1 Kings 22:41-50 Meaning: Walking Rightly, But Not Perfectly
41Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
43He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
44Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he fought, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
46The remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land.
47There was no king in Edom. A deputy ruled.
48Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they didn’t go, for the ships wrecked at Ezion Geber.
49Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not.
50Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city. Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
41And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
42Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
43And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
44And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
46And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.
47There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
48Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion–geber.
49Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
50And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
41And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
42Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
43And he walked in all the way of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah: howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
44And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
46And the remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land.
47And there was no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
48Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
49Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
50And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
41And Jehoshaphat son of Asa hath reigned over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel,
42Jehoshaphat is a son of thirty and five years in his reigning, and twenty and five years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother is Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
43And he walketh in all the way of Asa his father, he hath not turned aside from it, to do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah; only the high places have not turned aside, yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.
44And Jehoshaphat maketh peace with the king of Israel;
45and the rest of the matters of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he got, and with which he fought, are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?
46And the remnant of the whoremongers who were left in the days of Asa his father he took away out of the land;
47and there is no king in Edom; he set up a king.
48Jehoshaphat made ships at Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, and they went not, for the ships were broken in Ezion-Geber.
49Then said Ahaziah son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, `Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships;' and Jehoshaphat was not willing.
50And Jehoshaphat lieth with his fathers, and is buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigneth in his stead.
41And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
43And he walked in all the way of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of Jehovah. Only, the high places were not removed: the people offered and burned incense still on the high places.
44And Jehoshaphat was at peace with the king of Israel.
45And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might which he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
46And the remainder of the sodomites, which were left in the days of his father Asa, he put away from out of the land.
47And there was no king in Edom: a deputy reigned.
48Jehoshaphat made Tarshish-ships to go to Ophir for gold; but they went not, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
49Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab to Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
50And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Kings give just a summary of Jehoshaphat's reign?
Context
This passage sits right after the death of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. The writer of Kings now turns back to Judah and gives a brief sketch of Jehoshaphat’s twenty-five year reign. Unlike the longer account in 2 Chronicles, this summary hits only a few key points: his faithfulness, the high places he did not remove, his peace with Israel, his reforms against idolatry, and a failed trade venture. Everything is compressed. That compression itself tells us something: the narrator is not giving a full biography, but a moral portrait. He wants readers to see both the light and the shadow in a king who walked in God’s ways but left some things undone.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words give this passage its shape. First, halak, “he walked”, is the same word used throughout the Old Testament for a person’s whole manner of life. It says Jehoshaphat walked in the way of his father Asa, a steady, daily pattern, not a single decision. Second, the word for “way” is derekh, meaning one’s conduct, the road you choose to travel. The writer notes he “did not turn away from it,” using sur, to depart, to remove yourself. That small verb captures his consistency: he stayed on the path.
Third, the word yashar, “right”, carries the sense of something straight, level, pleasing to God. It is not merely correct behavior; it is a life that lines up with what the Lord delights in. These three words together paint a king who did not wander, who walked the straight path day by day. Yet the passage quietly adds “nevertheless,” and that single Hebrew word (raq) admits what was incomplete. The walk was real, but not perfect. That honesty makes the portrait trustworthy.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this summary with both gratitude and caution. Many note that Jehoshaphat was a genuinely good king who, unlike his father Asa, remained faithful all his life, as Barnes and the Cambridge Bible observe. The high places, however, raise questions. Adam Clarke and others point out that 2 Chronicles says Jehoshaphat did remove the high places, suggesting either two kinds of high places (idolatrous versus those used for the Lord) or that he removed them gradually. Catholic readers sometimes see here a reminder of the need for ongoing reform, while Protestant readers often focus on the danger of incomplete obedience. The peace with Israel (v.44) is also read differently: some see it as wise diplomacy ending long wars; others as a fateful compromise that led to entangling alliances. All traditions agree that the passage presents a faithful king whose story is told honestly, with both his strengths and his weaknesses laid bare.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume that because Jehoshaphat “made peace with the king of Israel” (v.44), that was purely good. In fact, that peace led to a partnership with Ahab that nearly got him killed (1 Kings 22) and later to a joint trading venture with Ahab’s son that ended in shipwrecks. The biblical writers quietly note the cost of alliances with the northern kingdom. Peace is not always wisdom when it means joining hands with those who oppose the Lord.
Living This Out
This passage asks you to consider the “high places” still standing in your own life. Jehoshaphat walked faithfully, but he left some things untouched, perhaps because change felt too hard, or because he was content with partial reform. Most of us have an area like that: a habit we tolerate, a relationship that pulls us off-center, a compromise we have stopped noticing. The passage does not condemn him for it, but it does not hide it either. This week, you might ask the Lord to show you one high place you have left standing. Not so you can feel guilty, but so you can decide, with His help, what to do with it. Small steps toward taking it down count more than grand intentions that never start.
Main takeaway: A good king walked in God’s ways yet left some things undone, reminding us that faithfulness is a journey, not perfection.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Jehoshaphat did what was right, but he forgot to knock down the special hills where people prayed to the wrong gods. It is like cleaning your room but leaving a big mess under the bed. God wants us to clean up everything, not just the parts that are easy.
For ages 9, 12
Jehoshaphat was a good king who followed God, but the Bible honestly says he did not finish everything. He made peace with the bad kings of Israel and they got him into trouble. The ships he built for gold were wrecked. That is a warning for us: being mostly faithful is not the same as fully faithful. God wants all of our heart, not just the parts we are willing to give.
Questions People Ask
Why is Jehoshaphat's reign so short in Kings compared to Chronicles?
The writer of Kings is interested in a specific theme: how kings measured up to God's standards. He gives only a summary of Jehoshaphat, focusing on his faithfulness and his compromises. Chronicles provides a fuller record because it was written later for a different purpose, to encourage the returned exiles with a more complete picture of good kings.
What are the 'high places' that Jehoshaphat did not remove?
High places were local worship sites, often on hilltops, used for offering sacrifices. Some were dedicated to the Lord, but many were linked to pagan gods. Earlier kings had also left them standing. The Bible sees them as a problem because they made it too easy for people to mix worship of God with idolatrous practices.
Why did Jehoshaphat’s ships wreck at Ezion Geber?
The text does not give a direct reason, but the timing suggests God may have allowed the loss. Jehoshaphat had just made an alliance with the wicked king Ahaziah of Israel. Some commentators see the shipwreck as a judgment on that partnership, especially since Jehoshaphat later refused Ahaziah’s offer to try again.
What does 'the remnant of the sodomites' mean in verse 46?
The Hebrew word refers to male cult prostitutes who served in pagan worship. Asa had removed some, but Jehoshaphat finished the job. This reform shows his desire to cleanse the land of practices that had led Israel into idolatry. Different English translations use terms like 'sodomites,' 'shrine prostitutes,' or 'male prostitutes.'
Was Jehoshaphat a good king or a bad king?
Overall, the Bible presents him as a good king who walked faithfully in God's ways. But he was not perfect. He left the high places standing, made alliances with ungodly kings, and his trading venture failed. The honest mix of praise and critique makes his story more realistic and useful for us today.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study