Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
2 CHRONICLES 20:2KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 20:2 mean?
2 Chronicles 20:2 reports that messengers came to King Jehoshaphat with urgent news: a huge army was advancing against him from across the sea, approaching from the direction of Syria, and was already at Hazazontamar (also called Engedi). This verse sets the stage for a sudden crisis facing Judah’s king.
The verse describes a moment when Jehoshaphat receives alarming information from others. The “great multitude” refers to a coalition of enemy forces, and the mention of Hazazontamar pinpoints their location near the Dead Sea, at a place known as Engedi. This news comes as a surprise and signals immediate danger, prompting the events that follow in the chapter.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 20:2
- הָיָה (H935, transliterated "bo") — “came” or “cometh”: This word is used twice in the verse, emphasizing both the arrival of the messengers and the advancing army. It highlights the suddenness and movement involved.
- רַב (H7227, transliterated "rav") — “great”: This word describes the size of the approaching army, stressing that the threat is not minor but overwhelming.
- הֲמוֹן (H1995, transliterated "hamon") — “multitude”: This term often means a noisy crowd or a large group, underlining the scale and potential chaos of the invading force.
- מֵעֵבֶר (H5676, transliterated "me’ever") — “beyond”: This word locates the origin of the threat as coming from across a boundary, in this case, “beyond the sea,” which likely refers to the area east of the Dead Sea.
Why 2 Chronicles 20:2 matters
- This verse clarifies that Jehoshaphat’s crisis was unexpected and urgent, not a slow-building conflict, which shapes how the rest of the chapter unfolds.
- The specific mention of Hazazontamar (Engedi) helps readers understand the geography and immediacy of the threat, showing the enemy was already close.
- By naming the “great multitude” and their origin, the verse sets up the seriousness of the situation and explains why Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah respond with alarm and seek God’s help in the following verses.