2 Chronicles 20:1-13

Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon

1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites^[a] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,^[b] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).

3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard

6 and said: “LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.

7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,

9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.

11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.

12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.

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2 Chronicles 20:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 20

Jehoshaphat having notice of a numerous army coming against him, 2Ch 20:1,2, betakes himself to fasting and prayer with his people, 2Ch 20:3-13, when they were immediately assured of victory by a prophet, which filled them with joy and thankfulness, 2Ch 20:14-21, and accordingly their enemies destroyed one another, and Jehoshaphat and his people returned to Jerusalem rejoicing and praising God, 2Ch 20:22-30, and the chapter is closed with an account of the latter part of Jehoshaphat's reign, 2Ch 20:31-37.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 19

1. Psalms 83:6
2. S 1 Chronicles 4:41
3. 2 Chronicles 24:24
4. S Genesis 14:7
5. S 1 Samuel 23:29; Song of Songs 1:14
6. 1 Samuel 7:6; 2 Chronicles 19:3; Ezra 8:21; Ezra 8:23; Nehemiah 1:4; Esther 4:16; Isaiah 58:6; Jeremiah 36:9; Daniel 9:3; Joel 1:14; Joel 2:15; John 3:5,7
7. Jeremiah 36:6
8. Matthew 6:9
9. Deuteronomy 4:39
10. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
11. 2 Chronicles 25:8; Job 25:2; Job 41:10; Job 42:2; Isaiah 14:27; Jeremiah 32:27; Jeremiah 49:19
12. S Genesis 12:7
13. Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23
14. 2 Chronicles 6:20
15. S 2 Chronicles 6:28
16. Numbers 20:14-21; Dt 2:4-6,9,18-19
17. Psalms 83:1-12
18. Judges 11:27
19. Psalms 25:15; Psalms 121:1-2; Isaiah 30:15; Isaiah 45:22; Micah 7:7

Footnotes 2

[a]. Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew "Ammonites"
[b]. One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate "Aram"