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.
Then some messengers came to King Jehoshaphat with urgent news, saying, 'A huge army is coming to attack you from across the Dead Sea, from the direction of Syria. Look, they've already reached Hazazon-tamar (which is the same place as En-gedi).'
The writer is describing how King Jehoshaphat received alarming news that a massive enemy army was approaching his kingdom and had already reached a nearby location.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred during the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah (around 870-848 BC), when a coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and others formed a large army to attack the southern kingdom of Judah. En-gedi was an oasis town near the Dead Sea, making it a strategic location about 35 miles southeast of Jerusalem, so the enemy was dangerously close to Judah's heartland.
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