2 Chronicles 20 31

2 Chronicles 20:31 kjv

And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

2 Chronicles 20:31 nkjv

So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

2 Chronicles 20:31 niv

So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

2 Chronicles 20:31 esv

Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

2 Chronicles 20:31 nlt

So Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

2 Chronicles 20 verses

2 Chronicles 20 31 Meaning

This verse introduces King Jehoshaphat's reign over Judah, stating his age of accession (thirty-five), the length of his rule (twenty-five years), his capital city (Jerusalem), and his mother's identity (Azubah, daughter of Shilhi). It is a standard royal biographical formula used to anchor the king's tenure historically and chronologically within the lineage of the Davidic covenant in Judah.

2 Chronicles 20 31 Context

Verse 31 immediately follows the remarkable account of Jehoshaphat and Judah's miraculous victory over the Ammonites, Moabites, and others in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, a narrative that profoundly demonstrates God's deliverance in response to faith and worship. This formulaic verse serves as the chronological summation of Jehoshaphat's reign, marking its general success and providing factual background after a highlight of divine intervention. It effectively acts as a conclusion to the specific war narrative and an introduction to the general summary and other aspects of his reign presented in the following verses (32-37). Historically, Jehoshaphat ruled the Southern Kingdom of Judah during the divided monarchy, maintaining Jerusalem as its capital. He is predominantly presented by the Chronicler as a devout king who sought the Lord, promoted true worship, and established order and justice, reflecting the Chronicler's emphasis on adherence to God's law and the Temple worship for the success of the Davidic monarchy.

2 Chronicles 20 31 Word analysis

• And: Connects this summary to the preceding detailed narrative, indicating its position as a follow-up or a conclusive summary.
• Jehoshaphat (יְהוֹשָׁפָט - Yehoshafat): Means "The LORD has judged" or "The LORD is judge." This name's meaning is significant given the legal reforms Jehoshaphat enacted (2 Chr 19:4-11), where he established judges throughout the land and stressed fair judgment according to God's law.
• reigned: Hebrew verb malakh (מָלַךְ), denoting exercise of kingly power and rule. It signifies formal assumption and continuation of royal authority.
• over Judah: Specifies his dominion. Judah refers to the Southern Kingdom, comprising the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which maintained the Davidic dynasty and the Temple in Jerusalem after the division of the united monarchy. This highlights the continuity of the covenant line.
• he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign: This precise age indicates a mature and capable ruler. Accession at this age suggested a readiness for the immense responsibilities of kingship, often associated with wisdom and experience in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
• and he reigned twenty and five years: This indicates a substantial and relatively stable period of rule for Jehoshaphat, suggesting prosperity and God's favor throughout most of his reign, as longer reigns were often interpreted as a sign of divine blessing on righteous kings.
• in Jerusalem: This explicitly states the capital city of Judah and the seat of the Davidic dynasty. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם - Yerushalaim, possibly "Foundation of peace" or "city of peace") was the religious, political, and cultural center chosen by God for His dwelling place (the Temple) and where the kings of David's line sat. Its inclusion confirms the legitimacy and spiritual heart of his rule.
• And his mother's name was Azubah (עֲזוּבָה - ʻAzubah): Azubah means "Forsaken." While the specific meaning may or may not carry direct significance for the king's life, identifying the Queen Mother was a common and crucial part of the royal biographical formula for the kings of Judah (though not typically for Israel). It served to legitimize the king, identify his specific lineage distinctively, and likely helped in historical record-keeping, as the Queen Mother often held a recognized and influential position in the court.
• the daughter of Shilhi: Further specifies Azubah's lineage, providing precise genealogical information for identifying the king's heritage, affirming his royal pedigree and connection within the network of Judahite families.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem." This is the core regnal formula. It efficiently provides key historical facts (who, what, where, when, for how long). For the Chronicler, it underscores the stability and duration of Jehoshaphat's reign within the legitimate Davidic dynasty centered in God's chosen city. The emphasis on Jerusalem connects the king's political rule with the divine covenant and Temple worship.
• "And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi." The inclusion of the queen mother's name and lineage is characteristic of the Southern Kingdom's royal accounts. This detail distinguishes the king from others who might share the same name (as was possible) and provides a specific marker of his unique identity within the royal line, further establishing his legitimate succession to the throne.

2 Chronicles 20 31 Bonus section

• The meticulous detailing of the King's age at accession and the length of his reign, alongside the queen mother's name, reflects an emphasis on precise chronological record-keeping crucial for understanding divine providence and historical linearity within the biblical narrative, contrasting with the often more chaotic Northern Kingdom reigns where such details are sometimes less consistent or absent.
• The placement of this standard formula after the dramatic narrative of the Valley of Berachah victory (2 Chr 20:1-30) suggests the Chronicler's primary aim isn't merely to list reign details but to contextualize the factual summaries within significant theological events, highlighting that divine favor was central to Jehoshaphat's generally successful rule rather than just raw human longevity or administrative skill.
• The phrase "reigned twenty and five years" highlights a full, stable period for a ruler in ancient times, implying blessing and success generally associated with good kings who walked in God's ways, contrasting with the shorter or more volatile reigns of many wicked kings.

2 Chronicles 20 31 Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:31 serves as a concluding summary and factual marker within the Chronicler's account of King Jehoshaphat's reign. After detailing a major miraculous victory demonstrating God's faithfulness and Jehoshaphat's reliance on Him, this verse grounds the king in objective historical details: his accession age, the length of his reign, his capital city, and his mother's identity. This standardized regnal formula, common for Judahite kings, emphasizes the legitimate and orderly transfer of power within the divinely appointed Davidic line. The inclusion of "Jerusalem" reinforces the theological significance of the city as the center of worship and God's chosen dwelling place, making Jehoshaphat's rule directly tied to God's presence among His people. While concise, the details provided underscore a period of stable and enduring leadership, which the Chronicler consistently portrays as being primarily characterized by righteousness and reliance on the Lord, albeit with certain political compromises. This verse effectively acts as a period mark for a major phase of Jehoshaphat's rule while setting the stage for subsequent, perhaps less glorious, events summarized in the verses that follow.