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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>2 Chronicles 20 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_chronicles/20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_chronicles/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 2 Chronicles 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_chronicles/19.htm" title="2 Chronicles 19">◄</a> 2 Chronicles 20 <a href="../2_chronicles/21.htm" title="2 Chronicles 21">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/2_chronicles/20.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Judah is Invaded Unexpectedly</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Sometime after these events, the Moabites and the Ammonites, accompanied by some other descendants of Ammon,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:1 Or some Meunites; cf. 2Chr 26:7">a</a></span> attacked Jehoshaphat and started a war. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Jehoshaphat’s military advisors<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:2 Lit. They">b</a></span> came and informed him, “We’ve been attacked by a vast invasion force from Aram,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:2 I.e., from Edom">c</a></span> beyond the Dead<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:2 The Heb. lacks Dead">d</a></span> Sea. Be advised—they’ve already reached Hazazon-tamar, also known as En-gedi.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>In mounting fear, Jehoshaphat devoted himself<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:3 Lit. devoted his face">e</a></span> to seek the LORD. He proclaimed a period of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:3 The Heb. lacks a period of">f</a></span> fasting throughout all of the territory of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:3 The Heb. lacks of the territory of">g</a></span> Judah, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>and the tribe of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:4 The Heb. lacks the tribe of">h</a></span> Judah assembled together to seek the LORD. People<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:4 Lit. They">i</a></span> came from all of the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.</p> <p class="heading">Jehoshaphat Prays and the People Wait</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Jehoshaphat stood among the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the LORD’s Temple in the vicinity of the new court <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>and said:</p> <p class="doubleindent margintop marginbot">“LORD God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven, are you not? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, don’t you? In your own hands you grasp both strength and power, don’t you? As a result, no one can oppose you, can they? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>You are our God, who expelled the former inhabitants of this land right in front of our people Israel, aren’t you? Then you gave it to your friend Abraham’s descendant<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:7 Lit seed (sing.)">j</a></span> forever, didn’t you? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>They lived in it and have built there a sanctuary for your name, where they said, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>‘If evil comes upon us, such as war<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:9 Lit. us the sword">k</a></span> as punishment, disease, or famine and we stand in your presence in this Temple (because your Name is in this Temple) and cry out to you in our distress, then you will hear and deliver.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Now therefore look! The Ammonites, the Moabites, and the inhabitants of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:10 The Heb. lacks inhabitants of">l</a></span> Mount Seir,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:10 This mountain, the modern Jebel esh-sherá, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.">m</a></span> whom you would not permit Israel to attack when they arrived from the land of Egypt—since they turned away from them and did not eliminate them— <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Look how they’re rewarding us! They’re coming to drive us from your property that you gave us to be our inheritance. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Our God, you are going to punish them, aren’t you? We have no strength to face this vast multitude that has come against us, nor do we know what to do, except that our eyes are on you.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>All of Judah was standing in the LORD’s presence, along with their little babies, their wives, and their children.</p> <p class="heading">The Prophetic Response of Jahaziel</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Zechariah’s son Jahaziel, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a descendant of Levi from the descendants of Asaph in the middle of the assembly, and he said:</p> <p class="doubleindent margintop marginbot"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“Pay attention, everyone in Judah, in Jerusalem, and you, too, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Stop being afraid, and stop being discouraged because of this vast invasion force,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:15 Lit. vast multitude">n</a></span> because the battle doesn’t belong to you, but to God. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Tomorrow you are to go down to attack them. Pay attention, now—they’ll be coming up near the ascent of Ziz.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:16 i.e. a mountain pass extending from the Dead Sea to the Judean wilderness near Tekoa">o</a></span> You’ll find them at the end of the valley that looks out over the Jeruel wilderness. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>You won’t be fighting in this battle. Take your stand, but stand still, and watch the LORD’s salvation on your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem! Never fear and never be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, since the LORD is with you.’”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:18 Lit. nostrils">p</a></span> to the ground, and all the assembled inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem fell face down in the LORD’s presence and worshipped the LORD. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Descendants of Levi from the descendants of Kohath and from the descendants of Korah stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel in a very loud voice that ascended to heaven.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:19 Lit. ascended on high">q</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">Jehoshaphat’s Instructions the Next Morning</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>The army<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:20 Lit. They">r</a></span> got up early the next morning and headed out into the wilderness of Tekoa. Jehoshaphat stood up and addressed them. “Listen to me, you inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem,” he said. “Have faith in the LORD your God and you’ll be established! Have faith in his prophets and you’ll succeed!” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>After he had consulted with the people, Jehoshaphat<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:21 Lit. he">s</a></span> appointed some choir members<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:21 The Heb. lacks choir members">t</a></span> to sing to the LORD and to praise him in sacred splendor as they marched out in front of the armed forces. They kept saying</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop">“Give thanks to the LORD,</p> <p class="poetry2 marginbot">because his gracious love is eternal!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Right on time, as they began to sing and praise, the LORD ambushed<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:22 Or surprised; i.e. attacked the invaders from concealment">u</a></span> the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:22 The Heb. lacks inhabitants of">v</a></span> Mount Seir<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:22 This mountain, the modern Jebel esh-sherá, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.">w</a></span> who had attacked Judah, and they were defeated. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them, and after they had finished with the inhabitants of Mount Seir, they worked on destroying one another!<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:23 Lit. destroying each man his neighbor">x</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>When the army of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:24 The Heb. lacks the army of">y</a></span> Judah arrived at the remotest watchtower in the wilderness, they looked around at the invasion force, and to their surprise, there were dead bodies lying all around on the ground—not one had escaped! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Later on, when Jehoshaphat and his army arrived to collect the spoils of war, they discovered there were far more goods, garments, and other valuable items to collect than they could carry off in a single day.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:25 The Heb. lacks in a single day">z</a></span> There was so much material that it took three days to finish their collection efforts.</p> <p class="heading">A Victory Celebration in Beracah Valley</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Three days later, they assembled together in the Beracah Valley, where they blessed the LORD, which is why the name of that place is called Beracah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:26 The Heb. name Beracah means blessing">aa</a></span> Valley to this day. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Then they all returned with joy to Jerusalem, every soldier from Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at the head of the procession, because the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>They proceeded directly to the LORD’s Temple, carrying lyres, harps, and trumpets. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Fear of God seized all of the kingdoms in the surrounding territories when they heard that the LORD had battled Israel’s enemies. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>As a result, Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoyed peace, because his God had provided rest for him all around.</p> <p class="heading">A Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign</p><p class="cross_ref">(<a href="http://isv.scripturetext.com/1_kings/22.htm">1 Kings 22:41-50</a>)</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, having become king at the age of 35. He reigned in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>He followed the example of his father Asa and never departed from it, practicing what the LORD considered to be right. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>However, the high places were not removed, since the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their ancestors. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>The rest of Jehoshaphat’s accomplishments, from first to last, are recorded in the annals of Hanani’s son Jehu, which appears in the Book of the Kings of Israel.</p> <p class="heading">Jehoshaphat’s Evil Alliance with Ahaziah</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>Sometime later, King Jehoshaphat of Judah entered into a military alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, acting wickedly by doing so. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>He also agreed with King Ahaziah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:36 Lit. with him">bb</a></span> to build ships to sail toward Tarshish, which they built in Ezion-geber. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/20-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>But Dodavahu’s son Eliezer from Mareshah prophesied in opposition to Jehoshaphat, “Because you have entered into an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your efforts.” So the ships were destroyed and were never able to sail for Tarshish.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 20:1 Or <i>some Meunites</i>; cf. 2Chr 26:7<br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 20:2 Lit. <i>They</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 20:2 I.e., from Edom<br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 20:2 The Heb. lacks <i>Dead</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 20:3 Lit. <i>devoted his face</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 20:3 The Heb. lacks <i>a period of</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 20:3 The Heb. lacks <i>of the territory of</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 20:4 The Heb. lacks <i>the tribe of</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 20:4 Lit. <i>They</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 20:7 Lit <i>seed</i> (sing.)<br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 20:9 Lit. <i>us the sword</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 20:10 The Heb. lacks <i>inhabitants of</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 20:10 This mountain, the modern <i>Jebel esh-sherá</i>, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.<br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 20:15 Lit. <i>vast multitude</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 20:16 i.e. a mountain pass extending from the Dead Sea to the Judean wilderness near Tekoa<br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 20:18 Lit. <i>nostrils</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 20:19 Lit. <i>ascended on high</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 20:20 Lit. <i>They</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 20:21 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 20:21 The Heb. lacks <i>choir members</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 20:22 Or <i>surprised</i>; i.e. attacked the invaders from concealment<br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 20:22 The Heb. lacks <i>inhabitants of</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 20:22 This mountain, the modern <i>Jebel esh-sherá</i>, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.<br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 20:23 Lit. <i>destroying each man his neighbor</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 20:24 The Heb. lacks <i>the army of</i><br /><span class="fnb">z</span> 20:25 The Heb. lacks <i>in a single day</i><br /><span class="fnb">aa</span> 20:26 The Heb. name <i>Beracah</i> means <i>blessing</i><br /><span class="fnb">bb</span> 20:36 Lit. <i>with him</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../2_chronicles/19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Chronicles 19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Chronicles 19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../2_chronicles/21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Chronicles 21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Chronicles 21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/2_chronicles/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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