Jehoshaphat יְהוֹשָׁפָט
Father of Jehu, king of Israel.
Who is Jehoshaphat in the Bible?
Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehu, who became king of Israel during the ninth century BC (2 Kings 9:2, 9:14). While Jehoshaphat himself is mentioned only in relation to his son, his lineage is significant because Jehu was anointed by Elisha's servant to carry out God's judgment against the house of Ahab. Jehu rose from being a commander in King Joram's army to the throne, where he fulfilled prophecy by destroying Joram and the entire royal family of Israel. Though Jehoshaphat's own deeds are not detailed in Scripture, his importance lies in being the father of one of Israel's most consequential kings, whose violent reign represented divine punishment for the idolatry and wickedness of Ahab's dynasty.
Biography
Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehu, who was anointed by Elisha's servant to become king of Israel. Jehu was a commander in the army of Joram, king of Israel, when he was anointed. Jehoshaphat's son Jehu went on to fulfill the prophecy against the house of Ahab by destroying Joram and the royal family of Israel.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book2 Kings 2 verses
- 2 Kings 9:2
"When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in, get him away from his companions, and take him to an inner room."
- 2 Kings 9:14
"Thus Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram,"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יְהוֹשָׁפָט | yĕhwōšāpāṭ | Jehoshaphat , the name of six Israelites; also of a valley near Jerusalem |