Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 20:2
Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Messengers approach King Jehoshaphat during the mobilization of the Moabite, Ammonite, and Meunite alliance to report that a large force has arrived at Hazazon-tamar.
The words — The Hebrew הָמ֥וֹן רָ֛ב (hamon rav) literally means "great multitude" or "vast army," emphasizing the scale of the approaching threat.
The thread — The location Hazazon-tamar is identified as En-gedi, a site later noted in 1 Samuel 23:29 where David takes refuge, while the geographic markers echo the Valley of Siddim in Genesis 14:3 and the territory of Hazazon-tamar in Genesis 14:7.
Why it lands — The report functions as a factual trigger that precedes Jehoshaphat’s alarmed response and his subsequent call for national fasting and seeking the Lord.
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
King James Version
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 Hazazon–tamar, which is En–gedi.
Cross-references
- Genesis 14:7 Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
- 1 Samuel 23:29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.
- Genesis 14:3 The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
- Numbers 34:12 Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”
- Joshua 3:16 the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
- Joshua 15:62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six cities, along with their villages.
- Song of Solomon 1:14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.