1 It came to pass after this also, [that] the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them [other] beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 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.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask [help] of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, [art] not thou God in heaven? and rulest [not] thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand [is there not] power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
7 [Art] not thou our God, [who] didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9 If, [when] evil cometh upon us, [as] the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name [is] in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
11 Behold, [I say, how] they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes [are] upon thee.
13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God’s.
16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 Ye shall not [need] to fight in this [battle]: set yourselves, stand ye [still], and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD [will be] with you.
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with [his] face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy [them]: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they [were] dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.
27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.
29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of [those] countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
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.
32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD.
33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who [is] mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongeber.
37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
Overview of 2 Chronicles Chapter 20
2 Chronicles Chapter 20 recounts a significant event in the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. The chapter highlights themes of faith, prayer, divine intervention, and the power of collective worship in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Context and Setting
This chapter occurs during a time when Jehoshaphat is king of Judah, a period marked by both spiritual reforms and military challenges. The chapter opens with a crisis as a coalition of enemies threatens the nation.
Key Events
- The Threat from Enemies (Verses 1-2)
Jehoshaphat learns that a vast army from Moab and Ammon is approaching to wage war against Judah. This news causes great fear among the people.
- Jehoshaphat’s Response (Verses 3-4)
In response to the threat, Jehoshaphat resolves to seek the Lord. He proclaims a fast throughout Judah, calling the people to gather and pray for divine assistance.
- Prayer of Jehoshaphat (Verses 5-12)
Jehoshaphat stands before the assembly and offers a heartfelt prayer, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and past deliverance. He expresses trust in God’s power to save and pleads for help against the invading armies.
- God’s Assurance (Verses 13-17)
The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Jahaziel, a Levite, who delivers a prophetic message. He reassures the people that the battle is not theirs but God’s, instructing them to stand firm and witness God’s deliverance.
- Worship and Praise (Verses 18-19)
In response to the prophetic message, Jehoshaphat and the people worship the Lord. They bow down in reverence and praise God for His promise of deliverance.
- The Battle Strategy (Verses 20-21)
The next morning, Jehoshaphat encourages the people to have faith in God. He appoints singers to lead the army in praise, emphasizing the importance of worship in the face of battle.
- Divine Intervention (Verses 22-24)
As the army begins to sing and praise, the Lord sets ambushes against the enemies, causing confusion among them. The Moabites and Ammonites turn on each other, leading to their destruction.
- Victory and Celebration (Verses 25-30)
Jehoshaphat and his people go to collect the spoils of war, finding an abundance of goods. They return to Jerusalem rejoicing, and the fear of God falls upon neighboring kingdoms, leading to peace in Judah.
Theological Themes
- Faith in God: The chapter emphasizes the necessity of trusting in God during difficult times. Jehoshaphat’s prayer reflects a deep reliance on God’s power and faithfulness.
- Prayer and Collective Worship: The call to prayer and fasting illustrates the importance of seeking God collectively, highlighting the role of community in spiritual battles.
- Divine Sovereignty: The assurance that the battle belongs to the Lord underscores God’s control over all situations, reinforcing the belief that He intervenes on behalf of His people.
- Worship as Warfare: The strategic use of worship in the face of conflict suggests that praise can be a powerful weapon against adversity.
Conclusion
2 Chronicles Chapter 20 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faith, prayer, and worship in overcoming challenges. It illustrates how reliance on God can lead to miraculous deliverance and emphasizes the communal aspect of faith in times of crisis.
