2 Chronicles 20:37 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Then. — And.

Eliezer the son of Dodavah. — A prophet who is otherwise unknown.

Dodavah. — Heb. Dôdâvâhû. (Comp. Hôdavyâhû. 1 Chronicles 3:24; LXX., Δωδία, as if the Heb. were Dôdîyâh; Vulg., “Dodau.”

Mareshah. — See 2 Chronicles 11:8.

Because thou hast joined thyself. — Comp. Jehu the son of Hanani’s similar rebuke of Jenoshaphat for his alliance with Ahab (2 Chronicles 19:2).

The Lord hath broken.Shattered (parac). (Comp. 2 Chronicles 24:7.) The perfect is prophetic, i.e., will certainly shatter.

And the ships were broken.Wrecked by a gale. (Comp. Psalms 48:7 : “With the east wind Thou breakest ships of Tarshish.”)

That they were not able.And kept not strength to go (2 Chronicles 13:20; 2 Chronicles 14:10).

After this misadventure, Ahaziah proposed another joint expedition; but the king of Judah declined. (See on 2 Chronicles 20:36.)

2 Chronicles 20:37

37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.