Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 20:36
They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah agreeing to build a fleet at Ezion-geber for a trade route to Tarshish. This event follows their initial political alliance and precedes Eliezer’s prophecy of divine judgment.
The words — The Hebrew חָבַר (ḥāḇar) literally means "allied" or "joined," describing the binding agreement between the two kings. The term אֳנִיּוֹת ('ōniyyōt) denotes the specific vessels constructed for the venture.
The thread — The text notes the ships were built at Ezion-geber, a location previously used for Solomon’s fleet (1 Kings 9:26; 2 Chronicles 9:21). The narrative immediately continues with the ships being wrecked and unable to sail (2 Chronicles 20:37).
Why it lands — The verse states the kings' decision to construct the fleet before noting its destruction. It requires readers to recognize the practical outcome of pursuing commercial and political alliances outside established prophetic boundaries.
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
And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion–geber.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 9:26 King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.
- 1 Kings 10:22 For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.