Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works.” The ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
Parallel Translations
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Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works.” The ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
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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.
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Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying: 'Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath made a breach in thy works.' And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
Cross-references (9)
Passages linked to 2 Chronicles 20:37 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Proverbs 13:20 One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with Huram’s servants. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
- 2 Chronicles 19:2 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? Because of this, wrath is on you from before Yahweh.
- Joshua 7:11-12 Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken some of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel can’t stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will not be with you any more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.
- 1 Kings 22:48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they didn’t go; for the ships wrecked at Ezion Geber.
- 2 Chronicles 16:9 For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.”
- Proverbs 9:6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
- Hebrews 12:6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
- Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (8 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Thus God would not have his to join in…
Thus God would not have his to join in society with idolaters and wicked men.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2Ch 20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of…
2Ch 20:37 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.
Ver. 37. And the ships were broken.] By tempest likely; and perhaps lying at anchor in the harbour; as it befell Charles V’s navy before the walls of Algiers, besieged by him by sea and by land, and well-nigh taken.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 37. The Lord hath broken, c.] "The WORD…
Verse 37. The Lord hath broken, c.] "The WORD of the Lord hath broken." - Targum. Concerning Tarshish, Ezion-geber, and Ophir, and the voyage thither, 1Kg 10:22, and at the end of that chapter, 1Kg 10:29, and on 2Ch 9:26-28. The Tarshish here is called by the Chaldee Torsos in the great sea, some place in the Mediterranean. On this subject the reader has, no doubt, already seen a great variety of opinions.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 37. Eliezer… prophesied against Jehoshaphat — This fact is…
37. Eliezer… prophesied against Jehoshaphat — This fact is mentioned only by the chronicler, and shows that Jehoshaphat was twice censured by the prophets for his connexion with the kingdom of Israel. Compare the rebuke of Jehu in 2Ch_19:2-3. These rebukes, and the evils which resulted from his alliance with the northern kingdom, are a cloud upon the memory of Jehoshaphat, but, on the whole, the general character of his administration was, as Stanley observes, “such as to leave behind the recollection of a reign of proverbial splendour.”
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 37. Mareshah] Cp. 2Ch_11:8 (note); 2Ch_14:10.
37. Mareshah] Cp. 2Ch_11:8 (note); 2Ch_14:10.
hath broken] R.V. hath destroyed. The same Heb. word is used 1Ch_13:11 (“had broken forth,” R.V.); 2Ch_14:11 (“hath broken forth,” R.V. mg.).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (37) Then.—And.
(37) Then.—And.
Eliezer the son of Dodavah.—A prophet who is otherwise unknown.
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Dodavah.—Heb. Dôdâvâhû. (Comp. Hôdavyâhû. 1Ch_3:24; LXX., Δωδία, as if the Heb. were Dôdîyâh; Vulg., “Dodau.”
Mareshah.—See 2Ch_11:8.
Because thou hast joined thyself.—Comp. Jehu the son of Hanani’s similar rebuke of Jenoshaphat for his alliance with Ahab (2Ch_19:2).
The Lord hath broken.—Shattered (parac). (Comp. 2Ch_24:7.) The perfect is prophetic, i.e., will certainly shatter.
And the ships were broken.—Wrecked by a gale. (Comp. Psa_48:7 : “With the east wind Thou breakest ships of Tarshish.”)
That they were not able.—And kept not strength to go (2Ch_13:20; 2Ch_14:10).
After this misadventure, Ahaziah proposed another joint expedition; but the king of Judah declined. (See on 2Ch_20:36.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah. Nothing beside…
Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah. Nothing beside is known of this prophet. For Mareshah, see 2Ch_11:8, and note there. The ships were broken; i.e. presumably by some storm. One general remark may be made upon these verses (34-37), together with vers. 45-50 of 1Ki 22., viz. that the dislocation of both manner and matter, observable in both, of them, probably betrays something out of order for whatever reason or accident, in the more original source, from which both drew, the apparently disjointed mixture of matter in the parallel being the more patent of the two.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord…
2Ch_20:37
Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works.
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Evil compacts
Some partnerships are inexplicable. A Church officer who has led the devotions of the Church has been known to enter into partnership with a grovelling man who never hesitated to use profane language in the warehouse; a generous supporter of good institutions has associated with a man who would have sold his own father if he could have made money by the transaction. And men have wondered who have not known how two could walk together except they were agreed, and who have gone upon the principle that light could have no communion with darkness. The principle of ill-associated partnerships works in two ways: the professing Christian finds it convenient to be able to remit all questionable work to the man who has made away with his conscience and honour, and the said man finds it very satisfactory to point to his professing partner as a proof and pledge that all is straightforward and upright. But is this as it ought to be? (J. Parker, D.D.)
An immoral fallacy
It will be said that business is business, and religion is religion, that there is a distinction between the merchant and the man. Let us admit that there remains this question: When the merchant is damned for his wicked deeds where will the man go? (J. Parker, D. D.)
Evil associations
The principle of the text--
I. Supplies a lesson for the young. What you have to settle first and foremost is, the moral basis on which you are proceeding; you must get the full consent of your judgment and heart and conscience before you give yourself up to any commercial course.
II. Is expansive enough to include the subject of marriage. We do not hesitate to lay down the broad principle that where there is incongruity of religious conviction between man and woman happiness of the deepest and purest kind is entirely out of the question.
III. Will permit an earnest word about evil companionship generally. (J. Parker, D. D.)
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The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.