1 kings 22:42 - Jehoshaphat 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.

Generated Verse: 1 kings 22:42

What does "1 kings 22:42" mean?


This verse from 1 Kings 22:42 provides basic biographical information about King Jehoshaphat of Judah:

"Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign...": This tells us his age when he ascended to the throne, giving us a sense of his experience (or lack thereof) at the start of his reign.

"...and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem.": This tells us the duration of his reign and specifies that his rule was based in Jerusalem, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah.

"His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.": This states his mother's name and her lineage, identifying her as Azubah and specifying that her father was Shilhi. While this might seem like a minor detail, in ancient Near Eastern societies, lineage was important. Mentioning the mother's name could sometimes indicate her influence or significance in the king's life or in establishing his legitimacy.
Some biblical scholars suggest that mentioning the mother's name indicates that the mother came from an important or influential family, and that this was a way to reinforce the king's legitimacy.

In summary, the verse is a concise historical record that establishes Jehoshaphat's age at the start of his reign, the length of his reign, and identifies his mother and her father.

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