What does 2 Chronicles 20:31 mean?
"¶ And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi." - 2 Chronicles 20:31
2 Chronicles 20:31 (KJV) reads, "And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi."
The verse is a small but significant part of the larger narrative of the reign of King Jehoshaphat over Judah. To truly understand the significance of this verse, it is important to consider the broader context in which it is situated.
The book of 2 Chronicles is a historical account of the reigns of the kings of Judah, focusing primarily on their religious activities and their leadership of the people of God. The overarching theme of the book is the importance of faithfulness to God and the consequences of disobedience. In this particular chapter, Jehoshaphat is faced with a formidable enemy army. Instead of relying on military might, he seeks the Lord's guidance and leads the people in prayer and fasting. In response, God delivers Judah from their enemies without them having to lift a finger in battle.
The verse itself is a simple statement about Jehoshaphat's reign. It tells us the age at which he began to reign, the length of his reign, and the name of his mother. While this information may seem mundane on the surface, it carries deeper significance within the narrative.
First, the verse establishes Jehoshaphat's legitimacy as a ruler. He began his reign at a relatively young age, which would have been uncommon in a society where age often carried significant weight. This detail serves to highlight Jehoshaphat's status as a competent and worthy leader who was chosen by God to rule over Judah.
Second, the mention of Jehoshaphat's mother, Azubah, is notable for a couple of reasons. In a patriarchal society where lineage and ancestry were of utmost importance, identifying a king's mother served to authenticate his royal lineage. Additionally, the inclusion of Azubah's name is significant in light of the fact that the Bible often emphasizes the influence and impact of mothers in the lives of their children. This detail underscores the importance of family and heritage within the larger biblical narrative.
Furthermore, the verse also presents the longevity of Jehoshaphat's reign. His twenty-five-year rule over Judah is a testament to his stability and success as a leader. In a time when kings often faced challenges to their authority and frequent turnover, Jehoshaphat's lengthy reign indicates his effectiveness and the favor of God upon him.
The verse also provides a glimpse into the personal and human side of Jehoshaphat's life, by sharing the name of his mother. It reminds readers that even great leaders have family backgrounds and relationships that are formative to their lives and their reigns.
In conclusion, the seemingly straightforward verse of 2 Chronicles 20:31 holds deeper significance within the broader context of the book and the biblical narrative as a whole. It serves to legitimize Jehoshaphat's reign, highlight the influence of his mother, and emphasize his successful and stable leadership. Ultimately, this verse reinforces the themes of faithfulness, obedience, and the sovereignty of God that permeate the book of 2 Chronicles.
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2 Chronicles 20:31 Artwork
2 Chronicles 20:31 - "¶ And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi."
"¶ And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi." - 2 Chronicles 20:31
2 Chronicles 31:20 - "¶ And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God."
2 Chronicles 31:1
2 Chronicles 31:1
2 Chronicles 20:37
2 Chronicles 20:28
2 Chronicles 31:9 - "Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps."
2 Chronicles 20:21
2 Chronicles 20:18
2 Chronicles 31:11 - "¶ Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,"
"¶ And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God." - 2 Chronicles 31:20
2 Chronicles 11:20
1 Chronicles 2:31 - "And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai."
2 Chronicles 31:7 - "In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month."
2 Chronicles 31:8 - "And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel."
2 Chronicles 30:20 - "And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people."
2 Kings 15:31 - "And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel."
2 Chronicles 31:17 - "Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;"
1 Chronicles 2:20 - "And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel."
2 Chronicles 31:4 - "Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 20:28 - "And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 31:18 - "And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:"
2 Chronicles 31:12 - "And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next."
"Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps." - 2 Chronicles 31:9
2 Chronicles 6:31 - "That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers."
2 Chronicles 20:13 - "And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children."
2 Chronicles 9:31 - "And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead."
2 Chronicles 32:20 - "And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven."
2 Kings 20:20 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"