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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:20-30

We have here the foregoing prayer answered and the foregoing promise performed, in the total overthrow of the enemies? forces and the triumph (for so it was rather than a victory) of Jehoshaphat's forces over them. I. Never was army drawn out to the field of battle as Jehoshaphat's was. He had soldiers ready prepared for war (2 Chron. 17:18), but here is no notice taken of their military equipment, their swords or spears, their shields or bows. But Jehoshaphat took care, 1. That faith should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:21

And when he had consulted with the people ,.... His principal officers, in what order they should march, and in what manner they should form themselves, when they met the enemy, and how they should conduct as if they were to engage: he appointed singers unto the Lord ; to sing his praise, and give him glory, as if the victory was already completed, it being so sure: and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army ; that is, praise God, who is glorious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:22

And when they began to sing and to praise ,.... They sung more or less all the way they went, from the time they set out, but when they came nearer the enemy, they sung louder and louder: the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, which came against Judah ; some take them to be their own ambushments, which they set for the destruction of Judah; but the Lord turned them against their own confederates, mistaking them for Jews; so the Vulgate Latin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:23

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir ,.... Supposing that they had acted a treacherous part by them, and took on the side of their enemies: utterly to slay and destroy them ; as they did: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir ; so that there were none left of them: everyone helped to destroy one another ; in their confusion mistook one another, either for Edomites or Jews, like the Midianites in the times of Gideon. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:24

When Judah came towards the watch tower in the wilderness ,.... Which might stand upon the hill or cliff of Ziz, for the sake of the direction of travellers, and the preservation of them from thieves and robbers: they looked unto the multitude ; which they could take a view of from the top of the hill: and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped ; all to a man slain, there was not one to be seen standing on his feet. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:25

And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil of them ,.... Which was all they had to do; they had no need to fight, as they were told, the Lord had fought for them: they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies ; rich garments on them, and gold and silver on them: and precious jewels, which they stripped of for themselves ; with which their clothes, or some part of their bodies, were ornamented: more than they could carry away ; they were so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:26

And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah ,.... As it was afterwards called from what they did there, as follows, which was the reason of its name: for there they blessed the Lord ; returned thanks to him for this wonderful appearance on their behalf, and gave him the glory of it; no doubt but they had given him praise before in some sort and manner, but now in a set, solemn, and public manner, with one heart and voice they united in ascribing honour,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 20:22

The Lord set ambushments - "The Word of the Lord placed snares among the children of Ammon and Moab; and the inhabitants of the mountain of Gibla, who came to fight with Judah; and they were broken to pieces:" so the Targum. Houbigant translates the place thus: "The Lord set against the children of Ammon and Moab ambushments of those who came from Mount Seir against Judah; and the children of Ammon and Moab were smitten: but they afterwards rose up against the inhabitants of Mount... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 20:25

Both riches with the dead bodies - For פגרים peparim , dead bodies, בגדים begadim , garments, is the reading of eight MSS. in the collections of Kennicott and De Rossi, and in several ancient editions. None of the versions have dead bodies except the Chaldee. The words might be easily mistaken for each other, as the פ pe , if a little faint in the under dot might easily pass for a ב beth ; and we know that the ר resh and ד daleth , are frequently... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 20:26

Assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah - "The valley of Benediction;" and so in the latter clause. - Targum. read more

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