Thursday, January 29, 2009

Jehoshaphat


January 19, 2009

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I [am] as thou [art,] my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jumping Jehoshaphat!

Presented by Kel Richards

A NewsRadio listener wants to know the origin of the expression Jumping Jehoshaphat!

the real point is that it?s an odd, almost a comic name, hence its use as a mild and jocular expletive
Nigel Rees in his dictionary of idioms and cliches labels this ?a mild expletive, taking a curious name from the Old Testament and adding an alliterative adjective?. The Oxford English Dictionary records it from 1857, and says it?s of American origin. As to who the original Jehoshaphat was ? well there are several historical figures bearing this name in the Old Testament: One was the son and successor of Asa as king of Judah. He occupied the throne for 25 years ? and made a number of disastrous political alliances. Another was the father of Jehu. A third was an official in King David?s court, where he?s called a ?recorder? or ?secretary of state?. And a fourth was an official under King Solomon. But the real point is that it?s an odd, almost a comic name, hence its use as a mild and jocular expletive.

07:49  

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