2 Chronicles 20:1-30
The Lord Gives Jehoshaphat Military Success
1 Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, ▼▼tc The Hebrew text has “Ammonites,” but they are mentioned just before this. Most translations, following some mss of the LXX, read “Meunites” (see 2 Chr 26:7; so NASB, NIV, NRSV).
attacked Jehoshaphat. 2Messengers ▼▼tn Heb “they”; the implied referent (messengers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, “A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, ▼▼tn Heb “the Sea”; in context (“from the direction of Edom”) this must refer to the Dead Sea, which has been specified in the translation for clarity (cf. NEB, NLT).
from the direction of Edom. ▼▼tc Most Hebrew mss, the LXX, and Vulgate read “from Aram” (i.e., Syria), but this should be emended to “Edom,” which is the reading of one Hebrew ms and the Old Latin.
Look, they are in Hazazon Tamar (that is, En Gedi).” 3Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. ▼▼tn Heb “and he set his face to seek the Lord.”
He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast. 4The people of Judah ▼▼tn The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the people of Judah.
assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; ▼ they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help. ▼ 5 Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the Lord’s temple, in front of the new courtyard. 6He prayed: “O Lord God of our ancestors, ▼ you are the God who lives in heaven ▼▼tn Heb “are you not God in heaven?” The rhetorical question expects the answer “yes,” resulting in the positive statement “you are the God who lives in heaven” employed in the translation.
and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you. 7Our God, you drove out ▼▼tn Heb “did you not drive out . . . ?” This is another rhetorical question which expects a positive response; see the note on the word “heaven” in the previous verse.
the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession ▼▼tn Heb “permanently.”
to the descendants of your friend ▼ Abraham. 8They settled down in it and built in it a temple ▼▼tn Or “sanctuary.”
to honor you, ▼▼tn Heb “for your name.” The word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor (thus the translation here, “to honor you”).
saying, 9‘If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, ▼▼tn Heb “sword.”
judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. ▼▼tn Heb “for your name is in this house.” The “name” of the Lord sometimes designates the Lord himself, being indistinguishable from the proper name. In this case the temple is referred to as a “house” where the Lord himself can reside.
We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will ▼▼tn Or “so that you may.”
hear and deliver us.’ 10Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming! ▼▼tn Heb “now, look, the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir.”
When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands. ▼▼tn Heb “whom you did not allow Israel to enter when they came from the land of Egypt.”
They bypassed them and did not destroy them. 11Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us! 12Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us. We don’t know what we should do; we look to you for help.” ▼▼tn Heb “for [or “indeed”] upon you are our eyes.”
13 All the men of Judah ▼▼tn Heb “Judah.” The words “the men of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the men of Judah.
were standing before the Lord, along with their infants, wives, and children. 14Then in the midst of the assembly, the Lord’s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph. 15He said: “Pay attention, all you people of Judah, ▼▼tn Heb “all Judah.” The words “you people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the people of Judah. Unlike the previous instance in v. 13 where infants, wives, and children are mentioned separately, this reference appears to include them all.
residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic ▼▼tn Or perhaps “don’t get discouraged.”
because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16Tomorrow march down against them as ▼▼tn Heb “look.”
they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, ▼▼tn Heb “the deliverance of the Lord with you.”
O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! ▼▼tn Or perhaps “don’t get discouraged.”
Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’” 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. ▼▼tn Heb “to worship the Lord.”
19Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the Lord God of Israel. ▼▼tn Heb “arose to praise the Lord God of Israel with a very loud voice.”
20 Early the next morning they marched out to the wilderness of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah ▼ and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! ▼▼tn There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text. The Hiphil verb form הַאֲמִינוּ (haʾaminu, “trust”) and the Niphal form תֵאָמֵנוּ (teʾamenu, “you will be safe”) come from the same verbal root (אָמַן, ʾaman).
Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.” 21He met ▼▼tn Or “consulted.”
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: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.” ▼▼tn Or “is eternal.”
22 When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked ▼▼tn Heb “set ambushers against.” This is probably idiomatic here for launching a surprise attack.
the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir ▼▼tn Heb “the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.”
who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir ▼▼tn Heb “the sons of Ammon and Moab stood against the residents of Mount Seir.”
and annihilated them. ▼▼tn Heb “to annihilate and to destroy.”
When they had finished off the men ▼▼tn Heb “residents.”
of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another. ▼▼tn Heb “they helped, each one his fellow, for destruction.” The verb עָזַר (ʿazar), traditionally understood as the well-attested verb meaning “to help,” is an odd fit in this context. It is possible that it is from a homonymic root, perhaps meaning to “attack.” This root is attested in Ugaritic in a nominal form meaning “young man, warrior, hero.” For a discussion of the proposed root, see HALOT 811 s.v. II עזר.
24When the men of Judah ▼▼tn Heb “Judah.” The words “the men of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the men of Judah.
arrived at the observation post overlooking the wilderness and looked at ▼▼tn Heb “turned toward.”
the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors. 25Jehoshaphat and his men ▼▼tn Or “army.”
went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing, ▼▼tc The MT reads פְגָרִים (fegarim, “corpses”), but this seems odd among a list of plunder. A few medieval Hebrew mss and the Vulgate read בְגָדִים (vegadim, “clothing”), which fits the context much better.
and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. ▼▼tn Heb “and they snatched away for themselves so that there was no carrying away.”
There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off. ▼▼tn Heb “and they were three days looting the plunder for it was great.”
26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where ▼▼tn Heb “for there.”
they praised the Lord. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah ▼▼sn The name Berachah, which means “blessing” in Hebrew, is derived from the verbal root “to praise [or “to bless”],” which appears earlier in the verse.
to this very day. 27Then 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. 28They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord. 29All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God ▼▼tn Heb “and the terror of God [or “a great terror”] was upon all the kingdoms of the lands.” It is uncertain if אֱלֹהִים (ʾelohim) should be understood as a proper name here (“God”), or taken in an idiomatic superlative sense.
when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies. 30Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side. ▼▼tn Heb “and his God gave him rest all around.”
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