He joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber.
Parallel translations
- KJV And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber.
- BSB They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber.
- NKJV And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber.
- NASB So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.
- NLT Together they built a fleet of trading ships at the port of Ezion-geber.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The two kings partnered to build a trading fleet at Ezion-geber. The joint venture symbolized Jehoshaphat's misguided reliance on an ungodly ally.
Overview
Jehoshaphat joined Ahaziah in constructing ships meant for the lucrative Tarshish trade. The cooperation tied Judah's fortunes to a king under God's judgment. The episode sets up a prophetic rebuke, showing that prosperity sought through compromise will not stand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 1 Kgs 10:22For the king had a fleet of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
- 1 Kgs 9:26King Solomon made a fleet of ships in Ezion Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
- 2 Chr 9:21For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with Huram’s servants. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 20:36 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.