2 Chronicles 20:5-12

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
6 and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not 1God in heaven? You 2rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. 3In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.
7 Did you not, our God, 4drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of 5Abraham your friend?
8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying,
9 6'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment,[a] or pestilence, or famine, 7we will stand before this house and before you--8for your name is in this house--and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.'
10 And now behold, the men of 9Ammon and Moab and 10Mount Seir, whom 11you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, 12and whom they avoided and did not destroy--
11 behold, they reward us 13by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.
12 O our God, will you not 14execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but 15our eyes are on you."

2 Chronicles 20:5-12 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.

Cross References 15

  • 1. See Deuteronomy 4:39
  • 2. [Dan. 4:17, 25, 32]
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 29:12
  • 4. Psalms 44:2
  • 5. Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23
  • 6. 2 Chronicles 6:28-30; 1 Kings 8:33, 37; [Ezekiel 14:21]
  • 7. [Ezra 10:1]
  • 8. 2 Chronicles 6:20
  • 9. ver. 1, 22, 23
  • 10. 2 Chronicles 25:11, 14; Genesis 32:3; Genesis 36:8
  • 11. Deut. 2:4, 5, 9, 19
  • 12. Numbers 20:21
  • 13. Ps. 83:6, 7, 12
  • 14. [1 Samuel 3:13]
  • 15. Psalms 25:15; Psalms 123:1, 2; Psalms 141:8

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or the sword of judgment
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.