King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I [am] as thou [art], and my people as thy people; and [we will be] with thee in the war.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Ach'av king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat king of Y'hudah, "Will you go with me to Ramot-Gil'ad?" He answered him, "I'm with you all the way; think of my troops as yours; we will join you in this war."
Berean Standard Bible:
Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am like you, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”
American Standard Version:
And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Ahab{H256} king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} said{H559} unto Jehoshaphat{H3092} king{H4428} of Judah{H3063}, Wilt thou go{H3212} with me to Ramothgilead{H7433}{H1568}? And he answered{H559} him, I am as thou art, and my people{H5971} as thy people{H5971}; and we will be with thee in the war{H4421}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Kings 3:7
- And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I [am] as thou [art], my people as thy people, [and] my horses as thy horses.
1 Kings 22:4
- And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I [am] as thou [art], my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
Ephesians 5:11
- And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
Psalms 139:21
- Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
2 John 1:10
- ¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:11
- For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Chronicles 18:3
2 Chronicles 18:3 is part of the historical narrative of the Old Testament, specifically within the section detailing the reigns of the kings of Judah and Israel. The verse captures a moment of alliance and military cooperation between two kings: Ahab, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of the southern kingdom of Judah.
The historical context of this verse is set during a period when Israel and Judah, though often at odds, occasionally formed alliances, particularly when facing external threats. Ahab, known for his idolatrous practices and association with the prophets of Baal, sought to reclaim the city of Ramoth-gilead from the Arameans. This city was strategically important and located east of the Jordan River, within the territory that was frequently contested between the two nations.
In the verse, Ahab appeals to Jehoshaphat for military support, highlighting the political and military dynamics of the time. Jehoshaphat's response, "I [am] as thou [art], and my people as thy people; and [we will be] with thee in the war," indicates a strong commitment to their mutual defense pact or perhaps a sense of kinship due to their shared Israelite heritage. This alliance, however, was not solely based on mutual interests but was also influenced by the marriage of Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, to Ahab's daughter, Athaliah, thus intertwining the royal families.
The themes present in this verse include the complexities of political alliances, the interplay of faith and governance (as Jehoshaphat, a generally righteous king, aligns with Ahab, who is often portrayed negatively in the biblical narrative), and the human dynamics involved in decisions of war and peace. The verse also sets the stage for the subsequent narrative, where the prophet Micaiah ben Imlah prophesies against Ahab and predicts his downfall, illustrating the tension between divine will and human political machinations. This event underscores the biblical theme of trusting in God's guidance over and above the counsel of men, a lesson that is central to the spiritual journey of Jehoshaphat and the broader narrative of the Israelite monarchies.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H256
There are 397 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחְאָב
Transliteration: ʼAchʼâb
Pronunciation: akh-awb'
Description: once (by contraction) אֶחָב (Jeremiah 29:22); from אָח and אָב; brother (i.e. friend) of (his) father; Achab, the name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon; Ahab. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3092
There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוֹשָׁפָט
Transliteration: Yᵉhôwshâphâṭ
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-shaw-fawt'
Description: from יְהֹוָה and שָׁפַט; Jehovah-judged; Jehoshaphat, the name of six Israelites; also of a valley near Jerusalem; Jehoshaphat. Compare יוֹשָׁפָט. - Strong's Number: H3063
There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוּדָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah. - Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H7433
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָמֹת גִּלעָד
Transliteration: Râmôth Gilʻâd
Pronunciation: raw-moth' gil-awd'
Description: or רָמוֹת גִּלעָד; (2 Chronicles 22:5), from the plural of רָמָה and גִּלְעָד; heights of Gilad; Ramoth-Gilad, a place East of the Jordan; Ramoth-gilead, Ramoth in Gilead. See also רָאמוֹת. - Strong's Number: H1568
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גִּלְעָד
Transliteration: Gilʻâd
Pronunciation: ghil-awd'
Description: probably from גַּלְעֵד; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites; Gilead, Gileadite. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H4421
There are 308 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִלְחָמָה
Transliteration: milchâmâh
Pronunciation: mil-khaw-maw'
Description: from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior).