Evidently this is a reference to something local that had happened which Joel knew about. You’re going to have to say [unintelligible] and things like this, because this is a battle in which you’re going to need every possible amount of strength that you can muster for yourself. The Spring of Gihon, and Pool of Siloam, with the exits of Hezekiah’s (or Siloam) Tunnel, as well as the Spring of En-Rogel are to be seen, with some remnants of older water systems. And I think this is a local, present illustration of the Lord’s championship of oppressed people. As noted before, the prophet Joel refers to the Valley of Jehoshaphat twice in chapter 3 as a place where the nations will be gathered for judgement (Joel 3:2, 11-13). We thank Thee for the Scriptures of the Old Testament which speak of him. jehoshaphat, valley of (`emeq yehoshaphaT); the latter word means "Yahweh judgeth," and `emeq, "wide," "open valley"; Septuagint he koilas Iosaphat): The name is used in Joel 3:2, 12 of the scene of Judgment: "Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about" ( Joel 3:12 ). Well, this is what we’re reading about. (JEHOSHAPHAT). So it’s a beautifully constructed paragraph. (1913). In the eighteenth year of his reign Jehosaphat visited Ahab in Samaria, and nearly lost his life accompanying his ally to the siege of Ramoth-Gilead.While Jehoshaphat safely returned from this battle, he was reproached by the prophet Jehu, son of Hanani, about this alliance. We thank Thee too for the privilege of reading them in the light of the fulfillment in the New Testament. He fled, they pursued him, they caught him, and they cut off his thumbs and his toes. We talk a great deal about providence. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. Jehoshaphat also pursued alliances with the northern kingdom. mentioned in Scripture only in Joel 3:2 Joel 3:12 . It is also referred to as the “valley of decision” (Joel 3:14). And these things we ask in Jesus’ name and for his sake. Well then he adds, “As I have done, so God has repaid me.” A beautiful illustration of the jus talionis. This is especially prominent in the second section of this passage in which the Lord says twice that he is going to return your recompense on your head. Now that’s what we read here. He says that it’s a biblical thing because we all know that God created the water first, and obviously, the water had to be flat or else it would run off. Let the nations be aroused and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. So there has been a turn, so far as Joel is concerned, because of the repentance of the nation Israel. Then he says in verse 10, “Beat your plowshares into swords.” And what he means by this is that you’re going to need all of the weapons that you possibly can get together. Apart from the men named Joshaphat (a contracted form of Jehoshaphat), in the Bible there are three men and one valley named Jehoshaphat: A son of Ahilud, who worked as a recorder under kings David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:16, 1 Kings 4:3). And then, as the judge, he announces swift retribution in the end, and the exercise of the jus talionis. One of the things that Adolf Hitler said was this, “I believe that I act today in unison with the Almighty Creator’s intention by fighting the Jews. According to II Chronicles 20:26, the army of King Jehoshaphat assembled, after the defeat of his enemies, in the valley of Beracah ("Blessing") somewhere near Tekoa. This has been fulfilled; but Joel speaks of the final conflict, when God would destroy all Jerusalem's enemies, of whom Tyre and Zidon, etc., were types. I remember in reading some things about the life of Hitler that much earlier in his life he came to a point of decision in which there was some question about him turning towards spiritual things, but finally, he said something like he was no longer going to be concerned about matters like that, he was putting them away from himself, and from that time on, he seemed to go in exactly the reverse type of way. This would mean that this valley would again become a place of God’s judgment – this time the End Time site of the outpouring of His wrath! All rights reserved. Here is God’s Nuremberg trials. Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram married Ahab's daughter Athaliah. Or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled, so that they then make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.”.