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Monday, July 14th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

2 Chronicles 20:2

This verse is not available in the MSG!

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).
Contemporary English Version
Messengers told Jehoshaphat, "A large army from Edom east of the Dead Sea has invaded our country. They have already reached 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

1Some time later the Moabites and Ammonites, accompanied by Meunites, joined forces to make war on Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat received this intelligence report: "A huge force is on its way from beyond the Dead Sea to fight you. There's no time to waste—they're already at Hazazon Tamar, the oasis of En Gedi." 3Shaken, Jehoshaphat prayed. He went to God for help and ordered a nationwide fast. The country of Judah united in seeking God 's help—they came from all the cities of Judah to pray to God . 5Then Jehoshaphat took a position before the assembled people of Judah and Jerusalem at The Temple of God in front of the new courtyard and said, "O God , God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven above and ruler of all kingdoms below? You hold all power and might in your fist—no one stands a chance against you! And didn't you make the natives of this land leave as you brought your people Israel in, turning it over permanently to your people Israel, the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived here and built a holy house of worship to honor you, saying, ‘When the worst happens—whether war or flood or disease or famine—and we take our place before this Temple (we know you are personally present in this place!) and pray out our pain and trouble, we know that you will listen and give victory.' 10"And now it's happened: men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have shown up. You didn't let Israel touch them when we got here at first—we detoured around them and didn't lay a hand on them. And now they've come to kick us out of the country you gave us. O dear God, won't you take care of them? We're helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don't know what to do; we're looking to you." 13 Everyone in Judah was there—little children, wives, sons—all present and attentive to God .

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 20:11
Abraham said, "I just assumed that there was no fear of God in this place and that they'd kill me to get my wife. Besides, the truth is that she is my half sister; she's my father's daughter but not my mother's. When God sent me out as a wanderer from my father's home, I told her, ‘Do me a favor; wherever we go, tell people that I'm your brother.'"
Genesis 26:1
There was a famine in the land, as bad as the famine during the time of Abraham. And Isaac went down to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
Genesis 26:7
The men of the place questioned him about his wife. He said, "She's my sister." He was afraid to say "She's my wife." He was thinking, "These men might kill me to get Rebekah, she's so beautiful."
Genesis 26:16
Finally, Abimelech told Isaac: "Leave. You've become far too big for us."
Ecclesiastes 7:20
There's not one totally good person on earth, Not one who is truly pure and sinless.
Ephesians 4:25
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
Colossians 3:9
Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

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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