New Living Translation
2 Chronicles 20:2
2Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)
2 Chronicles 20:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).
- English Standard Version (ESV)Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar" (that is, Engedi).
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi).
Context of 2 Chronicles 20:2
1After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.) 3Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.
Read all of 2 Chronicles 202 Chronicles 20:2 word by word
וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָט֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֣א עָלֶ֜יךָ הָמ֥וֹן רָ֛ב מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיָּ֖ם מֵאֲרָ֑ם וְהִנָּם֙ בְּחַֽצְצ֣וֹן תָּמָ֔ר הִ֖יא עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then there cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- some that toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- a greatרַבrab · manyH7227
- multitudeהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
- against thee from beyondעֵ֫בֶר‛êber · side: beyondH5676
- the seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
- on this side Syriaאֲרָם'ărâm · EdomH758
- in Hazazon–tamarחַצֲצֹן תָּמָרchatstsôn tâmâr chatsătsôn tâmâr · Hazazon-tamarH2688
- En–gediעֵין גֶּ֫דִי‛êyn gedîy · EngediH5872
Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 20:2
- Genesis 14:3This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea).
- Numbers 34:12and then along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. These are the boundaries of your land.”
- Joshua 3:16the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.
- Genesis 14:7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.
- Joshua 15:62Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six towns with their surrounding villages.
- 1 Samuel 23:29David then went to live in the strongholds of En-gedi.
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 20:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2On this side Syria - Instead of מארם mearam, from Syria, I would read with one of Kennicott's MSS. (89) מאדם meedom, from Edom, which alteration brings it to truth and does not require the change of half a letter, as it consists in the almost imperceptible difference between ר resh and ד daleth . We do not read of any Syrians in this invasion, but we know there were Edomites, or inhabitants of Mount Seir. Hazazon-tamar - "In the wood of palm trees, that…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Translate, “from beyond the sea, from Edom.” The “sea” intended is, of course, the Dead Sea. “Syria” (Aram) is probably a mistake of a copyist for “Edom” (compare 2 Samuel 8:12 note). On Engedi, see 1 Samuel 23:29 note.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Translating the word as Edom instead of Aram aligns with the Chronicler’s later description of the armies (2 Chronicles 20:10, 22–23) and the geographical description of the attack from the southeast through En-gedi. (Aram was northeast of Judah.)Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. from beyond the sea on this side Syria--Instead of "Syria," some versions read "Edom," and many able critics prefer this reading, both because the nomad tribes here mentioned were far from Syria, and because express mention is made of Mount Seir, that is, Edom. The meaning then is: this confederate horde was composed of the different tribes that inhabited the far distant regions bordering on the northern and eastern coasts of the Red Sea. Their…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Chronicles 20:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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