of Nimshi. The story of his exaltation to the throne is deeply interesting. During the progress of a war against the Syrians, who were becoming more and more troublesome to Israel, in a battle at Ramoth-gilead Jehoram, the king of Israel, had been wounded; and leaving his army there, had returned to Jezreel, whither his ally, Ahaziah, king of Judah, had also gone on a visit of sympathy with him ( 2 Kings 8:28 , 29 ). The commanders, being left in charge of the conduct of the war, met in council; and while engaged in their deliberations, a messenger from Elisha appeared in the camp, and taking Jehu from the council, led him into a secret chamber, and there anointed him king over Israel, and immediately retired and disappeared ( 2 Kings 9:5 , 6 ). On being interrogated by his companions as to the object of this mysterious visitor, he informed them of what had been done, when immediately, with the utmost enthusiasm, they blew their trumpets and proclaimed him king ( 2 Kings 9:11-14 ). He then with a chosen band set forth with all speed to Jezreel, where, with his own hand, he slew Jehoram, shooting him through the heart with an arrow (9:24). The king of Judah, when trying to escape, was fatally wounded by one of Jehu’s soldiers at Beth-gan. On entering the city, Jehu commanded the eunchs of the royal palace to cast down Jezebel into the street, where her mangled body was trodden under foot by the horses. Jehu was now master of Jezreel, whence he communicated with the persons in authority in Samaria the capital, commanding them to appear before him on the morrow with the heads of all the royal princes of Samaria. Accordingly on the morrow seventy heads were piled up in two heaps at his gate. At “the shearing-house” ( 2 Kings 10:12-14 ) other forty-two connected with the house of Ahab were put to death ( 2 Kings 10:14 ). As Jehu rode on toward Samaria, he met Jehonadab (q.v.), whom he took into his chariot, and they entered the capital together. By a cunning stratagem he cut off all the worshippers of Baal found in Samaria ( 2 Kings 10:19-25 ), and destroyed the temple of the idol ( 2 Kings 10:27 ). Notwithstanding all this apparent zeal for the worship of Jehovah, Jehu yet tolerated the worship of the golden calves at Dan and Bethel. For this the divine displeasure rested upon him, and his kingdom suffered disaster in war with the Syrians ( 2 Kings 10:29-33 ). He died after a reign of twenty-eight years (B.C. 884-856), and was buried in Samaria (10:34-36). “He was one of those decisive, terrible, and ambitious, yet prudent, calculating, and passionless men whom God from time to time raises up to change the fate of empires and execute his judgments on the earth.” He was the first Jewish king who came in contact with the Assyrian power in the time of Shalmaneser II.
=Jeho’ram. (1.) One of the kings of Israel ( 2 Kings 8:16 , 25 , 28 ). He was the son of Ahab. (2.) Jehoram, the son and successor of Jehoshaphat on the throne of Judah ( 2 Kings 8:24 ).
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