Jehoshaphat was the ruler of the kingdom of Judah from about 870 to 846 B.C. The name Jehoshaphat means the Lord judges or the Lord has judged. In the Bible , Jehoshaphat’s story is told in 1 Kings 22 and in 2 Chronicles 17-21. Jehoshaphat’s father was named Asa and his mother was named Azubah. During the reign of Jehoshaphat, Judah made an alliance with its rival, the kingdom of Israel. Both kingdoms enjoyed a temporary period of mutual prosperity. Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram married Athaliah, the sister or daughter of Ahab , who was king of Israel. Jehoshaphat received tribute from the Philistines and controlled the kingdom of the Edomites .
Several other Jehoshaphats also are mentioned in the Bible. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was a recorder for Kings David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:16, 20:24; 1 Kings 4:3). Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah was a district official for King Solomon (1 Kings 4:17). And Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi was the father of Jehu , a ruler of Israel (2 Kings 9:2). The prophet Joel refers to the “valley of Jehoshaphat” where God will judge the nations ( Joel 3:2-3).
