2 Chronicles 18:34

The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. And at sunset he died.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrative describes the final hours of the battle where a wounded king of Israel, struck by an arrow, remains in his chariot facing the Aramean forces until sunset. This moment follows his order to his charioteer to withdraw from the fighting due to his severe injury.

The words — The Hebrew term מַעֲמִיד (ma.'a.Mid) literally means "holding upright" or "propping up," describing the king's physical effort to remain conscious in his chariot. This verb emphasizes the deliberate posture of the wounded ruler as he faces his enemies.

The thread — The text of Proverbs 13:21 states that disaster pursues sinners while prosperity rewards the righteous. The text of Numbers 32:23 warns that failing to obey the Lord's command will cause one's own sin to find them out.

Why it lands — The text records the king's physical struggle and death without attributing immediate cause or moral judgment within the verse itself. Readers must observe the factual account of the battle's conclusion before considering theological implications about divine justice or human responsibility.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַתַּ֤עַלva./Ta.'aland/ it went up הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ha./mil.cha.Mahthe/ battle בַּיּ֣וֹםba/i.Yomon the/ day הַה֔וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that וּמֶ֣לֶךְu./Me.lekhand/ [the] king of יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElIsrael הָיָ֨הha.Yahhe was מַעֲמִ֧ידma.'a.Mid[was] holding upright בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֛הba./mer.ka.Vahin the/ chariot נֹ֥כַחNo.khachopposite to אֲרָ֖ם'a.RamAram עַד־'ad-until הָעָ֑רֶבha./'A.revthe/ evening וַיָּ֕מָתva/i.Ya.motand/ he died לְעֵ֖תle./'Etto/ [the] time of בּ֥וֹאBo'[the] going of הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha./Sha.meshthe/ sun

King James Version

And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

Cross-references

Proverbs 13:21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
Numbers 32:23 But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out.
2 Chronicles 18:16 So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
2 Chronicles 18:19 And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.
2 Chronicles 18:27 But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”
Proverbs 28:17 A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.