The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 20
Chapter XX · Vol. II, pp. 867–868
1 Jehoshaphat in his fear proclaimeth a fast. 5 His prayer. 14 The prophecy of Jahaziel. 20 Jehoshaphat exhorteth the people, and appointeth singers to praise the Lord. 22 The great overthrow of the enemies. 26 The people, having blessed God at Berachah, return in triumph. 31 Jehoshaphat's good reign. 35 His convoy of ships, which he made with Ahaziah, according to the prophecy of Eliezer, are wrecked.
1 It came to pass after this also, athat the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other besides the Ammonites,1 came bagainst Jehoshaphat to battle.
A.M. 3108. B.C. 896.
a Ps.83.5-8. ch.14.3,10; 32.1. Is.7.1; 8.9,10.
1 The Targum reads Edomites, which seems supported by ver. 10, 22, 23, Seir being the residence of the Edomites. Our ignorance, however, of minor geographical and genealogical distinctions renders such conjectural emendations dangerous.—C.
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea2 on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in cHazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat dfeared, and set himself3 to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
d ch.19.2. Is.7.2.
3 Heb. his face.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD; even out of all the cities of Judah, they came to seek the LORD.
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD, before the new court,4
4 There were as yet but two courts (2 Ki.21.5; 23.12. 2 Ch. 33. 5), and one of these had been renewed with the altar (ch.15.8): of two other courts, of the women and of the Gentiles, there has been hitherto no mention in Scripture.—C.
6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and krulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
k Da.4.34,35. 1 Ch.29.12. Mat.6.13. Ex.18.11. Ps.86.6-8,9; 145.5.
7 Art not thou lour God, who5 didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and mgavest it to the seed of Abraham thy nfriend ofor ever?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have pbuilt thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
p ch.2.4; 6.10.
9 If,q when evil cometh upon us as the sword, judgment,6 or pestilence or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,)7 and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
q ch.6.28-31. 1 Ki.8.37-40,29,30.
6 That is, 'the sword' of the invader, or any other such judgment, as of wild beasts, Le.26.22. Je.15.3. C.——'Judgment' must signify official judgment pronounced and executed upon them by the Lord on account of sin. Many instances of official judgments are recorded in Scripture. Almost every calamity that befell the nation was an express divine punishment for some open act of national sin.—P.
7 A man's house is his home; so, the house that is called God's, implies that, in a special manner, he dwells there.—C.
10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir,8 whom thou wouldestr not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and destroyed them not;
8 The ancient name of Edom was Mount Seir, so called apparently because of its wild and rugged character.—P.
11 Behold I say, how sthey reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.9
s ch.32.25. Ps.109.4; 7.4. Je.18.20.
9 From a very early period the Edomites were the bitterest foes of the Israelites. Under David, Solomon, and Rehoboam they were kept in subjection; but afterwards they embraced every opportunity of harassing Israel. They attempted to establish settlements in the south of Palestine, and were in the end successful, notwithstanding their defeat by Jehoshaphat, and afterwards by Amaziah.—P.
12 O our God, wilt thou not tjudge them? for uwe have no might against this great company that cometh against us; xneither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
14 Thenz upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, acame the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
z Da.9.20,21. Is.58.9; 65.24.
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, bBe not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but cGod's.1
b Ex.14.13,14. ver.17. Is.37.6; 41.10,14-16; 43.1,2. 1 Ch.22.13.
c Gained by his power, and for his honour, ver.22.
1 The object of this invasion was to expel the Israelites, and partition their land among the confederates (ver. 11); and it is by no means improbable that Jehoshaphat's zeal for reformation had provoked his heathen neighbours to this attack. His promise of the land, and his zeal for his own worship, rendered, therefore, the cause eminently that of God.—C.
16 To-morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff2 of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the 3brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
2 Heb. ascent.
3 Or, valley.
17 Ye dshall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed: to-morrow go out against them; for the LORD will be with you.
d ver.15,22-24. Ex.14.13,14. Ps.46.10. Is.43.1,2; 41.10. Nu.14.9. ch.15.2.
18 And Jehoshaphat ebowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
e Ex.4.31. ch.7.3. Ge.47.31. 2 Ch.21.16. Nu.14.15.
19 And fthe Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
20 And they grose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of hTekoah: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; iBelieve in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
g Ge.19.27,28; 21.14; 22.3; 28.18. Ex.24.4. Ju.20.19,21.4. Ec.9.10.
h 2 Sa.14.2. Je.6.1. 1 Ch.4.5. ch.11.6.
i Is.7.9; 28.16; 26.3. 1 Ch.22.11. Mar.5.36.
21 And when he khad consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise4 the lbeauty of 5holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, mPraise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Heb. praisers.
l Ex.15.11. Ps.27.4. Jos.24.19. De.32.4.
5 God has scattered beauty widely through creation. It is seen in the grass, the flowers, the trees, in birds and beasts, and in 'the human face divine.' It is united with sublimity in sun, and moon, and stars; and in all these it necessarily excites feelings of admiration, and receives our praise. But of all beautiful objects, holiness is the most beautiful, and therefore the most suitable subject for our most ardent song.—C.
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD nset ambushments6 against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah;7 and they were smitten.8
n 2 Ki.6.17. Ps.35.5,6, with ch.13.13.
6 The sense is obscure. The Hebrew word rendered 'ambushments' signifies 'liers in wait;' and it would seem from the whole scope of the passage that angels are meant. Reference could not be made to the Jews themselves, for it is expressly stated they were not to fight. The battle was the Lord's; the victory was the Lord's; consequently it is natural to conclude that the Lord's hosts were the agents. Though unseen they were mighty and irresistible. They excited too the mutual jealousies of the rival tribes, which had united for a common purpose.—P.
A.M. 3108. B.C. 896.
7 Houbigant renders the passage: '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 Seir,' &c. That is to say, God let loose the mutual jealousies of these predatory bands, and they of Seir conspired against, and at first routed their associates, who afterwards destroyed their assailants, and thus their passions being roused they extirpated one another.—C.
8 Or, they smote one another.
23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stoodo up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy9 another.
o Ju.7.22. 1 Sa.14.20. Eze.38.21,22.
9 Heb. for the destruction.
24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were pdead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.1
25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies,2 and qprecious jewels, (which they stripped off for themselves,) more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
2 For dead bodies, several Hebrew MSS. and ancient versions read garments.—C.
q Vessels of desire, 1 Ch.18.7,8. Pr.3.15.
26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of rBerachah;3 for there they blessed the LORD:4 therefore sthe name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah unto this day.
r That is, Blessing, Ex.15.1-18. Re.19.1,2.
3 Berachah lies about six miles north of Hebron, and is still called Wady Bereikût, manifestly a corruption of the old name. The valley is broad and open, and forms a fit scene for the signal act of divine judgment recorded in the text.—P.
4 The only true mode of celebrating a victory; for whatever be the numbers, the discipline, the courage, or the skill of a leader and an army, the victory is from God. But how few will either see or acknowledge thus his Almighty hand!—C.
27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the tforefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD uhad made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries, and harps, and trumpets, unto the house of the LORD.
29 And the xfear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.
x ch.14.14. Ge.35.5. Jos.5.1. Ex.15.14-16.
30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God ygave him rest round about.
y Job 34.29. ch.14.6,7.
31 Andz Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty and five years old when he began to reign;5 and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
5 B.C. 914.
32 And he awalked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.
a 1 Ki.15.11. ch.14.2; xvii. xix.
33 Howbeit the bhigh places were not taken away; for as yet the people chad not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.6
b High places for worshipping the true God were left standing by Asa and Jehoshaphat; but those for worshipping of idols were destroyed, 1 Ki.15.14. ch.14.5.
c ch.25.2. Ps.78.37. 2 Ti.3.5. Is.29.13.
6 They had not yet seen and felt the divine obligation, spiritual meaning, or privileges of the temple service; but still adhered to those local sacrifices that left them exposed to the temptations of the surrounding idolatry. C.——The idolatry was universally suppressed; but some of the places where that worship had been performed were not destroyed; and these to such a fickle people became the temptation to idolatry in reigns less propitious to truth and piety.—J.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the dbook7 ofe Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned8 in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 And after this fdid Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly.9
36 Andg he joined himself with him to make ships to go to hTarshish:1 and they made the ships in iEzion-gaber.
g At first Jehoshaphat was unwilling, 1 Ki.22.49.
1 The Targum places this Tarshish on the Great Sea, the Hebrew name for the Mediterranean; but this cannot be correct, as Ezion-gaber was on the Red Sea. But the name of Tarshish was undoubtedly applied to different places.—C.
Notes
[Ver. 1. The Hebrew is literally as follows:—'And it came to pass after this, the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them of the Ammonites.' The last clause has no meaning, for 'the children of Ammon' would evidently be the same as the 'Ammonites.' In some of the ancient Hebrew MSS. there is a variation in the reading in this word. One has Edomites, which greatly resembles Ammonites, and might easily be mistaken by a copyist. This reading is corroborated by the Targum. I think it highly probable that this was the original reading. The Septuagint has Minaites, who were a people of Arabia Felix. P.]
Ver. 2. [Hazezon-tamar was the ancient name which this city bore before the destruction of Sodom, Ge. 14. 7. It was so called because of its palm-trees. The site of Engedi is on the western side of the Dead Sea, about midway between the northern and southern extremities. It is marked by a fountain, whence its name ('the fountain of the kid'), and by some ancient ruins. P.]
Ver. 36. [In the parallel passage, 1 Ki. 22. 48, it is said, 'Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they went not, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.' Here it is said he made 'ships to go to Tarshish; and they made the ships at Ezion-gaber.' This gives rise to a geographical difficulty. It is evident from a large number of incidental statements in Scripture that Tarshish was situated in the Mediterranean, Jonah 1. 3; 4. 2; Is. xxiii. &c. But Ezion-geber was on the Red Sea, which had then no communication by water with the Mediterranean except round the Cape of Good Hope. We can hardly suppose that even though the circumnavigation of Africa was known to the Phœnicians, they would have ever started from Ezion-geber to go to Tarshish in Spain, when they could proceed direct from the port of Joppa or Tyre. 'Ships of Tarshish' probably meant 'large ships,' like our 'Indiamen.' This would explain the statement in Kings; but it would not remove the dif-ficulty from this passage. The true solution appears to be that there were two places called Tarshish: one in Spain, on the shore of the Mediterranean, the other on the coast of the Indian Ocean. This view is corroborated by 1 Ki. 9. 26 with 2 Ch. 9. 21 and 1 Ki. 10. 22. The imports landed at Ezion-geber from Tarshish prove that the ships must have visited India. P.]
Reflections.—Numerous, active, and subtle are the enemies of Christ's church: and danger is often at hand when we least expect it: yea, even when we are most faithful, we are apt to be involved in great difficulties, for the trial and honour of our faith. In danger and distress it is best to begin with solemn fasting and supplication to God for deliverance. The dangers which drive us to him will never ruin us. While we have a merciful God to flee to we never need despair. The cries of the oppressed will enter into the ears of the righteous Judge. And the more entirely we are taken off from every self-dependence in the view of our wants and wretchedness, we are the more sure to find help in the time of need. If faith and hope look upward, the everlasting arms will be underneath us. In our cries to God for deliverance, let us therefore plead his tender promises to us, the grants he has made us, his ability to protect and deliver us; and the ingratitude, injustice, and violence of our enemies: for readily God bestows his answers of peace to his people: and happy are they who, renouncing their unbelieving fears, go forth, assured by faith that it shall be to them as he hath spoken. Unshaken faith is a certain cause of victory: and even songs of praise are excellent weapons in our spiritual warfare. God can easily deliver his people, and employ their strongly confederated enemies to destroy one another: yea, he can turn his people's distress into means of their enrichment, honour, safety, and peace. And it becomes us, in such noted deliverances, to join in solemn thanksgiving, and to set up some lasting memorials of his kindness.—But O, how hard is it to render reformation thoroughly complete; and to wean the best of men from sins which easily beset them, even when they have before smarted for them! But it is kind in God to continue a reprover to us: and it is great gain if our providential losses turn us from the path of evil.