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Texts -- 2 Chronicles 20:1-29 (NET)

Context
The Lord Gives Jehoshaphat Military Success
20:1 Later the Moabites and Ammonites , along with some of the Meunites , attacked Jehoshaphat . 20:2 Messengers arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat , “A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea , from the direction of Edom . Look , they are in Hazezon Tamar (that is, En Gedi ).” 20:3 Jehoshaphat was afraid , so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast . 20:4 The people of Judah assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help. 20:5 Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the Lord’s temple , in front of the new courtyard . 20:6 He prayed : “O Lord God of our ancestors , you are the God who lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations . You possess strength and power ; no one can stand against you. 20:7 Our God , you drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession to the descendants of your friend Abraham . 20:8 They settled down in it and built in it a temple to honor you, saying , 20:9 ‘If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack , judgment , plague , or famine , we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple . We will cry out to you for help in our distress , so that you will hear and deliver us.’ 20:10 Now the Ammonites , Moabites , and men from Mount Seir are coming! When Israel came from the land of Egypt , you did not allow them to invade these lands. They bypassed them and did not destroy them. 20:11 Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us! 20:12 Our God , will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us! We don’t know what we should do ; we look to you for help.” 20:13 All the men of Judah were standing before the Lord , along with their infants , wives , and children . 20:14 Then in the midst of the assembly , the Lord’s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah , son of Benaiah , son of Jeiel , son of Mattaniah , a Levite and descendant of Asaph . 20:15 He said : “Pay attention , all you people of Judah , residents of Jerusalem , and King Jehoshaphat ! This is what the Lord says to you : ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s . 20:16 Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz . You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the Desert of Jeruel . 20:17 You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions , stand , and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem . Don’t be afraid and don’t panic ! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’” 20:18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground , and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord and worshiped him . 20:19 Then some Levites , from the Kohathites and Korahites , got up and loudly praised the Lord God of Israel . 20:20 Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa . When they were ready to march , Jehoshaphat stood up and said : “Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem ! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe ! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win .” 20:21 He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor . As they marched ahead of the warriors they said : “Give thanks to the Lord , for his loyal love endures .” 20:22 When they began to shout and praise , the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites , Moabites , and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah , and they were defeated . 20:23 The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir , they attacked and destroyed one another . 20:24 When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground ; there were no survivors ! 20:25 Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder ; they found a huge amount of supplies , clothing and valuable items . They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder , it took them three days to haul it off . 20:26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah , where they praised the Lord . So that place is called the Valley of Berachah to this very day . 20:27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the Lord had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies . 20:28 They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord . 20:29 All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies .

Pericope

NET
  • 2Ch 20:1-30 -- The Lord Gives Jehoshaphat Military Success

Bible Dictionary

  • Jehoshaphat

    [ebd] Jehovah-judged. (1.) One of David's body-guard (1 Chr. 11:43). (2.) One of the priests who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chr. 15:24). (3.) Son of Ahilud, "recorder" or annalist under David and Solomon (2...
    [nave] JEHOSHAPHAT 1. David's recorder, 2 Sam. 8:16; 20:24; 1 Kin. 4:3; 1 Chr. 18:15. 2. One of Solomon's commissariat officers, 1 Kin. 4:17. 3. King of Judah. Succeeds Asa, 1 Kin. 15:24; 22:41; 1 Chr. 3:10; 2 Chr. 17:1; Matt. 1:...

  • Ammonites

    [nave] AMMONITES Descendants of Ben-ammi, one of the sons of Lot, Gen. 19:38. Character of, Judg. 10:6; 2 Kin. 23:13; 2 Chr. 20:25; Jer. 27:3, 9; Ezek. 25:3, 6; Amos 1:13; Zeph. 2:10. Territory of, Num. 21:24; Deut. 2:19; Josh. 1...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • BEN-AMMI

    [isbe] BEN-AMMI - ben-am'-i (ben `ammi, "son of my kinsman," Gen 19:38): The progenitor of the Ammonites was a son of Lot's younger daughter, born after the destruction of Sodom. The account of his birth as well as that of Moab was...

  • Faithfulness

    [nave] FAITHFULNESS. Psa. 12:1; Psa. 31:23; Prov. 20:6; Prov. 28:20; Matt. 10:22; Matt. 24:45-47 Luke 12:42-44. Matt. 25:14-23 Luke 19:12-27. Luke 16:10-12; 1 Cor. 4:2; Col. 3:22 Eph. 6:5-9. Rev. 2:10 See: Obedience, Exhortation t...

  • CHRONICLES, BOOKS OF

    [isbe] CHRONICLES, BOOKS OF - kron'-i-k'-ls (dibhere ha-yamim, "The Words of the Days"; Septuagint paraleipomenon: 1. The Name 2. The Position of Chronicles in the Old Testament 3. Two Books, or One? 4. The Contents 5. Sources Bibl...

  • Moabites

    [nave] MOABITES Descendants of Lot through his son Moab, Gen. 19:37. Called the people of Chemosh, Num. 21:29. The territory E. of Jordan, bounded on the N. by the river Arnon, Num. 21:13; Judg. 11:18. Children of Israel command...

  • DEAD SEA, THE

    [isbe] DEAD SEA, THE - || I. PRESENT AREA II. FORMER ENLARGEMENT III. LEVEL OF THE DEAD SEA IN EARLY HISTORIC TIMES IV. CONSTITUTION OF THE WATER V. CLIMATE VI. ROADS VII. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 1. The Plain of the Jordan 2. Ain Jidi ...

  • AMMON; AMMONITES

    [isbe] AMMON; AMMONITES - am'-on, am'-on-its (`ammon; `ammonim): The Hebrew tradition makes this tribe descendants of Lot and hence related to the Israelites (Gen 19:38). This is reflected in the name usually employed in Old Testam...

  • Religion

    [nave] RELIGION. False Deut. 32:31-33. See: Idolatry; Intolerance; Teachers, False. Family See: Family. National Supported by taxes, Ex. 30:11-16; 38:26. Priests supported by the State, 1 Kin. 18:19; 2 Chr. 11:13-15. Subve...

  • JUDAH, TERRITORY OF

    [isbe] JUDAH, TERRITORY OF - (yehudhah): I. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA 1. The Natural Boundaries 2. The Natural Divisions of Judah (1) The Maritime Plain (2) The Shephelah (3) The Hill Country of Judah II. THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND ITS TERRITO...

  • MOAB; MOABITES

    [isbe] MOAB; MOABITES - mo'-ab, mo'-ab-its (Moab, mo'abh, Moabite Stone, M-'-B; Greek (Septuagint) Moab, he Moabeitis, Moabitis; Moabite, mo'abhi; Moabites, bene mo'abh): 1. The Land: Moab was the district East of the Dead Sea, ext...

  • Armies

    [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...

  • God

    [nave] GOD. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Access to; Compassion of; Creator; Creator of Mankind; Eternity of; Faithfulness of; Fatherhood of; Favor of; Foreknowledge of; Glory of; Goodness of...

  • Rulers

    [nave] RULERS Appointed and removed by God. See: Government, God in. Chastised, Dan. 4. See: Nation. Monarchical, See: Kings. Patriarchal, Gen. 27:29, 37. Instances of Nimrod, Gen. 10:8-10. Abraham, Gen. 14:13-24; 17:6; 21:2...

  • Prayer

    [ebd] is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching t...
    [nave] PRAYER. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Answer to, Promised; Answered, Instances of Answered; Confession in; Importunity in, Instances of Importunity in; Intercessor...

  • PROPHECY; PROPHETS, 2

    [isbe] PROPHECY; PROPHETS, 2 - II. Historical Development of the Prophetic Office. 1. Abraham: It is a characteristic peculiarity of the religion of the Old Testament that its very elementary beginnings are of a prophetical nature....

  • Harp

    [ebd] (Heb. kinnor), the national instrument of the Hebrews. It was invented by Jubal (Gen. 4:21). Some think the word kinnor denotes the whole class of stringed instruments. It was used as an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulnes...
    [nave] HARP, a stringed instrument of music, Isa. 38:20; Ezek. 33:32; Hab. 3:19. With three strings, 1 Sam. 18:6; ten strings, Psa. 33:2; 92:3; 144:9; 150:4. Originated with Jubal, Gen. 4:21. Made of almug wood, 1 Kin. 10:12. Da...

  • Afflictions and Adversities

    [nave] AFFLICTIONS AND ADVERSITIES. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Benefits of; Benefits of, Illustrated; Consolation in; Deliverance from; Design of; Despondency in; Dispe...

  • Battle

    [nave] BATTLE Shouting in, Judg. 7:20; 1 Sam. 17:20. Priests in, 2 Chr. 13:12. Prayer before: By Asa, 2 Chr. 14:11; by Jehoshaphat, 2 Chr. 20:3-12. See: Armies; War.
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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • [2Ch 20:6] God Of Our Fathers
  • [2Ch 20:6] God Of Our Fathers, Known Of Old
  • [2Ch 20:6] God Of Our Fathers, The Strength Of Our People
  • [2Ch 20:6] Lord Of Power, Lord Of Might
  • [2Ch 20:6] Our Fathers’ God, To Thee We Raise
  • [2Ch 20:15] Onward, Christian Soldiers

Questions

  • We should praise God because he is worthy of and glorified by our praise (II Sam. 22:4; Ps. 22:23). We should praise him because it is due to his majesty, glory, excellency, greatness, holiness, wisdom, power, goodness, mercy...
  • They were descendants of Esau. They inhabited a fertile and rich country specially given to them (Deu. 2:5; Gen. 27:39). Their country was traversed by roads though it was mountainous and rocky (Num. 20:17; Jer. 49:16). They ...

Sermon Illustrations

Scriptural Illustrations of Revival; Asking

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The first of six periods of oppression by Israel's enemies began while Othniel, Caleb's younger brother, was still alive and strong (cf. Josh. 15:17; Judg. 1:13). The writer identified each of these periods with the phrase "t...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • Armed with trust in God and courage Jonathan ventured out to destroy Israel's enemy in obedience to God's command to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan (cf. 9:16). He would have made a good king of Israel. Saul remained in G...
  • Jehoshaphat appointed his son Jehoram coregent the year Jehoshaphat went off to do battle with Ahab at Ramoth-gilead (853 B.C.). For the next five years Jehoram served with his father. In 848 B.C. he began ruling alone and di...
  • Chronicles covers a broader period of history than any other Old Testament book. It begins with Adam and ends with Anani who lived eight generations after King Jehoiachin (1 Chron. 3:24). If we allow 25 years for each generat...
  • Even though 1 and 2 Chronicles give one continuous story the emphasis in 2 Chronicles is different from that in 1 Chronicles. In 1 Chronicles the emphasis is the importance of the temple in national life. However in 2 Chronic...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Chronicles)III. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-9A. Solomon's wisdom and prosperity ch. 1B. The building of the temple 2:1-5:11. Preparations for building the temple ch. 22. The temple proper 3:1-93. Th...
  • This account of Jehoshaphat's rule reveals that God was then actively leading His people. These were the years of alliance with Israel. Ahab was on the throne of the Northern Kingdom.The Chronicler deliberately presented Jeho...
  • This chapter does not appear in Kings. It illustrates well that "the Lord will rule (judge),"the meaning of Jehoshaphat's name and the truth that characterized his reign. The motif of retribution is very strong here. God gave...
  • The texts of the individual psalms do not usually indicate who wrote them.1However some of the titles of the individual psalms do contain information about the writers.2This is the only really reliable information we have as ...
  • This final stanza gives the explanation for the Servant's submissive suffering for sinners and so completes the song.53:10 The apparent miscarriage of justice just described (v. 9) would not be what it would appear to be. It ...
  • This passage probably dates from the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 588-586 B.C. (vv. 2, 4; cf. 2 Kings 25). King Zedekiah sought advice from Jeremiah more than once (cf. 37:3-10, 17-21; 38:14-28). This passage consists of ...
  • 36:1 The Lord sent a message to Jeremiah in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim's reign, sometime between April of 605 and April of 604 B.C. (cf. 25:1)36:2 Jeremiah was to write on a scroll (Heb. megillath sepher) all the proph...
  • What follows in this chapter is another oracle against a foreign nation (cf. chs. 25-32). What is it doing here? Evidently the writer included this oracle here because it promises to desolate an enemy of Israel that wanted to...
  • v. 11 God cited one specific instance of Edom's violence against her brother, but as I explained in the introduction, which instance is unclear. Edom's treachery against Judah had taken place on a particular "day"in the past....
  • 14:1 The Lord announced through His prophet that a day was coming, for His benefit primarily, when the nations that had plundered Israel victoriously would divide their spoil among themselves in Jerusalem. This would be the L...
  • Chronologically these verses describe what will follow verse 3.14:12 The Lord would smite the nations that warred against Jerusalem (vv. 1-3) with a plague that would cause the people's flesh to rot off them wherever they mig...
  • 6:16 Fasting in Israel involved going without food to engage in a spiritual exercise, usually prayer, with greater concentration. Fasting fostered and indicated self-humiliation before God, and confession often accompanied it...
  • Jesus proceeded to expound further on some of the themes that He had introduced in His teaching on the vine and the branches (vv. 1-8). The subject moves generally from the believing disciple's relationship with God to his or...
  • 2:19 James refuted the argument of the objector stated in verse 18. Genuine faith does not alwaysresult in good works. The demons believe that what God has revealed about Himself is true. The Shema(Deut. 6:4) was and is the p...
  • 17:15 The angel next helped John understand the identity of the waters (v. 1). Water is a common symbol for people in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps. 18:4, 16; 124:4; Isa. 8:7; Jer. 47:2). The harlot exercises a controlling infl...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • We have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee.'--2 Chron. 20:12.A FORMIDABLE combination of neighbouring nations, of which Moat and Ammon, the ances...
  • As they went forth Jehoshaphat stood and said, Believe in the Lord your God, shall ye be established.'--2 Chron. 20:20.CERTAINLY no stronger army ever went forth to victory than these Jews, who poured out of Jerusalem that mo...
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