2 Chronicles 20:37

37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah preached against Jehoshaphat's venture: "Because you joined forces with Ahaziah, God has shipwrecked your work." The ships were smashed and nothing ever came of the trade partnership.

2 Chronicles 20:37 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:37

Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah
A city in the tribe of Judah, ( Joshua 15:44 )

prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, because thou hast joined
thyself with Ahaziah;
an idolatrous prince, with whom he ought to have had no fellowship, even in civil things, it being both a countenancing him, and exposing himself and people to danger:

the Lord hath broken thy works;
the ships built at the joint expense of the two kings, that is, the Lord had determined to break them, and now foretold that he would; the Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord hath destroyed thy works:''

and the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish;
(See Gill on 1 Kings 22:48).

2 Chronicles 20:37 In-Context

35 Late in life Jehoshaphat formed a trading syndicate with Ahaziah king of Israel - which was very wrong of him to do.

36 He went in as partner with him to build ocean-going ships at Ezion Geber to trade with Tarshish.

37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah preached against Jehoshaphat's venture: "Because you joined forces with Ahaziah, God has shipwrecked your work." The ships were smashed and nothing ever came of the trade partnership.