Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 20:37

"Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, Jehovah hath destroyed thy works. And the ships were broken, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish." — 2 Chronicles 20:37 (ASV)

Then. —And.

Eliezer the son of Dodavah. —A prophet who is otherwise unknown.

Dodavah. —Hebrew Dôdâvâhû. (Compare Hôdavyâhû, 1 Chronicles 3:24; Septuagint, Δωδία, as if the Hebrew were Dôdîyâh; Vulgate, “Dodau.”)

Mareshah. —See 2 Chronicles 11:8.

Because you have joined yourself.—Compare Jehu the son of Hanani’s similar rebuke of Jehoshaphat for his alliance with Ahab (2 Chronicles 19:2).

The Lord has broken. — Shattered (parac). (Compare 2 Chronicles 24:7.) The perfect tense is prophetic, meaning it will certainly shatter.

And the ships were broken. — Wrecked by a gale. (Compare Psalms 48:7: With the east wind you break ships of Tarshish.)

That they were not able. — And did not keep strength to go (2 Chronicles 13:20; 2 Chronicles 14:10).

After this misadventure, Ahaziah proposed another joint expedition, but the king of Judah declined. (See on 2 Chronicles 20:36.)