Lexical Summary Dodavahu: Dodavahu Original Word: דּוֹדָוָהוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Dodavah From dowd and Yahh; love of Jah; Dodavah, an Israelite -- Dodavah. see HEBREW dowd see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dod and Yah Definition "beloved of Yah," an Isr. name NASB Translation Dodavahu (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דּוֺדָוָהוּ proper name, masculine (< ᵐ5 τοῦ Ὠδεια ᵐ5L Δουδιου, i.e. דּוֺדִיָּהוּ, beloved of ׳י, compare NesEg 70) father of Eliezer 2 Chronicles 20:37. Topical Lexicon Identity and Meaningful Associations Dodavahu appears once in the canon of Scripture as the father of the prophet Eliezer (2 Chronicles 20:37). Though his personal actions are not recorded, his name is preserved because of his son’s Spirit-empowered rebuke of King Jehoshaphat. Scripture often identifies prophets by their fathers (for example, “Amos, who was among the sheep-breeders of Tekoa,” Amos 1:1), highlighting the family line through which the Lord raises His servants. Dodavahu therefore stands within the honorable lineage of households that God used to confront kings and call the nation back to covenant loyalty. Historical Setting The only reference to Dodavahu is set during the reign of Jehoshaphat of Judah (circa 872–848 B.C.). After a period of reform and military strengthening (2 Chronicles 17–19), Jehoshaphat “allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness” (2 Chronicles 20:35). The commercial venture—building a fleet at Ezion-Geber for trade with Tarshish—was halted when Eliezer, son of Dodavahu, delivered a divine oracle of judgment. The ensuing wreckage of the ships testified publicly that the Lord will not bless partnerships that compromise His standards. Though Dodavahu is not described as participating in the prophecy, his family context produced a messenger who shaped the outcome of international economics in a single night. Role in the Prophetic Narrative Eliezer’s word, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works” (2 Chronicles 20:37), reinforces a recurring Chronicler theme: God’s people prosper when they rely upon Him and suffer loss when they lean on ungodly alliances (compare 2 Chronicles 16:7–9; 25:7–9). Dodavahu’s household thus contributes to the larger prophetic chorus that guards the covenant. The presence of a prophet from Mareshah—a town within Judah’s lowlands—also demonstrates that God calls voices from beyond the priestly centers of Jerusalem, underscoring His sovereign freedom in choosing instruments of revelation. Geographical Notes Mareshah, associated with Dodavahu, lies in the Shephelah, the fertile foothills between the Judean highlands and the Philistine plain. It was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:8) and later served as a strategic site during the Maccabean period. The region’s agricultural richness and exposure to trade routes positioned its inhabitants to witness both Judah’s reliance on surrounding nations and the dangers of such entanglements. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Responsibility of Covenant Families: Dodavahu illustrates how a family’s legacy can further God’s purposes even when the patriarch’s deeds remain unrecorded. Parents and communities nurture prophets and teachers who confront cultural compromise. Intertextual Connections The account resonates with earlier prophetic confrontations: Dodavahu’s son stands in this prophetic succession, confirming the consistent message that faithfulness secures blessing, while compromise invites ruin. Application for Believers Dodavahu’s indirect yet significant place in redemptive history reminds Christians that obscurity before men does not preclude usefulness to God. Homes that cultivate reverence for the Lord may, by His grace, shape voices that reform churches, influence nations, and safeguard the gospel’s purity. Forms and Transliterations דֹּדָוָ֙הוּ֙ דדוהו dō·ḏā·wā·hū dodaVahu dōḏāwāhūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Chronicles 20:37 HEB: אֱלִיעֶ֤זֶר בֶּן־ דֹּדָוָ֙הוּ֙ מִמָּ֣רֵשָׁ֔ה עַל־ NAS: the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah KJV: the son of Dodavah of Mareshah INT: Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah against 1 Occurrence |
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