2 Chronicles 20:36

Arabic Simplified (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

فَاشتَرَكَ مَعَهُ فِي إرسَالِ سُفُنٍ إلَى مَدِينَةِ تَرْشِيشَ. وَصَنَعَا سُفُنًا فِي عِصْيُونِ جَابِرَ.

What Does This Mean?

This verse describes how King Jehoshaphat joined forces with King Ahaziah of Israel to build ships to sail to Tarshish. The ships were built in Ezion-geber. This illustrates a partnership between two kings for a common goal, despite the eventual failure of the ships.

Explained for Children

Imagine two friends, Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah, decided to build toy boats together to sail to a faraway island called Tarshish. They built the boats in a special place called Ezion-geber, but something went wrong and the boats didn’t work. It’s like when you and your friend try to build something together but it doesn’t turn out as planned.

Historical Background

The book of 2 Chronicles was written by priests and prophets during the Babylonian exile. This verse is part of a larger narrative about King Jehoshaphat’s reign, written around 538-515 BCE. The audience was the returning exiles from Babylon, and the cultural context was a mix of rebuilding and remembering the past glory of Israel and Judah.

Living It Out Today

In a modern scenario, this verse can remind us about the importance of partnerships. Just like Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah joined forces, in our lives, we can team up with others to achieve common goals. However, it’s also a cautionary tale that even good intentions can lead to failure if we don’t rely on God's guidance.

Topics

• partnerships
• failure
• navigation
• ships
• kings
• alliances

Related Verses

• 1 Kings 22:48
• 1 Kings 9:26
• Psalm 107:23
• Acts 27:12
• Ezekiel 27:25

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah decide to build ships together?

They wanted to engage in trade with Tarshish, a distant land known for its wealth and resources. The partnership was likely an attempt to strengthen economic ties and possibly political alliances.

What happened to the ships they built?

The ships did not succeed in their voyage to Tarshish. This failure may have been due to various factors, including lack of proper navigation or God's intervention, as indicated in other parts of the narrative.

What lesson can we learn from this partnership?

We can learn that partnerships can be beneficial but should be guided by wisdom and faith. The failure of the ships reminds us that even well-intentioned plans can falter if they lack divine guidance.

How does this verse relate to other Bible passages about ships?

This verse connects with other passages that discuss ships and maritime travel, such as those in 1 Kings and Psalm 107, highlighting the challenges and risks involved in such endeavors and the importance of relying on God’s providence.