What is the meaning of 1 Kings 22:48? Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish “Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish” (1 Kings 22:48). • Jehoshaphat was otherwise known for walking “in the ways of his father Asa” and seeking the Lord (1 Kings 22:43), yet he still pursued the kind of maritime commerce Solomon once enjoyed (1 Kings 10:22). • “Ships of Tarshish” were large, ocean-going vessels designed for long voyages. Solomon stationed them on the Red Sea at Ezion-Geber (1 Kings 9:26); Jehoshaphat follows the same pattern, revealing a desire to reproduce Solomon’s prosperity. • The account is historically confirmed by 2 Chronicles 20:35-36, which adds that Jehoshaphat entered into a partnership with Ahaziah, the wicked king of Israel, to build these ships. to go to Ophir for gold The purpose was clear: “to go to Ophir for gold.” • Ophir had legendary quantities of gold (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 2 Chronicles 8:18). • Gold itself is not condemned in Scripture, but trusting in it is (Psalm 52:7; Proverbs 11:28). Jehoshaphat’s plan risked shifting his dependence from the Lord to material gain. • The Lord had already blessed Judah under his reign (2 Chronicles 17:3-5). A fresh venture driven by alliance with a godless king suggested compromise rather than contentment. but they never set sail “but they never set sail.” • Human plans—even those that look promising—are never guaranteed apart from God’s favor (Proverbs 16:9; James 4:13-15). • The project’s failure prevented further entanglement with Ahaziah. Sometimes the Lord’s “no” is protective, sparing His people from deeper pitfalls (Romans 8:28). • Jehoshaphat’s later refusal to rebuild the fleet with Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:49) shows he recognized the lesson. because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber “because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.” • 2 Chronicles 20:37 records the prophet Eliezer’s rebuke: “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works”. The wreck was not random; it was divine judgment for an unequal alliance. • Lessons that flow from the wreck: – Avoid yoking with those who oppose God (2 Corinthians 6:14; Psalm 1:1). – Even a godly king can suffer loss when he compromises (2 Chronicles 19:2). – God’s sovereignty extends to national projects and personal ventures alike (Daniel 4:35). • Ezion-Geber thus becomes a geographical witness to the truth that “unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). summary Jehoshaphat imitated Solomon’s maritime enterprise, seeking gold from Ophir through an ill-advised partnership with the ungodly Ahaziah. The ships never left harbor; the Lord shattered them at Ezion-Geber, underscoring that prosperity apart from obedience is fragile. The event teaches believers to guard their alliances, submit plans to God, and trust His intervention—even in closed doors—as a loving safeguard. |
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