Then they returned, every man of Judah and of Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy ,.... There to praise the Lord in the temple, as they had done in the valley: for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies ; by giving them a complete victory, and making them masters of so much wealth and riches. read more
Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them - He was their leader in all these spiritual, holy, fatiguing, and self-denying exercises. What a noble and persuasive pattern! read more
The last chapter in Jehoshaphat's career. The aspects in which the character of Jehoshaphat offers itself to our view, in the last seen of him, are now to be considered. Few men there are who bear themselves well in prosperity, especially if the prosperity be great; and many there are who fail to submit well to the discipline of adversity. Of this latter weakness of human nature it can scarcely be said that Jehoshaphat was an illustration. The punishment that had been foretold, that solemn... read more
A victory without a blow. I. THE MARCH TO TEKOA . ( 2 Chronicles 20:20 , 2 Chronicles 20:21 .) 1 . The composition of the army. 2 . The time of its setting forth. "Early in the morning," i.e. the next after Jahaziel's assurance. An indication of 3 . The address of its king. Standing in the city gate as regiment after regiment filed into line and sallied forth, Jehoshaphat exhorted them (successively) to calm confidence in the ultimate success of the campaign... read more
At and after the battle: lessons. Armed with a holy trust in God, the king and his people advanced to meet their multitudinous enemies with bounding heart and tuneful lip. Nor were they unwarranted in so doing; the event completely justified their hopes. We learn— I, THAT OUR ENEMIES SOMETIMES DISPOSE OF ONE ANOTHER . ( 2 Chronicles 20:23 .) We sometimes find that the enemy is best "left well alone." Let Shimei "cast stones" at us; even though they be words of false... read more
The Lord had made them to rejoice. Note the extremely similar and almost identical language of Ezra 6:22 and Nehemiah 12:43 , and add also to the comparison the last sentence of our Nehemiah 12:29 . read more
2 Chronicles 20:27-28. Jehoshaphat in the fore-front of them They marched all in a body, in solemn procession, and Jehoshaphat at their head, that the country, as they passed along, might join with them in their praises. To go again to Jerusalem with joy That they might give thanks for the mercy there, where by prayer they had obtained it. Unto the house of the Lord To renew their praises in the court of the temple, the proper and usual place for it. Praising God must not be the work of... read more
The reign of Jehoshaphat (17:1-20:37)Jehoshaphat carried on the reform that Asa began, by destroying all the Baal shrines that remained in Judah (17:1-6; cf. 15:17). Positively, he educated the people in the law of God by forming an official group of instructors whom he sent around Judah’s towns and villages. The group consisted of civil leaders, priests and Levites (7-9). He also fortified Judah’s defences and enlarged its army, so that neighbouring countries feared to attack it... read more
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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