2 Chronicles 20:37 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 20:37 mean?

2 Chronicles 20:37 says that Eliezer, a prophet, told King Jehoshaphat that because he had allied himself with King Ahaziah, God had decided to ruin his plans. As a result, the ships Jehoshaphat built were destroyed and could not sail to Tarshish.

In this verse, Eliezer (the son of Dodavah from Mareshah) delivers a message from God to Jehoshaphat, warning him about the consequences of partnering with Ahaziah, who was not faithful to God. The verse describes a specific event: the breaking of Jehoshaphat’s ships, which were intended for a trading voyage, as a direct result of this unwise alliance.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 20:37

• "Joined" (חָבַר, ḥāvar): This word means to ally or associate closely. The verse uses it to highlight Jehoshaphat’s partnership with Ahaziah, which is shown as the main reason for the disaster.
• "Broken" (פָּרַץ, pārats and שָׁבַר, shāvar): Two different Hebrew words are used for "broken" in this verse—one for God breaking Jehoshaphat’s works (פָּרַץ, pārats, meaning to break through or destroy), and another for the ships being physically broken (שָׁבַר, shāvar, meaning to shatter or smash). This emphasizes both the divine act and the visible result.
• "Works" (מַעֲשֶׂה, ma‘ăseh): This word refers to Jehoshaphat’s efforts or undertakings, making it clear that the loss was not random but affected what Jehoshaphat had worked to accomplish.

Why 2 Chronicles 20:37 matters

• This verse clarifies that Jehoshaphat’s business failure was not just bad luck but was seen as a direct consequence of his alliance with someone unfaithful to God.
• The verse connects to the wider passage by showing that even a good king like Jehoshaphat could face setbacks if he made unwise partnerships.
• It highlights the biblical theme that alliances and choices have real spiritual and practical consequences, especially for leaders.