2 Chronicles 20:35-36

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:31-37

We are now drawing towards the close of the history of Jehoshaphat's reign, for a further account of which those who lived when this book was published were referred to an authentic history of it, written by Jehu the prophet (2 Chron. 19:2), which was then extant, 2 Chron. 20:34. This was the general character of his reign, that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, kept close to the worship of God himself and did what he could to keep his people close to it. But two things are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:35

And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel ,.... Meaning, not after the invasion of the Moabites, &c.; and the slaughter of them, but after Jehoshaphat returned from Ramothgilead, when he was reproved by a prophet for helping the ungodly, 2 Chronicles 19:1 so that it was a great aggravation of his folly and weakness, that after that, and quickly after that, he should join himself to a wicked prince, though not in war, but in trade; for so it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:36

And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish ,.... Of which; see Gill on 1 Kings 22:48 , and though it is there said, 1 Kings 22:49 , that Jehoshaphat refused letting the servants of Ahaziah go with his, that was after he had been reproved for joining with him, and after the ships were broken: and they made the ships in Eziongeber ; of which see Gill on 1 Kings 9:26 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 20:36

To go to Tarshish - "In the great sea." - Targum. By which expression they always meant the Mediterranean Sea. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:1-37

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:1-37

The last chapter in Jehoshaphat's career. The aspects in which the character of Jehoshaphat offers itself to our view, in the last seen of him, are now to be considered. Few men there are who bear themselves well in prosperity, especially if the prosperity be great; and many there are who fail to submit well to the discipline of adversity. Of this latter weakness of human nature it can scarcely be said that Jehoshaphat was an illustration. The punishment that had been foretold, that solemn... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:23-37

At and after the battle: lessons. Armed with a holy trust in God, the king and his people advanced to meet their multitudinous enemies with bounding heart and tuneful lip. Nor were they unwarranted in so doing; the event completely justified their hopes. We learn— I, THAT OUR ENEMIES SOMETIMES DISPOSE OF ONE ANOTHER . ( 2 Chronicles 20:23 .) We sometimes find that the enemy is best "left well alone." Let Shimei "cast stones" at us; even though they be words of false... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:31-37

The biography of Jehoshaphat. I. JEHOSHAPHAT 'S PARENTAGE . 1 . His father. Asa, a good king who enjoyed a long and honoured reign. Though good fathers have sometimes bad sons, as in the case of Jehoshaphat himself, yet there is a presumption in favour of a parent's piety being reproduced in the son. "Lord! I find the genealogy of my Saviour strangely checkered with four remarkable changes in four immediate generations. I see, Lord, from hence that my father's piety cannot be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:35

And after this . The historical episode of these three verses (35-37) is evidently misplaced. As Ahaziah succeeded his father Ahab in Jehoshaphat's seventeenth year, we of course are at no loss to fix the time of Jehoshaphat's "joining himself with Ahaziah." He had "joined himself" with Ahab, and had smarted for it, and yet "after" that, he "joined himself" with his son Ahaziah. We do not doubt that the "who" of this verse refers to Ahaziah, not, as some think, to Jehoshaphat. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:36

This verse tells us the object with which Jehoshaphat had joined himself with Ahaziah, and 1 Kings 22:49 tells us how at last, by a point-blank refusal to Ahaziah, he withdrew from the very brief commercial alliance after he had not merely been witnessed against by the Prophet Eliezer spoken of in our next verse, but more decisively witnessed against by the shattering of his ships. To go to Tarshish . This clause, even if the text is not corrupt, yet cannot mean what it seems to say;... read more

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