2 Chronicles 19:2

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Following his controversial and ill-fated alliance with the idolatrous King Ahab of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah is confronted by the prophet Jehu, son of Hanani. Jehu delivers a sharp divine rebuke, questioning Jehoshaphat's decision to aid the wicked and align himself with those who actively oppose the Lord, declaring that such spiritual compromise will inevitably bring divine wrath upon him. This prophetic encounter underscores God's immediate response to His people's disobedience and His unwavering commitment to their holiness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a pivotal turning point immediately following the disastrous military campaign at Ramoth-gilead, detailed in [2 Chronicles 18](/2_chronicles/18 "2 Chronicles 18 - Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab"). Despite a prophetic warning from Micaiah, Jehoshaphat, driven by a misguided desire for alliance with Ahab, participated in the battle, nearly losing his life. The king's safe return to Jerusalem, mentioned in [2 Chronicles 19:1](/2_chronicles/19-1 "2 Chronicles 19:1 - Jehoshaphat's Return to Jerusalem"), is quickly followed by this divine confrontation. Jehu's appearance here is not a casual encounter but a divinely orchestrated intervention, highlighting God's immediate accountability for His leaders. It sets the stage for Jehoshaphat's subsequent reforms and his later, more righteous conduct, particularly in [2 Chronicles 20](/2_chronicles/20 "2 Chronicles 20 - Jehoshaphat's Prayer and Deliverance"). The prophet's stern words provide the theological framework for understanding the consequences of unholy alliances and the necessity of spiritual purity for God's covenant people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah (c. 870-848 BC) and was largely considered a righteous king who sought to reform Judah and promote the worship of Yahweh. However, his alliance with Ahab, the notoriously wicked king of Israel who promoted Baal worship and persecuted God's prophets, was a significant political and spiritual misstep. In ancient Near Eastern culture, alliances were often sealed with marriage treaties and religious syncretism, making Jehoshaphat's bond with Ahab particularly dangerous. Prophets like Jehu played a crucial role in Israelite society, serving as God's direct spokespersons, often confronting kings and leaders with divine messages, regardless of personal risk, as seen earlier with Jehu's father, Hanani, rebuking King Asa in [2 Chronicles 16:7-10](/2_chronicles/16-7-10 "2 Chronicles 16:7-10 - Hanani Rebukes Asa"). This prophetic office ensured that even the most powerful rulers were held accountable to God's covenant.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme is the **danger of ungodly alliances and spiritual compromise**. Jehoshaphat, despite his personal piety and efforts to promote true worship in Judah (as seen in [2 Chronicles 17:7-9](/2_chronicles/17-7-9 "2 Chronicles 17:7-9 - Jehoshaphat's Religious Reforms")), made a pragmatic but spiritually compromising decision to align with a king who actively hated the Lord. This verse also powerfully illustrates the theme of **divine accountability**, emphasizing that even righteous leaders are not exempt from God's judgment when they deviate from His commands, as God holds His chosen people to a higher standard. Furthermore, it highlights the **vital role of the prophet** as God's conscience to the king, speaking truth to power and calling for repentance. The "wrath" mentioned here, while severe, is often understood in Chronicles as a corrective discipline aimed at restoring the king to full obedience and preventing further spiritual decay, rather than immediate destruction.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **ungodly (Hebrew, _râshâʻ'_):** This term (H7563) refers to those who are morally wrong, wicked, or guilty, specifically in a spiritual sense. It describes individuals who deviate from God's standards and actively engage in practices contrary to His will. Ahab epitomized this, leading Israel into deep idolatry and injustice. To "help" such a person implies not just political assistance but an endorsement or complicity in their ungodly ways, making Jehoshaphat's actions a grave spiritual compromise.
* **hate (Hebrew, _sânêʼ'_):** This verb (H8130) signifies a strong, active enmity or opposition. It is not merely indifference but a deliberate and often aggressive antagonism. To "love them that hate the LORD" is a stark contrast, highlighting the profound spiritual dissonance in Jehoshaphat's actions. It implies an affection or affinity for those who are fundamentally opposed to God's character and purposes, which is an abomination in God's eyes, as it blurs the lines between righteousness and wickedness.
* **wrath (Hebrew, _qetseph'_):** This word (H7110) denotes divine indignation, anger, or displeasure. In the Old Testament, God's wrath is not a capricious emotion but a righteous response to sin and rebellion, especially against His covenant people. While it can manifest in severe judgment, in the context of Chronicles, it often serves as a corrective discipline, a warning designed to bring about repentance and restoration, as seen in God's continued dealings with Jehoshaphat after this rebuke.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him":** This clause immediately establishes the divine intervention and the authority of the messenger. Jehu, identified as a "seer" (a prophet, H2374), is dispatched by God to confront Jehoshaphat upon his return from the disastrous battle. The mention of his father, Hanani (H2607), recalls a previous prophetic rebuke to King Asa in [2 Chronicles 16:7](/2_chronicles/16-7 "2 Chronicles 16:7 - Hanani's Rebuke of Asa"), emphasizing a lineage of bold truth-tellers who fearlessly delivered God's word to kings.
* **"and said to king Jehoshaphat, 'Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD?'":** Jehu's direct address is a powerful **rhetorical question**, designed to expose the moral and spiritual absurdity of Jehoshaphat's alliance. It highlights the fundamental incompatibility between God's people and those who actively oppose Him. To "help" (H5826, _ʻâzar_) implies rendering assistance and support, while to "love" (H157, _ʼâhab_) suggests a deep affection, affinity, or alliance. The prophet challenges the very nature of Jehoshaphat's association with Ahab, underscoring the spiritual danger of such a bond.
* **"therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.":** This declarative statement delivers the immediate and inevitable consequence of Jehoshaphat's sin. The "therefore" (H2063, _zôʼth_) establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship: the ungodly alliance is the cause, and divine wrath (H7110, _qetseph_) is the inevitable effect. The phrase "from before the LORD" (H6440, _pânîym_ + H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_) emphasizes that this is not personal anger from Jehu, but a righteous decree originating directly from God Himself, underscoring its authority, certainty, and the divine displeasure at Jehoshaphat's spiritual compromise.

#### Literary Devices
The prophet Jehu employs several potent literary devices to convey his message with maximum impact. The most prominent is **Direct Address**, as he confronts King Jehoshaphat personally, lending immediacy and gravity to the rebuke. He then uses a powerful **Rhetorical Question**: "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD?" This question is not posed for an answer but to highlight the self-evident spiritual contradiction and moral error in Jehoshaphat's actions, forcing him to confront the implications of his choices and the profound disconnect between his actions and his covenant with Yahweh. This is followed by a clear statement of **Prophetic Rebuke**, delivering God's judgment directly and unequivocally. Finally, the verse clearly demonstrates **Cause and Effect**, linking Jehoshaphat's ungodly alliance directly to the consequence of "wrath upon thee from before the LORD," establishing a clear moral and theological principle for the reader: spiritual compromise inevitably leads to divine displeasure and corrective action.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage profoundly speaks to the biblical principle of separation and the consequences of spiritual compromise. God's people are called to be distinct, set apart for His purposes, and not to entangle themselves in alliances or deep affections with those who actively oppose His ways. Jehoshaphat's error was not merely a political miscalculation but a spiritual one, demonstrating a critical lack of discernment regarding the nature of evil and its corrupting influence. God's "wrath" here is not an arbitrary outburst but a just and holy response to a breach of covenant fidelity, intended to purify and restore His people. It underscores that God takes seriously the choices of His leaders and holds them accountable for their associations, as these can either promote or hinder His kingdom's work. The divine warning serves as a profound reminder that loyalty to God must always supersede pragmatic alliances that compromise spiritual integrity.

* [2 Corinthians 6:14-18](/2_corinthians/6-14-18 "2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")
* [Proverbs 13:20](/proverbs/13-20 "Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the Wise")
* [Ezra 9:1-2](/ezra/9-1-2 "Ezra 9:1-2 - Israel's Intermarriage")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The confrontation between Jehu and Jehoshaphat offers timeless lessons for believers today. In a world that often blurs moral lines and encourages pragmatic compromise, this verse serves as a stark reminder of the importance of spiritual discernment in all our relationships and endeavors. While we are called to love our neighbors and engage with the world, we must exercise caution against forming deep alliances or partnerships that could compromise our faith, values, or commitment to Christ. This applies to business ventures, close friendships, romantic relationships, and even political affiliations. The principle is not isolation, but intentional separation from practices and associations that actively oppose God's character and purposes. For those in leadership, the passage is a powerful call to accountability, reminding us that our choices, especially concerning whom we align ourselves with, have significant spiritual ramifications and are subject to God's scrutiny. God's "wrath" in this context is ultimately a manifestation of His corrective love, a divine intervention designed to redirect us back to a path of integrity and wholehearted devotion, ensuring our ultimate good and His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in my life might I be forming "ungodly alliances" or compromising my faith for the sake of convenience, popularity, or perceived gain?**
* **How can I better discern between engaging with the world for the sake of the Gospel and becoming entangled in its ungodly systems or values?**
* **What does God's "wrath" in this passage teach me about His character and His commitment to my holiness and spiritual purity?**
* **If I am in a leadership position, how does Jehoshaphat's story challenge me to be more vigilant about my associations and decisions, understanding their spiritual impact?**

### FAQ
**Who was Jehu, and why was he the one to confront Jehoshaphat?**

Answer: Jehu was a prophet, specifically identified as "the son of Hanani the seer." His father, Hanani, had previously confronted King Asa (Jehoshaphat's grandfather) for a similar act of relying on a human alliance rather than the Lord, as recorded in [2 Chronicles 16:7](/2_chronicles/16-7 "2 Chronicles 16:7 - Hanani Rebukes Asa"). This lineage suggests a family tradition of prophetic boldness and a divine appointment for Jehu to deliver this specific message. God often used prophets as His direct messengers to kings and leaders, holding them accountable to the covenant and calling them to repentance. Jehu's confrontation was not a personal vendetta but a divinely commissioned rebuke, underscoring the seriousness of Jehoshaphat's actions in God's eyes and demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to the spiritual purity of His people.

**What exactly was Jehoshaphat's sin, given that he was generally a righteous king?**

Answer: Jehoshaphat's primary sin was forming an "ungodly alliance" with King Ahab of Israel, a notoriously wicked king who promoted Baal worship and persecuted God's prophets. While Jehoshaphat was generally righteous and sought the Lord (e.g., [2 Chronicles 17:3-6](/2_chronicles/17-3-6 "2 Chronicles 17:3-6 - Jehoshaphat's Righteous Reign")), his alliance with Ahab demonstrated a critical lapse in discernment and a compromise of his spiritual integrity. He "helped the ungodly" and "loved them that hate the LORD," which was a direct violation of the principle of separation for God's people. His participation in Ahab's military campaign, despite prophetic warnings, showed a willingness to prioritize political expediency over divine principles, leading to near-disaster and God's displeasure, as seen in [2 Chronicles 18:31](/2_chronicles/18-31 "2 Chronicles 18:31 - Jehoshaphat's Near Death"). His sin was not a rejection of God, but a dangerous compromise of His standards.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The confrontation in [2 Chronicles 19:2](/2_chronicles/19-2 "2 Chronicles 19:2 - Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat") profoundly foreshadows the ultimate call to separation and holiness found in Christ. While Jehoshaphat was rebuked for aligning with those who "hate the LORD," Jesus Himself perfectly embodied the principle of being "in the world but not of the world" ([John 17:14-16](/john/17-14-16 "John 17:14-16 - Not of the World")). He called His disciples to a radical allegiance that would set them apart from the world's values and systems, emphasizing that no one can serve two masters ([Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "Matthew 6:24 - Cannot Serve Two Masters")). The "wrath" upon Jehoshaphat, a corrective discipline, points to the greater wrath against sin that Christ absorbed on the cross, offering believers a new covenant where they are reconciled to God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live holy lives, free from the entanglements of ungodly alliances ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through Christ, we are made new creations ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")), called to walk in light, having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness ([Ephesians 5:8-11](/ephesians/5-8-11 "Ephesians 5:8-11 - Walk as Children of Light")). Jesus, as the ultimate Prophet, continually calls His followers to uncompromising devotion and warns against any alliance that would diminish their love for God or compromise their witness, ensuring their true spiritual prosperity and the advancement of His kingdom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI 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

¶ 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].