2 Chronicles 20 Jehoshaphat's Reign and Peace

1 Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.

2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).

3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard

6 and said:
“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.

7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,

9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.

11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.

12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”

13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.

14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon 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, O 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 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 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 men of Ammon and Moab 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 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 Beracah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah 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 lutes and trumpets.

29 The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries 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.

31 The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

32 He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

33 The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

34 The other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness.

36 He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber,

37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.

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Analysis of 2 Chronicles Chapter 20

2 Chronicles Chapter 20 recounts one of the most dramatic and faith-affirming events in the history of Judah under the reign of King Jehoshaphat. This chapter is not only a historical narrative but also a profound spiritual lesson on faith, divine intervention, and the power of collective prayer. The entire chapter can be divided into several key sections: the threat of invasion, Jehoshaphat’s prayer and God’s response, the victory through praise, and the aftermath of divine deliverance. In this analysis, we will delve into each section, interpreting the verses to uncover the deeper meanings and implications for the people of Judah and contemporary readers.

The Threat of Invasion (Verses 1-4)

The chapter begins with a dire situation:

“After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.” (2 Chronicles 20:1)

The imminent threat from a coalition of neighboring nations posed a substantial danger to Judah. This crisis serves multiple purposes in the narrative: it reveals Jehoshaphat’s character, emphasizes the reliance on divine intervention, and sets the stage for a miraculous deliverance.

In verse 3, we see Jehoshaphat’s immediate reaction:

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:3)

Jehoshaphat’s alarm is a natural human response to the threat. However, his resolution to seek the Lord and declare a fast signifies his faith and spiritual leadership. It highlights a crucial theme: turning to God in times of crisis and seeking His guidance and intervention through collective prayer and fasting.

Judah’s unified response is pivotal. In verse 4:

“The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.” (2 Chronicles 20:4)

This verse demonstrates the strength of communal faith. The people’s willingness to come together underscores the power of unity and collective supplication in invoking divine assistance.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer and God’s Response (Verses 5-17)

Jehoshaphat’s prayer is a profound demonstration of faith, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and recalling His past deeds. Verses 5-9 contain the prayer, which can be divided into three parts: adoration, supplication, and confession:

Adoration: Jehoshaphat begins by exalting God’s power and sovereignty over all the kingdoms of the earth (v. 6).
Supplication: He recalls God’s past acts of deliverance for their ancestors and pleads for similar intervention (vv. 7-9).
Confession: Jehoshaphat admits Judah’s helplessness before the vast army and appeals for divine guidance (v. 12).

“Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

Jehoshaphat’s humility and reliance on God are instructive. His confession—”we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you”—is a timeless reminder for believers to trust in God’s wisdom and power, especially when faced with overwhelming challenges.

God’s response comes through Jahaziel, a Levite, in verses 14-17. Jahaziel’s prophetic message reassures the people:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15)

This divine proclamation shifts the focus from human efforts to divine action. The declaration that “the battle is not yours, but God’s” is a cornerstone of faith, asserting that ultimate deliverance comes from the Lord. Jahaziel further instructs them to take their positions and stand firm, emphasizing their role in witnessing God’s salvation (v. 17).

The Victory Through Praise (Verses 18-26)

The narrative takes a remarkable turn as Jehoshaphat and the people respond to the prophetic message with worship:

“Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 20:18)

Their worshipful response illustrates an essential principle: worship as a prelude to victory. By magnifying God, they align themselves with His power and purpose. The next morning, Jehoshaphat’s command is equally instructive:

“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.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)

Jehoshaphat’s exhortation to have faith underscores the importance of trusting in God’s promises and the words of His prophets.

Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of this narrative is in verses 21-22, where Jehoshaphat appoints singers to lead the army with praises:

“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.” (2 Chronicles 20:22)

The victory is achieved not through traditional combat but through praise and worship. This acts as a powerful testament to the spiritual truth that praise can precipitate divine intervention. The ambushes laid by the Lord sowed confusion among the enemy forces, leading them to turn against one another. This miraculous outcome reinforces the theme that God’s ways of deliverance often transcend human understanding and conventional methods.

The Aftermath of Divine Deliverance (Verses 27-30)

The aftermath of the victory is marked by great rejoicing and spoils of war:

“They returned to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies.” (2 Chronicles 20:27)

The abundance of spoils collected by Judah underscores the complete nature of their deliverance—not only were they saved, but they were also enriched. This can be seen as a metaphor for the manifold blessings that accompany divine deliverance, going beyond mere survival to abundant provision.

Furthermore, the fear of God fell on surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against Judah’s enemies (v. 29). This fear contributes to Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoying peace for God had given him rest on every side (v. 30). The broader implication is that God’s deliverance of His people has a far-reaching impact, extending beyond immediate circumstances to influence and inspire reverence even among those who do not worship Him.

Applications and Contemporary Significance

2 Chronicles 20 offers numerous lessons and applications for believers today:

Seeking God in Crisis: Jehoshaphat’s instinct to seek the Lord in a dire situation encourages believers to turn to prayer and reliance on God in times of personal or collective crises. His leadership in proclaiming a fast and uniting the people in prayer serves as a model for spiritual leadership and communal faith.
The Power of Prayer and Worship: The chapter highlights the transformative power of prayer and worship. Jehoshaphat’s prayer acknowledges God’s past faithfulness, confesses human helplessness, and seeks divine intervention. Similarly, the people’s act of worship and their praise-led battle strategy underline the effectiveness of worship as a means of engaging divine power.
Divine Sovereignty: The narrative reaffirms God’s sovereignty over earthly affairs. The prophetic message through Jahaziel and the subsequent miraculous victory illustrate that God is ultimately in control, turning what seems impossible into a demonstration of His power.
Faith and Obedience: Jehoshaphat’s exhortation to have faith in the Lord and His prophets underscores the importance of trust and obedience in the life of believers. Their willingness to follow divine instruction, even when it seems counterintuitive, resulted in a great victory.
Witness to the World: The impact of Judah’s deliverance on surrounding nations highlights the potential of God’s mighty works to serve as a testimony to others. Believers are reminded that their experiences of God’s providence can inspire faith and reverence in those yet to know Him.

In conclusion, 2 Chronicles Chapter 20 is a rich tapestry of faith, divine intervention, and the power of worship. It encourages believers to seek God earnestly in times of need, trust in His sovereignty, and engage in collective prayer and praise. The chapter’s timeless lessons continue to resonate, offering guidance and inspiration for navigating the challenges of contemporary life with unwavering faith and reliance on God.

Understanding the Key Messages in 2 Chronicles 20: Insights and Explanation

In this chapter, we read about the reign of King Jehoshaphat in Judah. He followed the ways of his father Asa and sought the Lord with all his heart. Jehoshaphat made reforms, appointed judges, and encouraged the people to worship God. He also formed an alliance with King Ahab of Israel, which later led to trouble. God intervened and gave Jehoshaphat victory over his enemies. The chapter ends with a summary of Jehoshaphat's reign and his promotion of God's law among the people.

Notes

This chapter highlights the importance of seeking the Lord wholeheartedly and following His ways. It also reminds us of the consequences of forming alliances with those who do not share our faith.