2 Chronicles 20:14-30

14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.

17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’ ”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.

19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”

21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his^[a] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing^[b] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.

26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah^[c] to this day.

27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies.

28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lyres and trumpets.

29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

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2 Chronicles 20:14-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 20

Jehoshaphat having notice of a numerous army coming against him, 2Ch 20:1,2, betakes himself to fasting and prayer with his people, 2Ch 20:3-13, when they were immediately assured of victory by a prophet, which filled them with joy and thankfulness, 2Ch 20:14-21, and accordingly their enemies destroyed one another, and Jehoshaphat and his people returned to Jerusalem rejoicing and praising God, 2Ch 20:22-30, and the chapter is closed with an account of the latter part of Jehoshaphat's reign, 2Ch 20:31-37.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 17

1. S 1 Chronicles 12:18; 2 Chronicles 15:1
2. S 1 Chronicles 9:15
3. 2 Chronicles 32:7
4. Exodus 14:13-14; S 1 Samuel 17:47; Psalms 91:8
5. S Exodus 14:13; 2 Chronicles 15:2
6. S Genesis 24:26; 2 Chronicles 29:29; Exodus 4:31
7. Isaiah 7:9
8. S Genesis 39:3; Proverbs 16:3
9. S 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalms 29:2
10. S 2 Chronicles 5:13; Psalms 136:1
11. Judges 7:22; S 2 Chronicles 13:13
12. S Genesis 19:38
13. 2 Chronicles 21:8
14. S Judges 7:22; 1 Samuel 14:20; Ezekiel 38:21
15. S Genesis 35:5; S Deuteronomy 2:25; 2 Chronicles 14:14; 2 Chronicles 17:10
16. S Exodus 14:14
17. S 1 Chronicles 22:9; 2 Chronicles 14:6-7; 2 Chronicles 15:15

Footnotes 3

[a]. Or "him with the splendor of"
[b]. Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts "corpses"
[c]. "Berakah" means "praise."