2 Chronicles 20 37

2 Chronicles 20:37 kjv

Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

2 Chronicles 20:37 nkjv

But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works." Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

2 Chronicles 20:37 niv

Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.

2 Chronicles 20:37 esv

Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

2 Chronicles 20:37 nlt

Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, "Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy your work." So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.

2 Chronicles 20 verses

2 Chronicles 20 37 Meaning

Second Chronicles 20:37 records a prophetic word from Eliezer, declaring divine judgment against King Jehoshaphat. This judgment came because Jehoshaphat formed an unholy alliance with Ahaziah, the wicked king of Israel, specifically for a commercial shipping venture. As a direct consequence of this partnership, the ships built for trade were broken apart by God, preventing them from reaching their destination, Tarshish, and thus frustrating their purpose.

2 Chronicles 20 37 Context

The events of 2 Chronicles 20:37 occur during the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Chapters 17-20 depict him as generally righteous, seeking the Lord and implementing reforms (2 Chr 17:3-6; 19:4-11). However, he had a recurring flaw: making alliances with the wicked kings of Israel (Ahab and his son Ahaziah), despite divine warnings. Just before this chapter, Jehoshaphat was rebuked by the prophet Jehu for his alliance with wicked King Ahab, an alliance that nearly cost him his life in battle (2 Chr 19:2). Immediately preceding this verse, chapter 20 recounts Jehoshaphat's extraordinary reliance on God in a time of national crisis when massive armies came against Judah, leading to a miraculous victory without any human fighting, showcasing God's power and faithfulness to His people when they humble themselves and seek Him.

Despite this recent miraculous deliverance and previous prophetic warning, Jehoshaphat again aligned himself with Ahaziah, Ahab's son, a king known for his great wickedness (2 Chr 20:35; 2 Kgs 1:1-2, 16-18). This specific alliance was for a commercial purpose—building ships for maritime trade to Tarshish, likely for wealth and resources. The verse highlights that even a "good" king like Jehoshaphat could compromise his integrity through unholy associations, leading to divine frustration of his endeavors. The prophecy by Eliezer serves as God's direct word, immediately followed by its fulfillment, reinforcing the principle that God will directly oppose ventures born out of ungodly alliances, regardless of their apparent practical or economic benefit.

2 Chronicles 20 37 Word analysis

• Then: Indicates sequence, following the establishment of the ship-building enterprise in the previous verse (2 Chr 20:36).
• Eliezer: (Hebrew: אֱלִיעֶזֶר, 'Eli'ezer) Meaning "God is my help." A prophet not mentioned extensively elsewhere, yet divinely appointed to deliver this specific message. His name, "God is my help," provides a stark contrast to Jehoshaphat's action of seeking help/partnership from a wicked king rather than solely from God.
• son of Dodavahu: (Hebrew: דֹּדָוָהוּ, Doḏāwāhû) "Beloved of Yah" or "Beloved of the Lord." The patronymic grounds Eliezer's identity within the lineage of Israel, affirming his prophetic authority.
• of Mareshah: (Hebrew: מָרֵשָׁה, Māreshāh) A town in the Shephelah (foothills) of Judah (Josh 15:44), often associated with Micah's prophecies (Mic 1:15) and later historical events (2 Chr 14:9-13; 28:18). It indicates Eliezer's origin.
• prophesied: (Hebrew: וַיִּתְנַבֵּא, wayyitnabē') From the root nāḇā' (נָבָא), "to prophesy," indicating speaking under divine inspiration, proclaiming a message from God. This was a direct, authoritative pronouncement.
• against: Indicates the direction and nature of the prophecy – it was a pronouncement of judgment or warning specifically concerning Jehoshaphat's actions.
• Jehoshaphat: The king of Judah. His name (יהוֹשָׁפָט, Yəhōšāfāṭ) means "The LORD has judged" or "The LORD judges," ironically highlighting the divine judgment now coming upon him.
• saying: Introduces the direct message of the prophecy.
• Because: Connects the reason (the alliance) directly to the consequence (divine destruction). It signifies causality and moral accountability.
• you have allied yourself: (Hebrew: חָבַרְתָּ, ḥāḇartā) From the root ḥāḇar (חָבַר), meaning "to join together, associate with, ally with." This precise term highlights the deliberate nature of Jehoshaphat's co-operation with Ahaziah. The divine objection is to the nature of the partnership, not necessarily the mercantile venture itself.
• with Ahaziah: King of Israel, son of Ahab. A notoriously wicked king who "did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father...and served Baal" (2 Kgs 1:18, 22:52-53 MT; 1 Kgs 22:51-53 ET). The specific, repeated unholiness of the partner is the core issue.
• the LORD: (Hebrew: יְהוָה, Yahweh) The covenant name of God, emphasizing that this is not merely misfortune but direct, intentional divine action.
• has broken: (Hebrew: פָּרַץ, pāraṣ) A strong verb meaning "to break through, break down, burst open, frustrate." It implies violent separation or destruction. Here, it signifies divine intervention that dismantles and frustrates the entire enterprise. It's an active, definitive verb.
• your works: Refers to the collective effort and project, specifically the construction and intended operation of the ships for trade (mentioned in 2 Chr 20:36). This encompasses all the labor, resources, and hopes invested.
• So: Indicates immediate and direct consequence, showing the swift fulfillment of the prophetic word.
• the ships: (Hebrew: אֳנִיּוֹת, 'onîyôṯ) Vessels, merchant ships built at Ezion-geber.
• were wrecked: (Hebrew: נִשְׁבְּרוּ, nišberû) From the root šāḇar (שָׁבַר), "to break, shatter, collapse." The use of the niphal stem here implies that they "were broken" or "got broken," possibly by the forces of nature, but the prophecy makes clear that this was divine action. The "breaking" (pāraṣ) by the Lord resulted in the "wrecking" (šāḇar) of the ships.
• and were not able: Indicates the total failure of the objective. The breaking rendered them non-functional.
• to go: To commence their voyage or mission.
• to Tarshish: (Hebrew: תַּרְשִׁישׁ, Taršîš) Often denotes a distant, wealthy port city, possibly in Spain, or a general term for distant, large trading ships and voyages (e.g., Ps 48:7; Isa 23:1). It represented the desired economic prosperity from the venture.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat": Establishes divine communication through a specific, authorized prophet, directly challenging the king's actions. It underscores the Lord's intervention in the affairs of kings and kingdoms.
• "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah": This is the casus belli, the core reason for God's judgment. It emphasizes the principle that choosing companions, especially for leadership or strategic purposes, has profound spiritual consequences. God opposes "unequal yoking," even for seemingly beneficial economic pursuits.
• "the LORD has broken your works": Highlights God's active, decisive role in frustrating human plans that contravene His will. It's not passive misfortune, but direct divine intervention, a display of God's sovereignty over all human endeavors and prosperity. The Hebrew "pāraṣ" signifies a forceful dismantling of the entire venture.
• "So the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish": This presents the immediate and tangible outcome of the divine judgment. The consequence perfectly matches the sin – the alliance for a shipping venture leads directly to the destruction of the very ships intended for that venture. It showcases God's specificity in His judgments, nullifying the precise ambition born of disobedience.

2 Chronicles 20 37 Bonus section

The destruction of the ships built at Ezion-geber for a Tarshish venture might also be seen as an immediate reversal of a Deuteronomic blessing of prosperity through trade (Deut 28:1-14 outlines blessings for obedience). Conversely, disobedience (as outlined in Deut 28:15-68) brings curses, which include economic failure and frustration of labor, "you will plant a vineyard but not eat its fruit." The Lord's action ensures that the king understands that the success or failure of any enterprise ultimately depends on divine blessing, which is conditional upon faithfulness. This incident highlights a recurrent theme in Kings and Chronicles: while righteous kings like Jehoshaphat generally prospered, their spiritual compromises often led to specific setbacks and rebukes. It is a cautionary tale for leaders and individuals alike concerning the long-term spiritual cost of short-term worldly convenience or gain through ungodly associations.

2 Chronicles 20 37 Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:37 encapsulates a powerful biblical principle: the futility of ventures undertaken in disobedience to God, particularly through unholy alliances. Jehoshaphat, despite his general righteousness and his recent glorious victory received through faith in God (2 Chr 20:1-30), persistently struggled with compromising alliances with wicked kings of Israel. This particular instance, aligning with Ahaziah for a shipping venture, mirrored his earlier disastrous alliance with Ahaziah's father, Ahab (2 Chr 18).

The prophetic word from Eliezer serves as a direct, unvarnished pronouncement of God's displeasure. It highlights that God does not merely observe human actions; He actively intervenes to enforce His moral standards and to bring His children back to sole reliance on Him. The Lord "breaks" or "frustrates" the works of His people when they operate outside His boundaries. This is a severe mercy, preventing them from succeeding in endeavors that would further compromise their walk with Him or benefit those who oppose Him. The immediate and specific destruction of the ships demonstrates God's immediate judgment, reinforcing the direct cause-and-effect relationship between disobedience and its consequences. It’s a vivid illustration that economic prosperity or success is ultimately under divine control, not human cunning or ungodly partnerships. The verse stands as a testament to God's uncompromising nature regarding holiness and separation from wickedness, even when wrapped in commercial aspirations.