# 2 Chronicles 20 đ: The Battle Belongs to the Lord
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Lord Gives Jehoshaphat Military Success
[[#Verse 01.]] Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, attacked Jehoshaphat.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] Messengers arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, âA huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from the direction of Edom. Look, they are in Hazazon Tamar (that is, En Gedi).âÂ
[[#Verse 03.]] Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lordâs advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] The people of Judah assembled to ask for the Lordâs help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lordâs help.
[[#Verse 05.]] Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the Lordâs temple, in front of the new courtyard.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] He prayed: âO Lord God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] Our God, you drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession to the descendants of your friend Abraham.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] They settled down in it and built in it a temple to honor you, saying,
[[#Verse 09.]] âIf disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will hear and deliver us.âÂ
[[#Verse 10.]] Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming! When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands. They bypassed them and did not destroy them.Â
[[#Verse 11.]]Â Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us!Â
[[#Verse 12.]]Â Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us. We donât know what we should do; we look to you for help.â
[[#Verse 13.]] All the men of Judah were standing before the Lord, along with their infants, wives, and children.
[[#Verse 14.]] Then in the midst of the assembly, the Lordâs Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] He said: âPay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: âDonât be afraid and donât panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but Godâs.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Donât be afraid and donât panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!ââ
[[#Verse 18.]] Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord and worshiped him.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the Lord God of Israel.
[[#Verse 20.]] Early the next morning they marched out to the wilderness of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: âListen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.âÂ
[[#Verse 21.]] He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: âGive thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.â
[[#Verse 22.]] When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the wilderness and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors.Â
[[#Verse 25.]] Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing, and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.
[[#Verse 26.]] On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where they praised the Lord. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah to this very day.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the Lord had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies.Â
[[#Verse 28.]] They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord.
[[#Verse 29.]] All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israelâs enemies.Â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â Jehoshaphatâs kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side.
### Jehoshaphatâs Reign Ends
[[#Verse 31.]] Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.Â
[[#Verse 32.]] He followed in his father Asaâs footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.
[[#Verse 32.]] He followed in his father Asaâs footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.Â
[[#Verse 33.]]Â However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors.
[[#Verse 34.]]Â The rest of the events of Jehoshaphatâs reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are included in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel.
[[#Verse 35.]] Later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil.Â
[[#Verse 36.]] They agreed to make large seagoing merchant ships; they built the ships in Ezion Geber.Â
[[#Verse 37.]] Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, âBecause you made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will shatter what you have made.â The ships were wrecked and unable to go to sea.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
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## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Hazazon Tamar is identified with En Gedi (20:2), an oasis with a fresh spring on the western shore of the Dead Sea.
2. Jehoshaphat calls Abraham God's "friend" (20:7), a title also used in Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23.
3. His prayer appeals to Solomon's temple dedication prayer, which asked God to hear His people in times of trouble (20:9; 6:28-30).
4. He reminds God that Israel had not invaded Ammon, Moab, or Edom on the way from Egypt (20:10; Deuteronomy 2:4-19).
5. Jahaziel, the prophet who answers the prayer, was a Levite descended from Asaph, one of David's chief musicians (20:14).
6. Tekoa (20:20) was a town south of Bethlehem and later the hometown of the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1).
7. The song "Give thanks to the Lord, for His loyal love endures" is the refrain of Psalm 136.
8. The enemy armies destroyed one another, much like the Midianites in Gideon's day (Judges 7:22).
9. Beracah (20:26) means "blessing," and the valley was named for the praise offered there.
10. Jehoshaphat's later shipbuilding venture with Ahaziah of Israel ended in wreckage at Ezion Geber (20:35-37; 1 Kings 22:48).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who wins the battle we cannot win. Judah stood still and saw the Lord's deliverance (20:17), and God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Jehoshaphat was afraid, but he turned his attention to seeking the Lord (20:3). What is your first response when fear hits?
2. Jehoshaphat prayed, "We don't know what we should do; we look to You for help" (20:12). How can admitting our weakness become an act of faith?
3. The singers went out ahead of the army praising God's loyal love (20:21-22). What does it look like to worship before you see the victory?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 12: We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.
- đ verse 15: Do not be afraid, for the battle is not yours but God's.
- đ verses 21-22: The singers praise the Lord, and the Lord sets ambushes against the enemy.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[Exodus 14#Verse 13.|Exodus 14:13-14]] - Stand firm and see the Lord's deliverance.
- đ [[1 Samuel 17#Verse 47.|1 Samuel 17:47]] - The battle belongs to the Lord.
- đ [[Psalm 136#Verse 01.|Psalm 136:1]] - His loyal love endures forever.
- đ [[1 Corinthians 15#Verse 57.|1 Corinthians 15:57]] - God gives us the victory through Jesus.
- đ [[2 Chronicles 06#Verse 28.|2 Chronicles 6:28-30]] - Solomon's prayer that God would hear in times of trouble.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[2 Chronicles 20 - SOAP|The Lord Fights Our Battles]]
## đ Internal Notes