Ishmael
Ishmael son of Jehohanan was a leader in Judah during King Jehoshaphat's reign (2Ch.19.11).
Biography
Ishmael son of Jehohanan was a military commander in Judah during the reign of King Jehoshaphat, approximately the ninth century BC (2 Chronicles 19:11). He served within the administrative and judicial reforms that Jehoshaphat implemented across the nation, which included establishing courts in the fortified cities of Judah and appointing officials in Jerusalem to handle matters of both religious law and royal decree. As one of the rulers of the house of Judah designated to oversee matters of civil law and governance, Ishmael would have held significant authority in the kingdom. Jehoshaphat's charge to him and his colleagues was clear: act faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD (2 Chronicles 19:9).
Significance
Ishmael son of Jehohanan illustrates the kind of capable administration that undergirded Jehoshaphat's notable reign. The king's judicial reforms, described in 2 Chronicles 19, represent one of the most detailed accounts of legal institutionalization in the Old Testament, anticipating later developments in Jewish jurisprudence. Ishmael's role within this system reflects the biblical ideal that governance and justice are religious as well as civil responsibilities. His appointment signals that faithful leadership requires qualified, trustworthy officers at every level of authority. In a broader sense, his service under Jehoshaphat demonstrates how individual leaders, even unnamed to posterity, contribute to the health of the covenant community through faithful administration.
Verse Appearances (1)
2Chr
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]