Believe his prophets, i.e. God’s promise delivered to us by this prophet, and consequently all other predictions of the prophets that either have been or shall be. So shall ye prosper: take heed, lest by your unbelief you frustrate God’s promise. read more
With the people, i.e. with the elders or chief of the people; partly to take their advice about the expediency of the thing; and partly that they might excite and prepare themselves, and the people under them, to this great work of praising God. He appointed singers unto the Lord; to the honour and service of God. The beauty of holiness, or, the glory, or magnificence, or majesty of holiness, i.e. (by a vulgar Hebraism,) the Holy Majesty; a periphrasis of God. Or, according to the beauty or... read more
CRITICAL NOTES.] Narrative to 2 Chronicles 20:30 entirely additional to Kings. Invasion of Moabites (2 Chronicles 20:1-3); fast and supplication of king and people (2 Chronicles 20:3-13); the message of Jahaziel (2 Chronicles 20:14-19); exhortation and victory of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:20-30); close of his reign (2 Chronicles 20:31-37), which runs parallel with 1 Kings 22:41-49.2 Chronicles 20:1-2.—Invasion of Moabites. Ammonites, Sept., some of the Minœi, inhabitants of Maon (Mehunins),... read more
2 Chronicles 20:21 Anybody can sing the Te Deum when the battle is over. The difference between an ordinary man of war and a Christian is this: a Christian shouts before the victory, because he knows it is sure to come. I. We learn here, first, a lesson of patriotism. The foreign policy of Ammon and Moab seemed very brilliant for a time. They carried everything before them, but in due time they were overthrown. We must not trust in the number of our soldiers, in the boundless resources of our... read more
DISCOURSE: 411FAITH THE MEANS OF NATIONAL AND PERSONAL PROSPERITY2 Chronicles 20:20. Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.A BELIEF in the providence of God is able to compose the mind under the greatest difficulties. The Scriptures abound with displays of the efficacy of this principle. In this passage before us we are told, that three confederate armies came up against Jehoshaphat:... read more
Chapter 20Now in chapter 20, it records how that at this time three nations had gathered together to fight against Judah. The nation of Moab and Ammon, and those of Mount Seir, which would have been the Edomites. And word came to Jehoshaphat that Judah was being invaded by this confederacy of nations. That they had already come across the Dead Sea and they were in the area of Engedi. And they were approaching, actually, by the area of Engedi, which is the valley known also as the Valley of... read more
2 Chronicles 20:1 . With them other, the LXX, Μιναιοι , mixed people. 2 Chronicles 20:5 . Jehosphaphat stood in the house of the Lord. This was proceeding in the good and ancient way. He prayed in open courts; the men of Judah also stood with their wives and little ones. 2 Chronicles 20:14 . Then, when the king had prayed, came the Spirit of the Lord upon Jahaziel, a man of distinction and piety, as is indicated by this act, and by his genealogy. He prophesied openly in the... read more
2 Chronicles 20:20Believe in the Lord your God. Salvation by faithJudah is to be “saved by faith” from Moab and Ammon, as the Christian is delivered by faith from sin and its penalty. The incident might almost seem to have been recorded in order to illustrate the truth that Paul was to teach. It is strange that there is no reference to this chapter in the Epistles of St. Paul and St. James, and that the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews does not remind us how “by faith Jehoshaphat was... read more
2 Chronicles 20:21And when he had consulted with the people. Shouting before the victoryAnybody can sing the Te Deum after the battle is over. The German soldiers shouted when they had conquered their foe in the first battle in the war with France. It did not want much of a spirit to do that. The difference between an ordinary man of war and a Christian is this: a Christian shouts before the victory, because he knows it is sure to come. You remember how the people gave a shout of triumph before... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 20:1-37
2 Chronicles 20:1-Amos : . Jehoshaphat’ s victory over the Ammonites and Moabites. This story of a miraculous battle is perhaps a midrash on the war described in 1 Kings 3:4 ff., and has, in so far, some historical basis; but the details are purely imaginary. 2 Chronicles 20:5 . before the new court: perhaps the same as “ the great court” in 2 Chronicles 4:9; the Chronicler has in his mind’ s eye the Temple as he knew it. 2 Chronicles 20:7 . Abraham thy friend: cf. Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23.... read more