And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

2 CHRONICLES 18:31KJV
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2 Chronicles 18:31 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 18:31 mean?

2 Chronicles 18:31 describes how the commanders of the enemy chariots mistook Jehoshaphat for the king of Israel and surrounded him to attack, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, God intervened and caused the attackers to turn away from him. The verse shows a moment of danger for Jehoshaphat, followed by divine rescue.

In this scene, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, is caught in the middle of a battle because he is mistaken for Ahab, the king of Israel. The enemy chariot commanders focus on him, thinking he is their main target. Jehoshaphat calls out for help, and the text says the LORD (Yahweh) helped him by moving the attackers away, highlighting both Jehoshaphat’s vulnerability and God’s active protection.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 18:31

  • "captains" (שָׂרֵי, śārê): This word refers to military leaders or commanders, emphasizing that it was not just ordinary soldiers but high-ranking officers who targeted Jehoshaphat.
  • "chariots" (רֶכֶב, rekhev): Chariots were elite military units in ancient warfare, so being surrounded by them meant Jehoshaphat was in serious danger.
  • "cried out" (זָעַק, zā‘aq): This word often means a loud, urgent plea for help, showing Jehoshaphat’s desperation in the moment.
  • "helped" (עָזַר, ‘āzar): The verb here means to give aid or support, making it clear that Jehoshaphat’s rescue was not by his own strength but by God’s intervention.
  • "moved" (סוּר, sûr): This word means to turn aside or remove, describing how God caused the attackers to stop pursuing Jehoshaphat.

Why 2 Chronicles 18:31 matters

  • The verse clears up that Jehoshaphat’s survival was not due to his own actions or military skill, but because he called out and God directly intervened.
  • It highlights the risk Jehoshaphat faced by joining Ahab in battle, showing how easily he could have been killed due to mistaken identity.
  • This moment sets up the contrast between Jehoshaphat’s reliance on God and Ahab’s fate later in the chapter, emphasizing the theme of divine protection for those who seek God’s help.

Where else these words appear

“moved” Hebrew H5496 · used in 18 verses

  • Deuteronomy 13:6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
  • 1 Kings 21:25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
  • Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

“out” Hebrew H2199 · used in 73 verses

  • Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
  • 1 Samuel 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
  • Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

“Jehoshaphat” Hebrew H3092 · used in 75 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
  • 2 Kings 3:1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

“helped” Hebrew H5826 · used in 77 verses

  • Genesis 49:25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
  • 2 Chronicles 20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
  • Psalms 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.