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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Contemporary English Version

2 Chronicles 20:2

Messengers told Jehoshaphat, "A large army from Edom east of the Dead Sea has invaded our country. They have already reached En-Gedi."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - En-Gedi;   Faithfulness;   Hazezon-Tamar;   Jehoshaphat;   Thompson Chain Reference - En-Gedi;   Host;   Jehoshaphat;   Righteous-Wicked;   Worldly;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Engedi;   Jehoshaphat, Valley of;   War;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jehoshaphat;   Moab;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Obadiah, Theology of;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Hazezon-Tamar;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Engedi;   Gebal;   Maon;   Moab;   Palestine;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Engedi;   Hazazon-Tamar;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   En-Gedi;   Hazazon-Tamar;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Engedi ;   Hazezontamar ;   Moab, Moabites ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Cluster;   Mount engedi;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Engedi;   Smith Bible Dictionary - En'-Gedi;   Haz'ezon-Ta'mar;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Engedi;   Jehoshaphat;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Beyond;   En-Gedi;   Hazazon-Tamar;   Hazezon-Tamar;   Palm Tree;   Tamar (2);   Ziz, Ascent of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Engedi;   Hazazon-Tamar;   Palm;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).
Hebrew Names Version
Then there came some who told Yehoshafat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from beyond the sea from Aram; and, behold, they are in Hatzatzon-Tamar (the same is `En-Gedi).
King James Version
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 Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
English Standard Version
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 Century Version
Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A large army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. They are already in Hazazon Tamar!" (Hazazon Tamar is also called En Gedi.)
New English Translation
Messengers arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, "A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from the direction of Edom. Look, they are in Hazezon Tamar (that is, En Gedi)."
Amplified Bible
Then it was reported to Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude has come against you from beyond the [Dead] Sea, out of Aram (Syria); and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is, Engedi)."
New American Standard Bible
Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram; and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi)."
World English Bible
Then there came some who told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (the same is En-gedi).
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then there came that tolde Iehoshaphat, saying, There commeth a great multitude against thee from beyonde the Sea, out of Aram: and beholde, they bee in Hazzon Tamar, which is En-gedi.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi)."
Berean Standard Bible
Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar" (that is, En-gedi).
Complete Jewish Bible
Y'hoshafat was told, "A huge army from beyond the [Dead] Sea, from Aram, is on its way to fight you; right now they are in Hatzatzon-Tamar" (that is, ‘Ein-Gedi).
Darby Translation
And they came and told Jehoshaphat saying, A great multitude is come against thee from beyond the sea, from Syria; and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar, which is Engedi.
Easy-to-Read Version
Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "There is a large army coming against you from Edom. They are coming from the other side of the Dead Sea. They are already in Hazazon Tamar!" (Hazazon Tamar is also called En Gedi.)
George Lamsa Translation
Then there came messengers and told Jehoshaphat, saying, A great army has come against you from beyond the Red Sea; and, behold, they are encamping in Jericho, which is En-gad.
Good News Translation
Some messengers came and announced to King Jehoshaphat: "A large army from Edom has come from the other side of the Dead Sea to attack you. They have already captured Hazazon Tamar." (This is another name for Engedi.)
Lexham English Bible
And they came and reported it to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude from beyond the sea, from Aram, is coming against you. Now behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).
Literal Translation
And they came in and spoke to Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude has come against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And they came and tolde Iosaphat, and sayde: There cometh a greate multitude agaynst the from beyonde the See of Syria, & beholde, they are at Hazezon Thamar, that is Engaddi.
American Standard Version
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (the same is En-gedi).
Bible in Basic English
And they came to Jehoshaphat with the news, saying, A great army is moving against you from Edom across the sea; and now they are in Hazazon-tamar (which is En-gedi).
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And there came some that told Iehosaphat, saying: There commeth a great multitude against thee from the other side of the sea, and out of Syria, and behold they be in Hasason Thamar, which is Engadi.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying: 'There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea from Aram; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar'--the same is En-gedi.
King James Version (1611)
Then there came some that tolde Iehoshaphat, saying, There commeth a great multitude against thee from beyond the Sea on this side Syria, and behold, they bee in Hazazon-Tamar, which is En-gedi.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they came and told Josaphat, saying, There is come against thee a great multitude from Syria, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Asasan Thamar, this is Engadi.
English Revised Version
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon–tamar (the same is En–gedi).
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And messangeris camen, and schewiden to Josaphat, seiden, A greet multitude of tho placis that ben biyondis the see, and of Sirie, is comun ayens thee; and, lo! thei stonden in Asasonthamar, which is Engaddi.
Update Bible Version
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from beyond the sea from Edom; and, look, they are in Hazazon-tamar (the same is En-gedi).
Webster's Bible Translation
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side of Syria; and behold, they [are] in Hazazon-tamar, which [is] En-gedi.
New King James Version
Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; [fn] and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi).
New Living Translation
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.)
New Life Bible
Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "Very many people are coming against you from the other side of the sea, from Syria. See, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is, Engedi)."
New Revised Standard
Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar" (that is, En-gedi).
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And there came some and told Jehoshaphat, saying, There is coming against thee, a great multitude from beyond the sea, from Syria, - and lo! they are in Hazazon-tamar, the same, is Engedi.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there came messengers, and told Josaphat, saying: There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea, and out of Syria, and behold they are in Asasonthamar, which is Engaddi.
Revised Standard Version
Some men came and told Jehosh'aphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Haz'azon-ta'mar" (that is, En-ge'di).
Young's Literal Translation
And they come in and declare to Jehoshaphat, saying, `Come against thee hath a great multitude from beyond the sea, from Aram, and lo, they [are] in Hazezon-Tamar -- it [is] En-Gedi.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi)."

Contextual Overview

1 Some time later, the armies of Moab and Ammon, together with the Meunites, went to war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Messengers told Jehoshaphat, "A large army from Edom east of the Dead Sea has invaded our country. They have already reached En-Gedi." 3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he asked the Lord what to do. He then told the people of Judah to go without eating to show their sorrow. 4 They immediately left for Jerusalem to ask for the Lord 's help. 5 After everyone from Judah and Jerusalem had come together at the Lord 's temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the new courtyard 6 and prayed: You, Lord , are the God our ancestors worshiped, and from heaven you rule every nation in the world. You are so powerful that no one can defeat you. 7 Our God, you forced out the nations who lived in this land before your people Israel came here, and you gave it to the descendants of your friend Abraham forever. 8 Our ancestors lived in this land and built a temple to honor you. 9 They believed that whenever this land is struck by war or disease or famine, your people can pray to you at the temple, and you will hear their prayer and save them. 10 You can see that the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Edom are attacking us! Those are the nations you would not let our ancestors invade on their way from Egypt, so these nations were not destroyed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

beyond the sea: That is, the Dead or Salt Sea, the western and northern boundary of Edom, which is the reading of one of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts (89) instead of aram, "Syria." Genesis 14:3, Numbers 34:12, Joshua 3:16

Hazazontamar: Genesis 14:7

Engedi: Joshua 15:62, 1 Samuel 23:29, Song of Solomon 1:14

Reciprocal: Judges 10:9 - passed Judges 14:14 - Out of the eater 2 Chronicles 32:1 - these things Ezekiel 47:10 - Engedi Ezekiel 48:28 - from Tamar

Cross-References

Genesis 12:15
The king's officials told him about her, and she was taken to his house.
Genesis 20:11
Abraham answered: I did it because I didn't think any of you respected God, and I was sure that someone would kill me to get my wife.
Genesis 20:12
Besides, she is my half sister. We have the same father, but different mothers.
Genesis 20:13
When God made us leave my father's home and start wandering, I told her, "If you really love me, you will tell everyone that I am your brother."
Genesis 26:1
Once during Abraham's lifetime, the fields had not produced enough grain, and now the same thing happened. So Isaac went to King Abimelech of the Philistines in the land of Gerar,
Genesis 26:7
with his beautiful wife Rebekah. He was afraid that someone might kill him to get her, and so he told everyone that Rebekah was his sister.
Genesis 26:16
Finally, Abimelech said, "Isaac, I want you to leave our country. You have become too powerful to stay here."
2 Chronicles 19:2
But the prophet Jehu son of Hanani met him and said: By helping that wicked Ahab, you have made friends with someone who hates the Lord . Now the Lord God is angry at you!
2 Chronicles 20:37
But the prophet Eliezer warned Jehoshaphat, "The Lord will destroy these ships because you have supported Ahaziah." The ships were wrecked and never sailed.
2 Chronicles 32:31
Even when the leaders of Babylonia sent messengers to ask Hezekiah about the sign God had given him, God let Hezekiah give his own answer to test him and to see if he would remain faithful.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat,.... Deserters or spies, or some of the inhabitants of those parts where they had entered, who rode post haste to acquaint him with it:

saying, there cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; that is, beyond the Dead or Salt sea, the sea of Sodom; the Targum is,

"beyond the west of Syria,''

that sea being the western boundary of it:

and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi;

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Translate, “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” (compare2 Samuel 8:12; 2 Samuel 8:12 note).

On Engedi, see 1 Samuel 23:29 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Chronicles 20:2. On 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 is, in Engedi." - Targum. This is the meaning of the word, and it is probable that they lay hid here.


 
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