2 Chronicles 20:1-19

Judah Invaded

1 Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the ¹Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in ²Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi )."

3 Jehoshaphat was afraid and ³turned his attention to seek the LORD, and ⁴proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 So Judah gathered together to ⁵seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

Jehoshaphat's Prayer

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD before the new court,

6 and he said, "O LORD, the God of our fathers, ⁶are You not God in the heavens? And ⁷are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.

7 "Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before * Your people Israel and ⁸give it to the descendants of ⁹Abraham Your friend forever?

8 "They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying,

9 '¹⁰Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for ¹¹Your name is in this house ) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.'

10 "Now behold, ¹²the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, ¹³whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them),

11 see how they are rewarding us by ¹⁴coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.

12 "O our God, ¹⁵will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but ¹⁶our eyes are on You."

13 All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children.

Jahaziel Answers the Prayer

14 Then in the midst of the assembly ¹⁷the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;

15 and he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, '¹⁸Do not fear or be dismayed because * of this great multitude, for ¹⁹the battle is not yours but God's.

16 'Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 'You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, ²⁰stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, ²¹for the LORD is with you."

18 Jehoshaphat ²²bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.

19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

2 Chronicles 20:1-19 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

• 1. 1 Chronicles 4:41; 2 Chronicles 26:7
• 2. Genesis 14:7
• 3. 2 Chronicles 19:3
• 4. 1 Samuel 7:6; Ezra 8:21
• 5. Joel 1:14
• 6. Deuteronomy 4:39
• 7. 1 Chronicles 29:11
• 8. Isaiah 41:8
• 9. James 2:23
• 10. 2 Chronicles 6:28-30
• 11. 2 Chronicles 6:20
• 12. 2 Chronicles 20:1, 22
• 13. Numbers 20:17-21
• 14. Psalms 83:12
• 15. Judges 11:27
• 16. Psalms 25:15; Psalms 121:1, 2
• 17. 2 Chronicles 15:1; 2 Chronicles 24:20
• 18. Exodus 14:13; Deuteronomy 20:1-4; 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8
• 19. 1 Samuel 17:47
• 20. Exodus 14:13
• 21. 2 Chronicles 15:2
• 22. Exodus 4:31

Footnotes

• [a]. So with Gr; Heb "Ammonites"
• [b]. Another reading is "Edom"
• [c]. Lit "set his face"
• [d]. I.e. Edom