2 Chronicles 18 32

2 Chronicles 18:32 kjv

For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

2 Chronicles 18:32 nkjv

For so it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

2 Chronicles 18:32 niv

for when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.

2 Chronicles 18:32 esv

For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

2 Chronicles 18:32 nlt

As soon as the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they stopped chasing him.

2 Chronicles 18 verses

2 Chronicles 18 32 Meaning

In 2 Chronicles 18:32, we witness God's direct intervention to protect Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, during the battle of Ramoth-gilead. Despite being mistaken for Ahab, the king of Israel, and surrounded by enemy chariot captains, Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord in distress. In response, the Lord divinely intervened, causing the enemy to turn away from him, saving his life. This verse highlights divine protection, the efficacy of prayer, and God's sovereign control over even chaotic battle situations.

2 Chronicles 18 32 Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, foolishly aligning with wicked King Ahab of Israel for a joint military campaign to recapture Ramoth-gilead from the Arameans. Despite the prophet Micaiah's dire warning that Ahab would be killed in battle, Ahab disguises himself, instructing Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes. This sets up Jehoshaphat as the apparent royal target. Verse 31 reveals that the Aramean chariot captains initially identified Jehoshaphat as the "king of Israel" and pursued him intensely. Verse 32 directly follows this pursuit, narrating Jehoshaphat's desperate cry and God's miraculous intervention to divert the enemy and spare his life. The immediate context of divine protection is contrasted with the subsequent, deserved death of Ahab (2 Chron 18:34), highlighting God's justice and discernment between those who seek Him and those who persist in wickedness.

2 Chronicles 18 32 Word analysis

• For when: Signals the consequence or result of the previous action (Jehoshaphat being mistaken for the King of Israel).

• the captains of the chariots: Hebrew: sarei ha-rekhev (שָׂרֵי הָרֶכֶב). "Captains" implies leaders, commanders; "chariots" represent the elite, shock troops of the ancient army, the most formidable and targeted unit against a king. Their specific focus on eliminating the king shows strategic intent.

• saw Jehoshaphat: Indicating visual recognition of his royal attire, as planned by Ahab, causing misidentification. This "seeing" led to a false assumption.

• they said: Refers to the collective agreement and declaration of the chariot captains.

• 'It is the king of Israel!': Their firm conclusion, though incorrect. This phrase carries significant weight as the "king of Israel" was the primary target, based on the Aramean king's direct order (2 Chron 18:30). The exclamation reflects their conviction.

• Therefore: Connects their mistaken identification to their immediate, decisive action.

• they surrounded him to fight: This portrays extreme peril. Being "surrounded" (literally "turned upon him" or "wheeled upon him") means he was hemmed in, facing multiple adversaries. "To fight" emphasizes the direct, lethal intent.

• But: A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a sudden shift from impending doom to divine deliverance. It highlights God's intervention as contrary to the natural course of events.

• Jehoshaphat cried out: Hebrew: vayyizʿaq (וַיִּזְעַק). This is not just a call but a loud, desperate, urgent plea. It signifies utter helplessness and fervent prayer to a higher power, in this case, the Lord. This act represents true reliance on God rather than self-preservation through other means.

• and the Lord helped him: Hebrew: vayyaʿazrēhū YHWH (וַיַעַזְרֵהוּ יְהוָה). "YHWH" (the Lord) is God's covenant name, emphasizing His faithfulness to His people, even when they err. "Helped him" (ʿazar) signifies active, saving assistance. This is direct divine intervention, a miracle on the battlefield.

• God moved them away from him: Hebrew: vayyasītēm ʾĔlōhîm mimmennū (וַיְסִיתֵם אֱלֹהִים מִמֶּנּוּ). "God" (ʾĔlōhîm) refers to God's universal sovereignty. "Moved them away" (literally, "incited them" or "allured them") indicates God divinely orchestrated a diversion or confusion in the minds of the enemy, causing them to abandon their pursuit of Jehoshaphat and turn their attention elsewhere. This could be a change of heart, a redirection, or another divine providential act. This underscores God's control over human actions and battle outcomes.

• "Captains of the chariots ... surrounded him to fight": This phrase highlights the focused, elite, and overwhelming threat that Jehoshaphat faced. It emphasizes the strategic intent of the enemy to neutralize the king, placing Jehoshaphat in immediate and mortal danger. This detail also contrasts sharply with the ease of his deliverance.

• "But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; God moved them away from him": This is the core of the verse, showcasing a profound theological truth. The human act of desperate prayer ("cried out") is immediately met by two aspects of divine intervention: covenant faithfulness ("the Lord helped him" - YHWH) and sovereign control over creation and enemies ("God moved them away" - Elohim). It reveals the dynamic relationship between human supplication and divine action, where God responds to a desperate cry even amid self-inflicted predicaments.

2 Chronicles 18 32 Bonus section

• This event serves as a significant contrast between trusting in human disguise (Ahab's failed plan, ultimately leading to his death) and trusting in divine rescue through a desperate plea (Jehoshaphat's deliverance).
• Jehoshaphat's crying out demonstrates a deep, intrinsic faith that surfaces in his greatest moment of need, despite his poor political judgment beforehand. It aligns with the theme throughout Scripture of God hearing the cry of the oppressed and those who seek Him sincerely.
• The immediate turn of events upon Jehoshaphat's cry underscores the swiftness and decisiveness of God's intervention, reinforcing the principle that God is "a very present help in trouble" (Psa 46:1).
• Scholarly insights highlight the nuanced meaning of "moved them away" (vayyasītēm), suggesting a divinely induced confusion or even an active 'incitement' to move in another direction, emphasizing God's direct, causative power over the enemies' will and action. This wasn't merely a coincidence; it was God.

2 Chronicles 18 32 Commentary

2 Chronicles 18:32 is a powerful testament to God's protection of His faithful, even when their choices are flawed. Jehoshaphat, despite making an unwise alliance with Ahab and risking his life by wearing royal attire, demonstrated a crucial act of faith when faced with certain death: he cried out to the Lord. This desperate plea activated divine intervention. The use of both "Lord" (YHWH) and "God" (Elohim) in this verse underscores the dual nature of divine action: God's covenant faithfulness to His chosen, even in their failures (YHWH), and His universal, sovereign control over all circumstances and even the minds of men (Elohim), directing events to achieve His purpose. This intervention was not a result of military prowess or clever strategy but a direct, miraculous act of God. It shows that God does not abandon those who trust Him, and that a simple cry for help in deep distress can move the hand of God, causing the impossible to happen on the battlefield, even redirecting the hearts and movements of enemies. It also subtly rebukes human schemes and disguises, which failed, in contrast to God's true and swift deliverance.