After the death of Ahab, we have the Omride dynasty finally weakening. It seemed Ahab was a better military guy than his sons. Ahaziah of Israel died without children so Jehoram of Israel took over. Jehoram of Israel may have put away the pillar of Baal-Hammon. However, Jehoram of Israel still stuck through with the sinister calf worship which persisted for centuries even after Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had passed away into eternal doom. We will now read 1 Kings 4 which narrates this incident of Moab going against Israel.
Moab was under the subjugation of Israel. After Ahab’s death, Moab wanted to rebel. Genesis tells us the bizarre origins of Moab. It was Lot’s incest through his daughters (whose names aren’t mentioned in Scripture) because they thought it was a worldwide disaster. Moab and Ammon were born out of father-daughter incest. Later, Ruth tells us the story of a Moabite girl who became a follower of Yahweh. Jehoram was shown to be not as powerful as Ahab. Mesha, the king of Moab, attempted to regain independence from the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Here we have Jehoshaphat who had good intentions but bad actions. There are no questions asked that Jehoshaphat was a man of God. However, Jehoshaphat was foolish enough to have an alliance with Ahab’s family. Jehoram of Judah had married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. We have Jehoshaphat still shaken and asking for a prophet of the LORD. I’m amazed that Jehoshaphat hadn’t learned from the incident with Ahab. Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of Yahweh but Ahab had that prophet (named Micaiah) locked up.
J. Vernon McGee would comment that if only Jehoshaphat prayed for guidance before this alliance. Elisha reveals his contempt for Jehoram. Elijah, prior to the ascension, would’ve already told the former more than enough of how wicked the Omride dynasty was. The alliance between the Omride dynasty and Ethbaal’s house was something. The children of Ahab were grandchildren to both Omri and Ethbaal, both wicked rulers. Elisha ended up saying something like, “If it wasn’t for Jehoshaphat, I wouldn’t have come here.”
A miracle happened. The Moabites thought that both the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom killed each other. The Moabites forgot about war and wanted to grab the spoil. I’m in the position to think that the water must’ve been cursed by God to become blood. However, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had the advantage which defeated the Moabites. The Moabites were getting defeated.
We do have another reason why the pagan civilizations got damned one after the other. Human sacrifice and cannibalism tend to be common practices. Mesha would foolishly offer his eldest son to their chief god Chemosh. Can you imagine that? I think that Mesha’s eldest son must’ve voluntarily sacrificed himself. I believe some people become voluntary human sacrifices. However, this was all a waste as Moab was defeated.
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