(4) To ask.—Literally, to seek (baqqçsh, a synonym of dârash. 2 Chronicles 20:2) from Jehovah; scil., help, which Authorised Version rightly supplies.Even out of all the cities of Judah.—Emphasising the fact that the gathering in the Temple represented the whole nation. Syriac and Arabic, “and even from the distant cities.” read more
2 Chronicles 20:26 The word valley is a poem in itself; it is associated with a great deal that is beautiful, comforting, and that gives the soul a sense of security and plentifulness. The Bible is full of valleys, as it is full of wells. You know this beautiful land of the mountain and the stream and the great flood and the green sward and the unexpected garden and the great and terrible wilderness oh, that world of sand, that foe that mocks the spring, and smites the summer as a woman might... read more
JEHOSHAPHAT-THE DOCTRINE OF NONRESISTANCE2 Chronicles 17:1-19; 2 Chronicles 18:1-34; 2 Chronicles 19:1-11; 2 Chronicles 20:1-37ASA was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat, and his reign began even more auspiciously than that of Asa. The new king had apparently taken warning from the misfortunes of Asa’s closing years; and as he was thirty-five years old when he came to the throne, he had been trained before Asa fell under the Divine displeasure. He walked in the first ways of his father David,... read more
CHAPTER 20 Judah Invaded, Jehoshaphat’s Prayer and Deliverance 1. The invasion (2 Chronicles 20:1-2 ) 2. Jehoshaphat’s great prayer (2 Chronicles 20:3-13 ) 3. Jehovah’s answer through Jahaziel (2 Chronicles 20:14-17 ) 4. Prostrated before the LORD (2 Chronicles 20:18-19 ) 5. The great deliverance (2 Chronicles 20:20-25 ) 6. In the valley of Berachah (2 Chronicles 20:26-30 ) 7. The record of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:31-34 ) 8. Alliance with Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 20:35-37 )... read more
20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself {c} to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.(c) This declares what the fear of the godly is, which is the prick to stir them to prayer and to depend on the Lord, while it moves the wicked either to seek after worldly means and policies or else to fall into despair. read more
THREE ENEMIES AITACKING (vv.1-2) The Lord now allowed a further test of the faith of King Jehoshaphat. Armies of Moab and Ammon came against Judah, and others were added in this attack. Moab speaks of self-satisfied religion (Jeremiah 48:11), and reminds us that a smug, self-complacent attitude is a bad enemy for any of us. Let us not dare to submit to it! Ammon (meaning "peoplish") pictures the falsehood of evil doctrine, its king in David's time being named "Nahash," which means "a... read more
REHOBOAM AND JEHOSHAPHAT REHOBOAM (2 Chronicles 10-12) The story of the rejected counsel of the older men and what came of it (chap. 10) is practically as in 1 Kings 12:0 , and furnishes an illustration of the relation of divine sovereignty to human free agency. The fortification of Judah’s cities against Israel (chap. 11) was dwelt upon in the earlier books, as well as the return of the priests and Levites to Jerusalem. Rehoboam’s “wise” action (2 Chronicles 11:23 ) is to be taken in the... read more
Evil Compacts 2Ch 20:37 THESE words were spoken concerning Jehoshaphat, who "walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord." He was a man of mature life, being thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. Notwithstanding the ripeness of his experience, and his really substantial character, he entered into a ship-building speculation with "Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very... read more
Reader! do remark with me, how this pious soldier began his defence: not in mustering his soldiers; not in raising his army; but in humbling himself and his people before the Lord. Do, my Brother, put it down for certain, whatever begins with prayer, will find cause to end in praise. Jehoshaphat had his fears for sin and guilt breed fear. But he adopted the best method to overcome them. He sought the Lord. Where shall a sinner go in his distresses, but to the great and gracious Saviour? Observe... read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Chronicles 20:3
(3) And Jehoshaphat.—And he was afraid (scil., at the news). And Jehoshaphat set his face, &c. Literally, put his face—a phrase used in Daniel 9:3 (comp. 2 Kings 12:18), and implying resolved, determined.To seek the Lord.—The Hebrew construction is that of 2 Chronicles 15:13 (le is here a sign of the accusative).Proclaimed a fast.—An act of national self-humiliation, implying an admission of guilt, and intended to evoke the Divine pity and succour. (Comp. Judges 20:26; Joel 2:12-17; 1... read more