2 Chronicles 19:2

Jehu the son of Hanani. Hanani was the name of the prophet who had rebuked Asa for relying on the king of Syria rather than on the Lord, and who had been thrown into prison for his rebuke (ch. 16:6-10), and Jehu was the prophet who boldly rebuked Baasha for his iniquity (1 Kings 16:1-7). Jehu was also the historian of Jehoshaphat’s reign (2 Chron. 20:34).

To meet him. Jehoshaphat was rebuked at a most auspicious time when, downcast and dispirited, he approached his capital. At such a moment the prophetic message could do a most telling work on his heart.

Help the ungodly. From a human standpoint, the conduct of Jehoshaphat in joining with Ahab in an attack on Syria might have appeared wise. Syria was growing in power, a menace to both Judah and Israel. The Hebrews had a right to recover the cities across the Jordan that Syria had taken from them. Probably Jehoshaphat had carefully appraised the situation and may have felt that his undertaking against Syria was sound. But the venture did not have divine sanction and in carrying it out Jehoshaphat was associated with a man whom the Lord could not bless. Ahab was a base idolater, while Jehoshaphat had been endeavoring to wipe out idolatry. There was little in common between the two, and Jehoshaphat had no right to join himself to so base a man. He would have been much better off and would have been surer of success if he had gone against Syria alone. With God’s help and blessing he could have succeeded, even without the assistance of the forces of Ahab. Human help can prove to be more of a curse than a blessing, if it does not have the benediction of Heaven.

Wrath upon thee. God was not pleased with Jehoshaphat’s course, and made His displeasure known by an open rebuke. The following chapter mentions a great attack upon Judah by the forces of Moab, Ammon, and Mt. Seir and the wrecking of Jehoshaphat’s navy.