2 Chronicles 18:3
New International Version
Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.”

New Living Translation
“Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle.”

English Standard Version
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the 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.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” And he answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.”

New American Standard Bible
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

NASB 1995
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

NASB 1977
And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

Amplified Bible
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to [fight against] Ramoth-gilead?” He answered, “I am as you are, and my people as your people [your hopes and concerns are ours]; we will be with you in the battle.”

Christian Standard Bible
for Israel’s King Ahab asked Judah’s King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? ” He replied to him, “I am as you are, my people as your people; we will be with you in the battle.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for Israel’s King Ahab asked Judah’s King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He replied to him, “I am as you are, my people as your people; we will be with you in the battle.”

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.

Contemporary English Version
and finally asked, "Jehoshaphat, would you go with me to attack Ramoth?" "Yes," Jehoshaphat answered. "My army is at your command.

English Revised 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth in Gilead?" Jehoshaphat told the king of Israel, "I will do what you do. My troops will do what your troops do. [We will join] your troops in battle."

Good News Translation
He asked, "Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?" Jehoshaphat replied, "I am ready when you are, and so is my army. We will join you."

International Standard Version
King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah, "Will you join me in attacking Ramoth-gilead?" "I'm with you," Jehoshaphat replied. "and my army is with you. We'll join you in the battle."

Majority 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.”

NET Bible
King Ahab of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I will support you; my army is at your disposal and will support you in battle."

New Heart English Bible
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?" He answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Ahab king of Israel said to 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.

World English Bible
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Ahab king of Israel says to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Do you go with me [to] Ramoth-Gilead?” And he says to him, “As I—so you, and as your people—my people, and [we go] with you into the battle.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Ahab king of Israel saith unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 'Dost thou go with me to Ramoth-Gilead?' And he saith to him, 'As I -- so thou, and as thy people -- my people, even with thee in battle.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Ahab king of Israel will say to Jehoshaphat king of Judah. Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-Gilead? And he will say to him, As me, as thou; as thy people, my people; and with thee in war.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Achab king of Israel said to Josaphat king of Juda: Come with me to Ramoth Galaad. And he answered him: Thou art as I am, and my people as thy people, and we will be with thee in the war.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Ahab, the king of Israel, said to Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, “Come with me to Ramoth Gilead.” And he answered him: “As I am, so also are you. As your people are, so also are my people. And we will be with you in war.”

New American Bible
Ahab, king of Israel, asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, “Will you come with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered, “You and I are as one, and your people and my people as well. We will be with you in the battle.”

New Revised Standard Version
King Ahab of Israel said to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am with you, my people are your people. We will be with you in the war.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go up with me to Ramath-gilead? And he answered him, I will go up as you do; and my people are as your people; and my horses as your horses, and we will go with you to war.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Akhab King of Israel said to Yehoshaphat King of Yehuda: “Go up with me to Ramath Gelad.” And he said to him:” I go up like you, and my people as your people, and my horses as your horses, and with you I will go to the battle.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Achaab king of Israel said to Josaphat king of Juda, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth of the country of Galaad? And he said to him, As I am, so also art thou, as thy people, so also is my people with thee for the war.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
2And some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him, and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead. 3Ahab 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.” 4But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”…

Cross References
1 Kings 22:4
So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”

1 Kings 22:29-33
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. / And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. / Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” ...

2 Chronicles 19:2
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.

2 Chronicles 20:35-37
Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. / They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber. / Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.

1 Kings 16:29-33
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. / However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. / And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal. ...

2 Chronicles 17:1-4
Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. / He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. / Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, ...

2 Chronicles 21:6
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 22:3-4
Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness. / And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.

2 Kings 8:18
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Kings 8:26-27
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. / And Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for he was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.

1 Kings 18:4
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

1 Kings 21:25
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

James 4:4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

Ephesians 5:11
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.


Treasury of Scripture

And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war.

I am as thou

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.

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.

Psalm 139:21
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

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Ahab Battle Gilead Israel Jehoshaphat Jehosh'aphat Join Judah Ramoth Ramothgilead Ramoth-Gilead War Wilt
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Ahab Battle Gilead Israel Jehoshaphat Jehosh'aphat Join Judah Ramoth Ramothgilead Ramoth-Gilead War Wilt
2 Chronicles 18
1. Jehoshaphat, joined in affinity with Ahab, is persuaded to go against Ramoth Gilead
4. Ahab, seduced by false prophets, according to the word of Micaiah, is slain there














Ahab king of Israel
Ahab, the son of Omri, was one of the most infamous kings of Israel, known for his idolatry and marriage to Jezebel, which led Israel into deeper sin. His reign is marked by a departure from the worship of Yahweh, as he promoted the worship of Baal. Historically, Ahab's rule is placed in the 9th century BC, a time of political complexity and religious syncretism in the Northern Kingdom. His character and actions are often seen as a cautionary tale against compromising faith for political alliances.

asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah
Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, was a king of Judah who sought to follow the ways of the Lord, contrasting with Ahab's idolatry. His reign is noted for religious reforms and efforts to bring the people back to the worship of Yahweh. The interaction between Ahab and Jehoshaphat highlights the political dynamics between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Jehoshaphat's willingness to engage with Ahab reflects the complex nature of political alliances, even among those who are faithful to God.

Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?
Ramoth-gilead was a strategically important city located east of the Jordan River. It was a city of refuge and a Levitical city, making it significant both militarily and religiously. Ahab's request to Jehoshaphat to join him in battle for Ramoth-gilead underscores the ongoing territorial conflicts of the time. This question also sets the stage for the ensuing narrative, where the consequences of alliances and decisions are explored.

And Jehoshaphat replied, 'I am like you, and my people are your people
Jehoshaphat's response indicates a willingness to align with Ahab, despite their differing religious commitments. This phrase suggests a sense of unity and shared identity, which can be seen as a diplomatic gesture aimed at fostering peace and cooperation. However, from a conservative Christian perspective, this alliance is often critiqued as a compromise that could lead to spiritual danger, highlighting the tension between political expediency and spiritual integrity.

we will join you in the war
Jehoshaphat's commitment to join Ahab in battle reflects the political realities of the ancient Near East, where alliances were often necessary for survival. However, this decision also serves as a narrative device to explore themes of divine guidance and the consequences of human choices. Theologically, it raises questions about the wisdom of aligning with those who do not share the same faith values, a topic that resonates with contemporary discussions on maintaining faithfulness in a pluralistic world.

(3) And Ahab king of Israel.--This verse is essentially the same as 1Kings 22:4. From this point the two narratives practically coincide. (See the Notes on 1 Kings 22)

To Ramoth-gilead--i.e., Ramoth of, or in, Gilead. Ramoth ("heights"), or Ramath or Ramah ("height"), was a common name in such a hilly country as Palestine. Kings adds, to the war.

And my people . . . in the war--The symmetry of this part of the verse has been disregarded by the chronicler, in order to make Jehoshaphat express an apparently more definite assent to Ahab's request. (Comp. Kings: "My people as thy people, my horses as thy horses" (kamoni kamoka, k?'ammi k?'ammbka, k?s-sai k?s-seika). The Syriac reads: "And my horses as thy horses; and I will go with thee to the war." Similarly the Arabic: "My horsemen as thy horsemen."

Verse 3. - I am as thou, etc. The same unqualified kind of language was used By Jehoshaphat on another occasion (2 Kings 3:7), two years later, when Jehoram, son of the deceased Ahab, also asked his help against Moab. Whether on the one occasion or the other, it is quite possible that Jehoshaphat thought he was serving common interests, and the cause of his own kingdom, as well as of Israel; nevertheless "Jehu the son of Hanani the seer" ignores the supposed justification (2 Chronicles 19:2).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Ahab
אַחְאָ֣ב (’aḥ·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet

king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

asked
וַיֹּ֜אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Jehoshaphat
יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ (yə·hō·wō·šā·p̄āṭ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3092: Jehoshaphat -- 'the LORD has judged', the name of a number of Israelites

king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Judah,
יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

“Will you go
הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ (hă·ṯê·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with me
עִמִּ֖י (‘im·mî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

against Ramoth-gilead?”
רָמֹ֣ת (rā·mōṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7433: Ramoth-gilead -- a city East of the Jordan

And Jehoshaphat replied,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I [am]
כָּמ֤וֹנִי (kā·mō·w·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

as you [are],
כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ (ḵā·mō·w·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

and my people
וּכְעַמְּךָ֣ (ū·ḵə·‘am·mə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

as your people;
עַמִּ֔י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

[we will join] you
וְעִמְּךָ֖ (wə·‘im·mə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

in the war.”
בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (bam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 18:3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 18:2
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