1
After this the Moabites and the Ammonites came to make war against Jehoshaphat, together with some of the Meunites.
2
And men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the Salt Sea, from Edom; and now they are in Hazezon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).
3
Jehoshaphat was afraid, and set himself to seek the LORD. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4
And Judah gathered to seek help from the LORD; they came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.
5
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
6
and said: “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so that no one is able to stand against you.
7
Are you not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
8
And they lived in it, and built for you a sanctuary for your name, saying:
9
‘If disaster comes upon us, whether sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house. And we will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear and save us.’
10
And now, see, the Ammonites and Moabites and the people from Mount Seir! When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to enter their land, and so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.
11
See how they repay us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you gave us as an inheritance.
12
O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no strength to face this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13
Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14
Then Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, was clothed with the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the assembly,
15
and he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid or dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.'”
16
Tomorrow you must go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17
You need not fight in this battle. O Judah and Jerusalem, stand firm in your place, and see how the LORD gives you victory. Do not be afraid or dismayed. Go out tomorrow to face them, and the LORD will be with you.”
18
Then Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD and worshiped him.
19
And the Levites, from the sons of Kohath and the sons of Korah, rose up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20
And they rose early in the morning and went out toward the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go, Jehoshaphat stood and said: “Hear me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed!”
21
After he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise the LORD in holy garments, as they went out before the armed men, saying:
“Give thanks to the LORD,
for his steadfast love endures forever!”
22
And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon and Moab and the men of Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were defeated.
23
Then the sons of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to destroy and utterly wipe them out. And when they had finished destroying the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24
When Judah came to the lookout point in the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were all fallen dead on the ground; none had escaped.
25
Then Jehoshaphat and his people went down to plunder their goods. They found among them much livestock, goods, garments, and precious things. More than they could carry away was the spoil they took. For three days they plundered the goods, because there was so much.
26
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Blessing. There they blessed the LORD; therefore the place has been called the Valley of Blessing to this day.
27
Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned, with Jehoshaphat at their head, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.
28
They entered Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, and went to the house of the LORD.
29
And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the lands, when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30
So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on every side.
31
Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
32
He walked in the ways of Asa his father; he did not turn aside from it, and did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.
33
Only the high places were not removed. The people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
34
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, behold, they are written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani, which are included in the book of the kings of Israel.
35
After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly.
36
He allied himself with Ahaziah to make ships that could sail to Tarshish. They built the ships at Ezion-Geber.
37
But Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD will break your work apart.” Then the ships were wrecked, and they were unable to sail to Tarshish.
🛡️🎶🙏 Summary of 2 Chronicles 20 – Judah’s Victory Through Praise and Prayer
2 Chronicles 20 records one of the most inspiring accounts of complete trust in God in the face of a great crisis. King Jehoshaphat faced a combined attack from Moab, Ammon, and the Meunites, a force far beyond Judah’s army. But instead of relying on military strength, Jehoshaphat turned to God through fasting, prayer, and praise. God answered in a marvelous way: the enemies destroyed one another, and Judah was left to gather the fruit of God’s victory. This is a deep lesson about the power of worship and faith.
📌 1. Judah Surrounded, Jehoshaphat Prays (verses 1–13)
➡️ The coalition of Moab, Ammon, and the Meunites came to attack Judah
➡️ Jehoshaphat became afraid, but sought the LORD and called for a fast throughout all Judah
➡️ Everyone gathered — old, young, even children — to pray together at the house of the LORD
➡️ Jehoshaphat prayed humbly:
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
🎯 When we have no way out, true faith looks to the LORD.
📌 2. The Lord Answers through the Prophet Jahaziel (verses 14–19)
➡️ The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, a Levite of the sons of Asaph
➡️ He said:
“Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great army, for it is not you who will fight, but God.”
➡️ The Lord commanded them to go out to the battlefield, but without fighting
➡️ Jehoshaphat and the people bowed down in worship, and the Levites praised the Lord with a loud voice
🎯 Obedience to the word of God even when it seems illogical is the basis of a miracle.
📌 3. Praise Opens the Way to Victory (verses 20–30)
➡️ The next day, Jehoshaphat encouraged the army:
“Believe in the LORD… and you will be established.”
➡️ He placed singers at the front line, not soldiers!
➡️ They sang:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for His steadfast love endures forever!”
➡️ As praise was lifted up, the Lord caused the enemies to strike one another
➡️ Judah only had to gather the spoil for three days
🎯 Sincere praise in the midst of battle opens the way for the presence and power of God.
📌 4. Peace and Rest after the Victory (verses 27–30)
➡️ Jehoshaphat and the people returned to Jerusalem with great joy
➡️ They entered the House of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets
➡️ The fear of God came upon all the surrounding nations
➡️ The Lord gave peace and rest to Judah
🎯 True victory from the Lord brings peace, not only trophies.
📖 Main Lesson
- Panic must be answered with prayer, not hasty decisions
- Faith looks to the Lord when the situation seems impossible
- Worship and praise can become the strongest spiritual weapon
- The greatest victory comes not from strength, but from the presence of the Lord
- True peace is the fruit of obedience and worship
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything let your requests be made known to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving…”
➡️ Jehoshaphat chose to pray, not panic, and the result was peace
“Our weapons are not worldly weapons, but weapons equipped with the power of God.”
➡️ Jehoshaphat’s weapons were fasting, prayer, and praise — not the sword
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
➡️ The Lord Himself fought for Judah
“Let us… offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, that is, the fruit of lips that glorify His name.”
➡️ Praise is not an extra, but a weapon of faith
🕊️ “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” – 2 Chr 20:12
🕊️ “You will not need to fight in this battle, but God.” – 2 Chr 20:15
🕊️ “Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established.” – 2 Chr 20:20
🕊️ “Give thanks to the LORD, for His steadfast love endures forever.” – 2 Chr 20:21
