Jehoshaphat 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.
1 KINGS 22:42KJVWhat does 1 Kings 22:42 mean?
1 Kings 22:42 gives basic information about Jehoshaphat, stating that he became king at age thirty-five, ruled for twenty-five years in Jerusalem, and that his mother was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. This verse introduces Jehoshaphat’s reign and family background as part of the historical record of Judah’s kings.
The verse is part of a summary section where the biblical writer records key facts about each king’s rule. It tells readers who Jehoshaphat was, how long he reigned, and where he ruled. Mentioning his mother and her family roots was a common way to establish legitimacy and trace royal lineage in ancient Israel’s records.
The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 22:42
- יְהוֹשָׁפָט (Yehoshafat): This is the Hebrew name for Jehoshaphat, meaning "Yahweh has judged." The name itself reflects a theological idea common in Israel’s royal names.
- עָשָׂרִים (esrim) and חָמֵשׁ (chamesh): These are the Hebrew words for "twenty" and "five," used here to specify Jehoshaphat’s age and the length of his reign. The repetition of these numbers highlights the importance of precise historical record-keeping.
- יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yerushalayim): This is the Hebrew name for Jerusalem, the capital city, emphasizing that Jehoshaphat’s rule was centered in the heart of Judah’s religious and political life.
- אֲזוּבָה (Azuvah): The name of Jehoshaphat’s mother, meaning "forsaken" or "abandoned." Including her name and lineage (בַּת־שִׁלְחִי, bat-Shilhi, "daughter of Shilhi") was a way to record royal family connections.
Why 1 Kings 22:42 matters
- The verse clears up who Jehoshaphat’s mother was, which helps trace the royal family line and shows the importance of maternal ancestry in Judah’s monarchy.
- By stating Jehoshaphat’s age and the length of his reign, the verse helps readers place his rule in the timeline of Judah’s history and compare it with other kings.
- The mention of Jerusalem as the seat of his reign connects Jehoshaphat to the central place of worship and governance for the people of Judah, reinforcing the city’s ongoing importance in the biblical narrative.