2 Chronicles 20 Study Notes
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20:1 With the northern kingdom of Israel occupied in war against the Arameans, the countries east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea decided to invade Judah. The Meunites were also referred to as the Edomites.
20:2 By the time the word of this invasion got to Jehoshaphat, the army had come as far as En-gedi, about fifty miles from Jerusalem on the west shore of the Dead Sea.
20:3-4 Jehoshaphat had learned to rely on the Lord and had taught his people the same. Earlier we saw that the total number of men in Jehoshaphat’s army was 1,160,000. This was an enormous army, but Jehoshaphat was aware that neither the size of an army nor the depth of fortifications could protect him without the Lord’s intervention.
darash
| Hebrew pronunciation | [dah RASH] |
| CSB translation | seek, inquire, require |
| Uses in 2 Chronicles | 30 |
| Uses in the OT | 165 |
| Focus passage | 2 Chronicles 20:3 |
Seek is the basic meaning of darash, and God is what is most frequently sought (Is 55:6). The reward is finding (2Ch 15:2) or being answered (Ps 34:4); the opposite of seeking is abandoning (1Ch 28:9). Darash often occurs (14x) with biqqesh (“ask”). Darash implies inquiring of (Gn 25:22; Ezk 20:1). It denotes ask (Dt 17:9) or inquire about (2Ch 32:31), and investigate (Dt 17:4) or study (Ps 111:2). It is looking for (Jr 30:14) or searching for (Ezk 34:8). More forcefully, it means demand (Ezk 34:10) or require (Gn 9:5). Then it indicates demand an account (2Ch 24:22), look for (Ps 10:15), or hold accountable (Dt 18:19). It suggests come looking for (Dt 22:2) or go after (2Ch 25:20). Emotively, darash connotes care for (Is 62:12) or about (Jr 30:17). It can entail selecting (Pr 31:13) or worshiping (Ezr 4:2).
20:5-9 In a public prayer in front of the temple, Jehoshaphat reaffirmed Solomon’s prayer and God’s response to it. This was precisely one of the scenarios that Solomon had envisioned (6:34): the kingdom was being invaded by a foreign power. On behalf of all the people, Jehoshaphat pleaded with the Lord for deliverance.
20:10-12 Jehoshaphat included in his prayer the events of long ago, when the Israelites had first come to the promised land. The Ammonites and Moabites had refused to allow the Israelites to pass through their territory (Nm 22:4). At the time the Israelites had not sought revenge against them; now Jehoshaphat appealed to God to judge them for their faithlessness.
20:13-17 God caused a priest to prophesy. Jahaziel, who came from a distinguished line of Levites reaching all the way back to Asaph—one of David’s main musicians—conveyed God’s approval to Jehoshaphat. He told the king to walk out to the place of confrontation with his army and to stand there and watch God bring victory (Ex 14:13).
20:18-19 Jehoshaphat believed that Jahaziel had spoken God’s message. There was nothing left to do but worship God, and a number of Levites took the lead in praising God. A meeting called to deal with a serious crisis turned into a praise and worship service.
20:20 Jehoshaphat was fully convinced that the Lord was true to his word.
20:21 The next day, as the army set out to march toward En-gedi, the only issue left to solve was what songs to sing and in which key. As they marched, one refrain kept coming up: Give thanks to the Lord, for his faithful love endures forever (cp. Ps 136). This is the same chorus that was the theme song during the transport of the ark to Jerusalem (1Ch 16:34) and at the dedication of the Lord’s house (2Ch 5:13; 7:3,6).
20:22-23 There were three separate armies that did not know one another. They may have split up in order to arrive at their destination quickly. Suddenly, these armies heard what they took to be shouting—which was actually praising. In their God-ordained confusion they destroyed each other.
20:24-26 When Jehoshaphat’s parade of musical soldiers arrived at the battlefield, there was nothing left to do but gaze at it in amazement, to plunder the enemy, and to praise God for this miraculous victory. Thus, this site was called the “Valley of Praise” or “Valley of Blessing.”
20:27-28 Music and praise continued to characterize the army under Jehoshaphat’s spiritual leadership.
20:29-30 Word of the miraculous nature of this victory spread quickly. Due to the Lord’s reputation, no nation had any interest in picking a fight with Jehoshaphat or the kingdom of Judah. Thus, God’s victory brought peace and prosperity.
20:31 Jehoshaphat’s twenty-five years included a three-year co-regency with Asa his father.
20:32-33 The Chronicler gives Jehoshaphat high marks. No king since David had been as zealous in abolishing idolatry and false worship. But despite his exemplary spiritual leadership, not all the people’s hearts had been changed. Some high places still remained.
20:34 This characteristic summary notation was adopted from Kings (see 1Kg 11:41).
20:35-37 Jehoshaphat again tied himself to the northern kingdom by making a contract with King Ahaziah to build ships, which they would then send to Tarshish (possibly Spain). The best place to construct these ships appeared to be Ezion-geber, at the very tip of the Red Sea, not the Mediterranean coast. Once again, God did not allow Jehoshaphat to get away with such compromise. He sent a prophet named Eliezer to condemn Jehoshaphat’s sin. As punishment, a storm came up and all the ships were destroyed.
Ahaziah: Seventh king of Israel, son of Ahab and Jezebel.