2 Chronicles 20:21

21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him 1in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, 2"Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast 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 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed."
21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever."
22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

Cross References 2

  • 1. See 1 Chronicles 16:29
  • 2. See 1 Chronicles 16:34
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.