2 Chronicles 19:2

And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon thee from before the LORD.

And Jehu {H3058} the son {H1121} of Hanani {H2607} the seer {H2374} went out {H3318} to meet {H6440} him, and said {H559} to king {H4428} Jehoshaphat {H3092}, Shouldest thou help {H5826} the ungodly {H7563}, and love {H157} them that hate {H8130} the LORD {H3068}? therefore {H2063} is wrath {H7110} upon thee from before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}.

Yehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Y'hoshafat, "Should you help the wicked and befriend those who hate ADONAI? Because of this, ADONAI's anger is upon you.

Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, โ€œShould you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate Jehovah? for this thing wrath is upon thee from before Jehovah.

Commentary

In 2 Chronicles 19:2, the prophet Jehu son of Hanani confronts King Jehoshaphat of Judah following his controversial alliance with King Ahab of Israel. Jehu delivers a direct and sharp rebuke, questioning Jehoshaphat's decision to aid the wicked and align himself with those who oppose the Lord, declaring that divine wrath will come upon him as a consequence.

Context

This verse immediately follows King Jehoshaphat's ill-advised military alliance with Ahab, the notoriously wicked king of Israel, against Ramoth-gilead. Despite being a generally righteous king who sought the Lord, Jehoshaphat made a significant error in judgment by forming a covenant with a king who promoted idolatry and actively opposed God's prophets. Jehu's appearance here highlights God's immediate response to Jehoshaphat's compromise, demonstrating that even good leaders are accountable for their actions and associations.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Compromise and Ungodly Alliances: The central issue is Jehoshaphat's decision to "help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD." This serves as a powerful warning against forming close associations or alliances with those who actively oppose God's ways, as such partnerships can lead to spiritual defilement and divine displeasure.
  • Divine Displeasure and Consequences: Jehu's declaration, "therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD," underscores the seriousness of Jehoshaphat's sin. God's wrath here is not necessarily destructive punishment but a form of divine displeasure and corrective discipline, aimed at bringing the king back to full obedience. This concept is echoed in other biblical warnings against compromise (e.g., 2 Corinthians 6:14).
  • The Role of the Prophet: Jehu, like his father Hanani before him (2 Chronicles 16:7), bravely confronts the king with God's message, regardless of personal risk. This highlights the vital role of prophets in ancient Israel to speak truth to power and call leaders to account for their actions before God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "them that hate the LORD" translates from the Hebrew sane'ey Yahweh (ืฉื‚ื ึฐืึตื™ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื”), which conveys a strong sense of active enmity or opposition against God. It emphasizes that Ahab's wickedness was not merely a passive disregard for God but an active stance against His will and commands. The term "ungodly" (rasha' - ืจึธืฉืึธืข) refers to the wicked or guilty, those who deviate from God's righteous standards.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Discernment in Relationships: We are called to be in the world but not of the world. While we should love all people, we must exercise discernment in forming close partnerships, business alliances, or even deep friendships, especially when those associations might compromise our faith or values.
  • Accountability for Leaders: The story of Jehoshaphat reminds us that even well-intentioned leaders are not immune to making grave errors and are accountable to God for their choices, particularly regarding alliances and moral integrity.
  • God's Corrective Love: The "wrath" mentioned here is not necessarily destructive but a form of God's discipline, intended to guide His people back to righteousness. It underscores God's commitment to His covenant and His desire for His children to walk in integrity. Despite this rebuke, God continued to work with Jehoshaphat, leading to a great deliverance later (see 2 Chronicles 20).
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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?

  • Psalms 139:22

    I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

  • James 4:4

    Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

  • 2 Chronicles 18:3

    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.

  • 2 John 1:10

    ยถ 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.

  • Ephesians 5:11

    And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
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