1 It came to pass after this H310 also, that the children H1121 of Moab, H4124 and the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and with them other beside the Ammonites, H5984 came H935 against Jehoshaphat H3092 to battle. H4421
2 Then there came H935 some that told H5046 Jehoshaphat, H3092 saying, H559 There cometh H935 a great H7227 multitude H1995 against thee from beyond H5676 the sea H3220 on this side Syria; H758 and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, H2688 which is Engedi. H5872
3 And Jehoshaphat H3092 feared, H3372 and set H5414 himself H6440 to seek H1875 the LORD, H3068 and proclaimed H7121 a fast H6685 throughout H5921 all Judah. H3063
4 And Judah H3063 gathered themselves together, H6908 to ask H1245 help of the LORD: H3068 even out of all the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 they came H935 to seek H1245 the LORD. H3068
5 And Jehoshaphat H3092 stood H5975 in the congregation H6951 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem, H3389 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 before H6440 the new H2319 court, H2691
6 And said, H559 O LORD H3068 God H430 of our fathers, H1 art not thou God H430 in heaven? H8064 and rulest H4910 not thou over all the kingdoms H4467 of the heathen? H1471 and in thine hand H3027 is there not power H3581 and might, H1369 so that none is able to withstand H3320 thee?
7 Art not thou our God, H430 who didst drive out H3423 the inhabitants H3427 of this land H776 before H6440 thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 and gavest H5414 it to the seed H2233 of Abraham H85 thy friend H157 for ever? H5769
8 And they dwelt H3427 therein, and have built H1129 thee a sanctuary H4720 therein for thy name, H8034 saying, H559
9 If, when evil H7451 cometh H935 upon us, as the sword, H2719 judgment, H8196 or pestilence, H1698 or famine, H7458 we stand H5975 before H6440 this house, H1004 and in thy presence, H6440 (for thy name H8034 is in this house,) H1004 and cry H2199 unto thee in our affliction, H6869 then thou wilt hear H8085 and help. H3467
10 And now, behold, the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 and Moab H4124 and mount H2022 Seir, H8165 whom thou wouldest not let H5414 Israel H3478 invade, H935 when they came out H935 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 but they turned H5493 from them, and destroyed H8045 them not;
11 Behold, I say, how they reward H1580 us, to come H935 to cast us out H1644 of thy possession, H3425 which thou hast given us to inherit. H3423
12 O our God, H430 wilt thou not judge H8199 them? for we have no might H3581 against H6440 this great H7227 company H1995 that cometh H935 against us; neither know H3045 we H587 what to do: H6213 but our eyes H5869 are upon thee.
13 And all Judah H3063 stood H5975 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 with H1571 their little ones, H2945 their wives, H802 and their children. H1121
14 Then upon Jahaziel H3166 the son H1121 of Zechariah, H2148 the son H1121 of Benaiah, H1141 the son H1121 of Jeiel, H3273 the son H1121 of Mattaniah, H4983 a Levite H3881 of the sons H1121 of Asaph, H623 came the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 in the midst H8432 of the congregation; H6951
15 And he said, H559 Hearken H7181 ye, all Judah, H3063 and ye inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and thou king H4428 Jehoshaphat, H3092 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 unto you, Be not afraid H3372 nor dismayed H2865 by reason H6440 of this great H7227 multitude; H1995 for the battle H4421 is not yours, but God's. H430
16 To morrow H4279 go ye down H3381 against them: behold, they come up H5927 by the cliff H4608 of Ziz; H6732 and ye shall find H4672 them at the end H5490 of the brook, H5158 before H6440 the wilderness H4057 of Jeruel. H3385
17 Ye shall not need to fight H3898 in this H2063 battle: set H3320 yourselves, stand H5975 ye still, and see H7200 the salvation H3444 of the LORD H3068 with you, O Judah H3063 and Jerusalem: H3389 fear H3372 not, nor be dismayed; H2865 to morrow H4279 go out H3318 against H6440 them: for the LORD H3068 will be with you.
18 And Jehoshaphat H3092 bowed H6915 his head with his face H639 to the ground: H776 and all Judah H3063 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 fell H5307 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 worshipping H7812 the LORD. H3068
19 And the Levites, H3881 of the children H1121 of the Kohathites, H6956 and of the children H1121 of the Korhites, H7145 stood up H6965 to praise H1984 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 on high. H4605
20 And they rose early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and went forth H3318 into the wilderness H4057 of Tekoa: H8620 and as they went forth, H3318 Jehoshaphat H3092 stood H5975 and said, H559 Hear H8085 me, O Judah, H3063 and ye inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem; H3389 Believe H539 in the LORD H3068 your God, H430 so shall ye be established; H539 believe H539 his prophets, H5030 so shall ye prosper. H6743
21 And when he had consulted H3289 with the people, H5971 he appointed H5975 singers H7891 unto the LORD, H3068 and that should praise H1984 the beauty H1927 of holiness, H6944 as they went out H3318 before H6440 the army, H2502 and to say, H559 Praise H3034 the LORD; H3068 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
22 And when H6256 they began H2490 to sing H7440 and to praise, H8416 the LORD H3068 set H5414 ambushments H693 against the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 Moab, H4124 and mount H2022 Seir, H8165 which were come H935 against Judah; H3063 and they were smitten. H5062
23 For the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 and Moab H4124 stood up H5975 against the inhabitants H3427 of mount H2022 Seir, H8165 utterly to slay H2763 and destroy H8045 them: and when they had made an end H3615 of the inhabitants H3427 of Seir, H8165 every one H376 helped H5826 to destroy H4889 another. H7453
24 And when Judah H3063 came H935 toward the watch tower H4707 H4708 in the wilderness, H4057 they looked H6437 unto the multitude, H1995 and, behold, they were dead bodies H6297 fallen H5307 to the earth, H776 and none escaped. H6413
25 And when Jehoshaphat H3092 and his people H5971 came H935 to take away H962 the spoil H7998 of them, they found H4672 among them in abundance H7230 both riches H7399 with the dead bodies, H6297 and precious H2532 jewels, H3627 which they stripped off H5337 for themselves, more than H369 they could carry away: H4853 and they were three H7969 days H3117 in gathering H962 of the spoil, H7998 it was so much. H7227
26 And on the fourth H7243 day H3117 they assembled H6950 themselves in the valley H6010 of Berachah; H1294 for there they blessed H1288 the LORD: H3068 therefore the name H8034 of the same place H4725 was called, H7121 The valley H6010 of Berachah, H1294 unto this day. H3117
27 Then they returned, H7725 every man H376 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem, H3389 and Jehoshaphat H3092 in the forefront H7218 of them, to go again H7725 to Jerusalem H3389 with joy; H8057 for the LORD H3068 had made them to rejoice H8055 over their enemies. H341
28 And they came H935 to Jerusalem H3389 with psalteries H5035 and harps H3658 and trumpets H2689 unto the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
29 And the fear H6343 of God H430 was on all the kingdoms H4467 of those countries, H776 when they had heard H8085 that the LORD H3068 fought H3898 against the enemies H341 of Israel. H3478
30 So the realm H4438 of Jehoshaphat H3092 was quiet: H8252 for his God H430 gave him rest H5117 round about. H5439
31 And Jehoshaphat H3092 reigned H4427 over Judah: H3063 he was thirty H7970 and five H2568 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign, H4427 and he reigned H4427 twenty H6242 and five H2568 years H8141 in Jerusalem. H3389 And his mother's H517 name H8034 was Azubah H5806 the daughter H1323 of Shilhi. H7977
32 And he walked H3212 in the way H1870 of Asa H609 his father, H1 and departed H5493 not from it, doing H6213 that which was right H3477 in the sight H5869 of the LORD. H3068
33 Howbeit the high places H1116 were not taken away: H5493 for as yet the people H5971 had not prepared H3559 their hearts H3824 unto the God H430 of their fathers. H1
34 Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Jehoshaphat, H3092 first H7223 and last, H314 behold, they are written H3789 in the book H1697 of Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Hanani, H2607 who is mentioned H5927 in the book H5612 of the kings H4428 of Israel. H3478
35 And after H310 this did Jehoshaphat H3092 king H4428 of Judah H3063 join H2266 himself with Ahaziah H274 king H4428 of Israel, H3478 who did H6213 very wickedly: H7561
36 And he joined H2266 himself with him to make H6213 ships H591 to go H3212 to Tarshish: H8659 and they made H6213 the ships H591 in Eziongeber. H6100
37 Then Eliezer H461 the son H1121 of Dodavah H1735 of Mareshah H4762 prophesied H5012 against Jehoshaphat, H3092 saying, H559 Because thou hast joined H2266 thyself with Ahaziah, H274 the LORD H3068 hath broken H6555 thy works. H4639 And the ships H591 were broken, H7665 that they were not able H6113 to go H3212 to Tarshish. H8659
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
2Ch 20:1-21. Jehoshaphat, Invaded by the Moabites, Proclaims a Fast.
1. the children of Moab … Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites—supposed to be rather the name of a certain people called Mohammonim or Mehunim (2Ch 26:7), who dwelt in Mount Seir—either a branch of the old Edomite race or a separate tribe who were settled there.
2. from beyond the sea on this side Syria—Instead of "Syria," some versions read "Edom," and many able critics prefer this reading, both because the nomad tribes here mentioned were far from Syria, and because express mention is made of Mount Seir, that is, Edom. The meaning then is: this confederate horde was composed of the different tribes that inhabited the far distant regions bordering on the northern and eastern coasts of the Red Sea. Their progress was apparently by the southern point of the Dead Sea, as far as En-gedi, which, more anciently, was called Hazezon-tamar (Ge 14:7). This is the uniform route taken by the Arabs in their marauding expeditions at the present day; and in coming round the southern end of the Dead Sea, they can penetrate along the low-lying Ghor far north, without letting their movements be known to the tribes and villages west of the mountain chain [Robinson]. Thus, anciently, the invading horde in Jehoshaphat's time had marched as far north as En-gedi, before intelligence of their advance was conveyed to the court. En-gedi is recognized in the modern Ainjidy and is situated at a point of the western shore, nearly equidistant from both extremities of the lake [Robinson].
3, 4. Jehoshaphat … proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah—Alarmed by the intelligence and conscious of his total inability to repel this host of invaders, Jehoshaphat felt his only refuge was at the horns of the altar. He resolved to employ the aid of his God, and, in conformity with this resolution, he summoned all his subjects to observe a solemn fast at the sanctuary. It was customary with the Hebrew kings to proclaim fasts in perilous circumstances, either in a city, a district, or throughout the entire kingdom, according to the greatness of the emergency. On this occasion, it was a universal fast, which extended to infants (2Ch 20:13; see also Joe 2:15, 16; Jon 3:7).
5-13. Jehoshaphat stood … in the house of the Lord, before the new court—that is, the great or outer court (2Ch 4:9) called the new court, probably from having been at that time enlarged or beautified.
6-12. And said, O Lord God of our fathers—This earnest and impressive prayer embraces every topic and argument which, as king and representative of the chosen people, he could urge. Then it concludes with an earnest appeal to the justice of God to protect those who, without provocation, were attacked and who were unable to defend themselves against overwhelming numbers.
14-18. Then upon Jahaziel … came the Spirit of the Lord—This prophet is not elsewhere mentioned, but his claim to the inspiration of a prophetic spirit was verified by the calm and distinct announcement he gave, both of the manner and the completeness of the deliverance he predicted.
16. they come up by the cliff of Ziz—This seems to have been nothing else than the present pass which leads northwards, by an ascent from En-gedi to Jerusalem, issuing a little below Tekoa. The wilderness of Jeruel was probably the large flat district adjoining the desert of Tekoa, called El-Husasah, from a wady on its northern side [Robinson].
18. Jehoshaphat bowed his head … and all Judah, &c.—This attitude was expressive of reverence to God and His Word, of confidence in His promise, and thankfulness for so extraordinary a favor.
19. the Levites … stood up to praise the Lord—doubtless by the king's command. Their anthem was sung with such a joyful acclaim as showed that they universally regarded the victory as already obtained.
20, 21. as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood … Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem—probably in the gate of Jerusalem, the place of general rendezvous; and as the people were on the eve of setting out, he exhorted them to repose implicit trust in the Lord and His prophet, not to be timid or desponding at sight of the enemy, but to remain firm in the confident assurance of a miraculous deliverance, without their striking a single stroke.
21. he appointed singers … that they should praise … as they went out before the army—Having arranged the line of procession, he gave the signal to move forwards. The Levites led the van with their musical instruments; and singing the 136th Psalm, the people went on, not as an army marching against an enemy, but returning in joyful triumph after a victory.
2Ch 20:22-30. The Overthrow of His Enemies.
22. when they began to sing and to praise the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—Some think that this was done by angels in human form, whose sudden appearance diffused an uncontrollable panic. Others entertain the more probable opinion that, in the camp of this vast horde, composed of different tribes, jealousies and animosities had sprung up, which led to widespread dissensions and fierce feuds, in which they drew the sword against each other. The consequence was, that as the mutual strife commenced when the Hebrew procession set out from Jerusalem, the work of destruction was completed before Jehoshaphat and his people arrived at the battlefield. Thus easy is it for God to make the wrath of man to praise Him, to confound the counsels of His enemies and employ their own passions in defeating the machinations they have devised for the overthrow of His Church and people.
24-26. when Judah came toward the watchtower in the wilderness—Most probably the conical hill, Jebel Fereidis, or Frank Mountain, from the summit of which they obtained the first view of the scene of slaughter. Jehoshaphat and his people found the field strewed with dead bodies, so that they had not to fight at all, but rather to take possession of an immense booty, the collection of which occupied three days. On the fourth they set out on their return to Jerusalem in the same order and joyful mood as they came. The place where they mustered previous to departure was, from their public thanksgiving service, called, "The Valley of Berachah" ("benediction"), now Wady Bereikut.
2Ch 20:31-37. His Reign.
31. Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah—(See 2Ch 24:1).
32. walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it—He was more steadfast and consistently religious (compare 2Ch 15:18).
33. the high places were not taken away—Those on which idolatry was practised were entirely destroyed (2Ch 17:6); but those where the people, notwithstanding the erection of the temple, continued to worship the true God, prudence required to be slowly and gradually abolished, in deference to popular prejudice.
35-37. after this did Jehoshaphat … join himself with Ahaziah … to make ships—A combined fleet was built at Ezion-geber, the destination of which was to voyage to Tartessus, but it was wrecked. Jehoshaphat's motive for entering into this partnership was to secure a free passage through Israel, for the vessels were to be conveyed across the Isthmus of Suez, and to sail to the west of Europe from one of the ports of Palestine on the Mediterranean. Eliezer, a prophet, denounced this unholy alliance, and foretold, as divine judgment, the total wreck of the whole fleet. The consequence was, that although Jehoshaphat broke off—in obedience to the divine will—his league with Ahaziah, he formed a new scheme of a merchant fleet, and Ahaziah wished to be admitted a partner [1Ki 22:48]. The proposal of the Israelitish king was respectfully declined [1Ki 22:49]. The destination of this new fleet was to Ophir, because the Israelitish seaports were not accessible to him for the Tartessus trade; but the ships, when just off the docks, were wrecked in the rocky creek of Ezion-geber.