2 Chronicles 20:21

21 Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of [His] holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing:[a] Give thanks to the Lord,[b] for His faithful love endures forever.

2 Chronicles 20:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:21

And when he had consulted with the people
His principal officers, in what order they should march, and in what manner they should form themselves, when they met the enemy, and how they should conduct as if they were to engage: he appointed singers unto the Lord;
to sing his praise, and give him glory, as if the victory was already completed, it being so sure: and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before
the army;
that is, praise God, who is glorious in holiness, whose beauty lies in his holiness, and who is holy in all his ways and works: and to say, praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever;
with which they were to conclude their songs of praise, as David did, and whose songs they might sing; see ( Psalms 136:1-26 ) .

2 Chronicles 20:21 In-Context

19 Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel shouting in a loud voice.
20 In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed."
21 Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of [His] holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithful love endures forever.
22 The moment they began [their] shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and [the inhabitants of] Mount Seir who came [to fight] against Judah, and they were defeated.
23 The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit saying
  • [b]. 2 Ch 5:13; 7:3; 1 Ch 16:34; Ps 118:1,29; 136:1
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