2 Chronicles 20:23

23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. ^[a] And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

2 Chronicles 20:23 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:23

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the
inhabitants of Mount Seir
Supposing that they had acted a treacherous part by them, and took on the side of their enemies: utterly to slay and destroy them;
as they did: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir;
so that there were none left of them: everyone helped to destroy one another;
in their confusion mistook one another, either for Edomites or Jews, like the Midianites in the times of Gideon.

2 Chronicles 20:23 In-Context

21 Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”

22 The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.

23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

25 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables —more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.

Footnotes

• [a]. Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.