Asa's purchase of the aid of Aram Fortification of Ge Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History their heart and with all their soul, 13but that whoever would not seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 And they took an oath to Jehovah with a loud voice and amidst shouting and the blast of trumpet, and rams' horns. 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with all their will, so that he let himself be found by them. And Jehovah gave them rest on all sides. § 107. Asa's War with Baasha, I Kgs. 1516-24, II Chr. 151o–1614 Annals of Judah I Kgs. 15 16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah, so as not to allow anyone to go out or in to Asa king of Judah. 18Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the temple of Jehovah and the treasures of the royal palace, and entrusted them to his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion king of Aram, who dwelt at Damascus, with the statement, 19There is a league between me and you and between my father and your father; herewith I send you a present of silver and gold. Break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me. 20 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, Dan, Abel-bethMaacah, and all Chinneroth, together with all the land of Naphtali. 21 Now as soon as Baasha heard of it, he abandoned the fortifying of Ramah and returned to Tirzah. 22Thereupon King Asa made a proclamation to all ba and Judah-none was exempted-that they must carry away the stones of Ramah and the timber with which Baasha had fortified it. Then with these King Asa fortified Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. Miz pah Hana ni's condemnation Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History II Chr. 16 7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, Because you have relied on the king of Aram, and have not relied on Jehovah your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has of the escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and the Lybians a great army, with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on Jehovah, he delivered them into your hand. 9For the eyes of Jehovah sweep here and there over the whole earth to show his strength in behalf Ara mean alli ance §107 The account in Kgs. of Asa's war with Baasha and his short-sighted policy, which brought the Arameans into Palestine, was probably taken originally from the state annals and has the value of a contemporary record. To this account, which the Chronicler reproduces verbatim, he adds what is apparently a quotation from his later source. After the manner of the midrash, the condemnation of Asa's alliance with Aram is put in the mouth of Hanani the seer, doubtless identified in this later tradition with the father of the prophet Jehu, mentioned in I Kgs. 161. I Kgs. 1521 So Gk., Luc., and Lat. Heb., dwelt in. The difference in the Heb. is only a question of vocalization. Asa's illness and death Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History of those whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have acted fool- Late Prophetic Summary I Kgs. 15 23 Now the other acts of Asa and all his brave deeds and the cities which he built, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he became diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place. II Chr. 16 11Now the acts of Asa, the earlier and the later, are already recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12And Asa became diseased in the feet in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, so that he became very ill. But in his sickness he did not seek help from Jehovah, but from the physician. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers and died in the forty-first year of his reign. 14And they buried him in his sepulchre, which he had hewn out in the city of David, and laid him on the bed, which they had filled with all kinds of spices, skilfully mixed; and they burned in his honor an exceedingly great pyre. § 108. The Benign Rule of Jehoshaphat, I Kgs. 2241-46, II Chr. 17, 194-11, 2081-34 Late Prophetic Sum- | Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History fortifi stand II Chr. 17 1And Jehoshaphat Asa's son became His king in his place and strengthened himself against cations Israel. 2And he placed troops in all the fortified and cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah ing and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. 3And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his ancestor David, and did not resort to the Baals, 4but sought § 108 I Kgs. 2246 was probably taken directly from the annals, but the rest of the passage is from the editor. The parallel in Chr. is expanded and devoted to a didactic end in the spirit of the early midrashes. The earlier designation Judah is used throughout instead of Judah and Benjamin. 177-9, like the kindred passage, 194-11, however, has none of the characteristics of a midrash. Later institutions are evidently here in part reflected; but the basis of the tradition appears to have been certain definite measures intended to improve the judicial organization. The existence of brief codes corresponding to those found in Ex. 20-23, 34, and a system of local judges with the central court at Jerusalem is implied by Is. 101 and many passages in Dt. Cf. especially Dt. 17. An enterprising king like Jehoshaphat, who was in close alliance with Northern Israel and through it with the high Semitic civilization represented by the Phoenicians, would naturally take the initiative in these reforms. A brief record of this work may have been found in the royal Judean chronicles and later in an exilic Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel which was in turn either quoted directly by the Chronicler or else was already incorporated in the Midrash of the Book of the Kings to which he refers. The noble exhortation to the judges is one of the classical passages in Chr. army His wars and re forms Public instruc the law Late Prophetic Sum mary name began to reign, and he 45 Now the other Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History the God of his ancestor, and walked in his com- aphat's pros 10 And the terror of Jehovah fell on all the king- Jehosh were those who were in the service of the king, be- 7In the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah, and with tion in them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests, that they should teach in Judah, having the book of the law of Jehovah with them. So they went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. ⚫I Kgs. 2243 Cf. § 48, notek. I Kgs. 2245 The parallel passage in II Chr. 2034 reads, in the addresses of Jehu the son of Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History ment struc local 19 4And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem. And he went out again among Apthe people from Beersheba to the hill-country of Ephraim and brought them pointback to Jehovah, the God of their fathers. 5He also appointed judges in and inthe land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, tion of Consider what you do, for you are to render judgment not for man but for judges Jehovah, and he will be with you when you render judgment. 7Now therefore let the fear of Jehovah be upon you. Take heed in whatever you do, for with Jehovah our God there is no injustice or partiality or acceptance of bribes. V lish preme appeal lem 8Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests Estaband the heads of the families of Israel to render the judgment of Jehovah ment of and to decide controversies for the inhabitants" of Jerusalem. 9And he a sucharged them saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of Jehovah, faithfully court of and with sincere purpose. 10And whenever any controversy comes to you at Jefrom your kinsmen who dwell in other cities, between blood and blood, rusabetween law, commandment, statutes, and ordinances, you shall warn them that they be not guilty toward Jehovah, and so wrath come upon you and upon your kinsmen; this must you do, that you may not be guilty. 11And, behold, Amariah the chief priest shall be at your head in all matters of Jehovah, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters. Also the Levites shall be at your disposal as scribes. Do your work courageously; Jehovah be with those who do what is right. § 109. Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab against the Arameans, I Kgs. 224, 29-36, II Chr. 181-193 Chronicler's Version of I Kgs. 224. 29-36 alli ance Ahab II Chr. 18 1Now when Jehoshaphat had attained riches and honor in The abundance, he allied himself by marriage with Ahab. 2And after some years he went down to Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen with in abundance for him and for the people who were with him, and influenced him to go up with him to Ramoth in Gilead. 3And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth in Gilead? And he answered him, I am as you are and my people as your people; and we will go with you to the war. dis 28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ahab's Ramoth in Gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will go guise into the battle disguised, but you put on your robes. So the king of Israel and disguised himself, and they went into the battle. 30Now the king of Aram aphat's II Chr. 198 So the Gk., which has evidently the original text. Heb., And they returned to Jerusalem. II Chr. 1910 I.e., to decide who is guilty and the extent of the guilt in a case of manslaughter. 109 At this point the histories of Judah and Israel touch very closely. Already in connection with the history of the northern kingdom the incident has been given in full in §§ 77, 78, Here simply the Chronicler's slightly variant version of the events which directly concerned Judah are reproduced in order to give a complete view of Jehoshaphat's reign. Jehosh peril Ahab's fatal wound Chronicler's Version of I Kgs. 224. 29-36 had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel. 31Therefore when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat they said, It is the king of Israel, and turned about to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out and Jehovah helped him, in that God lured them from him. 32And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33 And a certain man drew his bow at a venture and smote the king of Israel between the girdle and breastplate; then he cried to the driver of the chariot, Turn about, and carry me out of the army, for I am severely wounded. 34 And the battle increased that day, but the king of Israel held himself up in his chariot against the Arameans until evening; then about sunset he died. 19 1But Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned home to Jerusalem in peace. 2And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said nation to King Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked and love those who hate Jehovah? For this wrath has come upon you from Jehovah. 3Nevertheless some good things are found in you, in that you have put away the asherahs from the land and have set your heart on seeking God. Jehu's condem of the alli ance Advance of the invading foes Jehosh aphat's prayer for de liver ance § 110. Jehoshaphat's War against the Moabites, the Ammonites, and their Allies, II Chr. 201-30, cf. II Kgs. 34-27 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History II Chr. 20 1Now after this the Moabites and the Ammonites and with them some of the Meunites came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then some came and informed Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude is coming against you from the other side of the sea, from Edom; and they are already in Hazazontamar (that is En-gedi). 3Then Jehoshaphat feared and devoted himself to seeking Jehovah and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4And Judah gathered together to seek help of Jehovah, even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah. 5And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the temple of Jehovah, before the new court, and said, O Jehovah, the God of our fathers, art thou not God of heaven? and art thou not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? And in thy hand is power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee. Didst not thou, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and give it to the descendants of Abraham thy friend forever? 8So they dwelt therein and built thee § 110 Again all the characteristics of the late Jewish midrash reappear. The literary style and the absence of any reference to Benjamin point to an older source rather than to the original work of the Chronicler. The same tradition may possibly be the basis both of the present story and of the Elisha narrative in II Kgs. 3. In the case of both the original has evidently been greatly transformed and embellished during the long process of oral transmission and ultimate adaptation to the final didactic purpose. For the tradition of Jehoshaphat's joint campaign with Jehoram against Moab, cf. § 88. 201 So Gk. The impossible Heb., Ammonites, arose from a transposition of two letters. In 10, 23 and I Chr. 441 they are designated as inhabitants of Mount Seir. * 202 As often elsewhere, a scribe has mistaken Edom for Aram. The sea is the Dead Sea. |