31 Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah . He was thirty-five e years old when he became king , and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five e years . And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi . 32 He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord . 33 The high places , however , were not removed ; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers . 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat , first to last , behold , they are written in the annals of Jehu the son of Hanani , which is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel . 35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel . He acted wickedly in so doing . 36 So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish , and they made the ships in Ezion-geber . 37 Then Eliezer the 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 broken and could not go to Tarshish .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:31-37
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:31-37
(Read 2 Chronicles 20:31-37)
Jehoshaphat kept close to the worship of God, and did what he could to keep his people close to it. But after God had done such great things for him, given him not only victory, but wealth; after this, to go and join himself with a wicked king, was very ungrateful. What could he expect but that God would be angry with him? Yet it seems, he took the warning; for when Ahaziah afterward pressed him to join him, he would not, 1 Kings 22:49. Thus the alliance was broken, and the Divine rebuke had its effect, at least for a season. Let us be thankful for any losses which may have prevented the loss of our immortal souls. Let us praise the Lord, who sought after us, and left us not to perish in our sins.