And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongeber.

2 CHRONICLES 20:36KJV
Know the Bible

2 Chronicles 20:36 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 20:36 mean?

2 Chronicles 20:36 describes how Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, formed an alliance with Ahaziah, king of Israel, to build ships intended for a voyage to Tarshish, and that these ships were constructed at Eziongeber. The verse highlights a cooperative effort between the two kings focused on maritime trade or exploration.

Jehoshaphat is the main figure here, and the verse is part of a narrative about his reign. The setting is a time when kings often sought economic gain through overseas ventures. Eziongeber was a port on the Red Sea, making it a strategic location for building ships. The mention of Tarshish suggests ambitions for long-distance trade, possibly with distant lands known for wealth.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 20:36

  • "joined" (חָבַר, chavar): This word means to ally or bind together, emphasizing that Jehoshaphat was not acting alone but deliberately partnering with Ahaziah, which is significant given the often troubled relationship between Judah and Israel.
  • "ships" (אֳנִיָּה, oniyah): The term refers to large sea-going vessels, indicating a serious investment in maritime activity, not just local fishing boats.
  • "Tarshish" (תַּרְשִׁישׁ, Tarshish): This place name is often associated with distant, possibly western, trading ports—sometimes thought to be in Spain or another far-off location—implying the scale and ambition of the venture.
  • "Eziongeber" (עֶצְיֹן גֶּבֶר, Eziongeber): This was a key port at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, showing the practical starting point for the ships’ journey.

Why 2 Chronicles 20:36 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahaziah was not just political but also economic, aimed at expanding trade and wealth through overseas ventures.
  • This cooperation is notable because earlier in the chapter, Jehoshaphat is praised for his faithfulness, but here he aligns with a king of Israel, which the wider passage later criticizes as unwise.
  • The detail about shipbuilding at Eziongeber connects this event to earlier biblical accounts of Solomon’s maritime trade, showing a recurring pattern of seeking prosperity through sea routes.

Where else these words appear

“Eziongeber” Hebrew H6100 · used in 7 verses

  • Numbers 33:35 And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.
  • Deuteronomy 2:8 And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
  • 1 Kings 22:48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

“Tarshish” Hebrew H8659 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 10:4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
  • Esther 1:14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
  • Isaiah 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

“joined” Hebrew H2266 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 14:3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
  • Exodus 36:16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
  • Psalms 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

“ships” Hebrew H591 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 49:13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.
  • Job 9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
  • Isaiah 43:14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.