2 Chronicles 20 explained: A King's Prayer Before Battle

Invasion and a call to fast (vv. 1-4)

Armies from Moab, Ammon and Edom (also called Mount Seir) came around the south end of the Dead Sea and reached En Gedi on its western shore before Jerusalem even heard. Badly frightened, the king called all Judah to fast and pray, and people came from every town to ask God for help.

The king prays aloud (vv. 5-13)

Jehoshaphat reminds God that he rules every nation, gave this land to Abraham's descendants, and promised in Solomon's time to hear prayers made toward this temple. He points out that Israel had been told to leave these very peoples alone on the way out of Egypt, then admits plainly that Judah is powerless and does not know what to do.

God answers through a singer (vv. 14-19)

Jahaziel, a Levite from the family of temple musicians descended from Asaph, speaks God's reply: do not be afraid, because the battle is God's, so go out tomorrow and simply stand and watch. The places he names seem to describe the steep pass climbing from En Gedi toward the wilderness near Tekoa, south of Jerusalem.

Singers lead the march (vv. 20-23)

Singers walk ahead of the army with a thanksgiving line also found in Psalm 136, and as they sing, the text says the LORD set ambushes so the allied armies turned on one another. It does not say how this happened, and one common guess is that rivalries among the allies broke out into slaughter.

Plunder, praise and peace (vv. 24-30)

Judah found only bodies, spent three days stripping them and the camp of valuables, then praised God in a valley they named Berakah, meaning 'blessing'. They returned to the temple with music, and neighboring kingdoms grew afraid to attack, so Judah had peace.

A reign summed up (vv. 31-37)

The writer judges Jehoshaphat a good king, though local hilltop shrines outside the temple stayed in use and the people's hearts were not fully turned to God. Later he partnered with Ahaziah, the northern king the writer calls wicked, to build trading ships at Ezion Geber, and a prophet named Eliezer said God would wreck them, which happened.

Key verse: 2 Chronicles 20:15

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether this chapter is a straightforward record of a battle or an older event the writer of Chronicles retold in a shaped, worship focused way to teach trust in God, partly because the book of Kings does not mention it.

Something to think about

When you have been in a situation where you honestly did not know what to do, what did you find yourself turning to, and what did that show you about what you rely on?