UNROLL
Dawn over the Wilderness of Tekoa: bare tawny hills and ravines fall away east toward the pale Dead Sea and the blue mountains of Moab, a narrow footpath winding down, under a wide, calm sky of pale gold turning blue.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 20

A vast army is coming. The king does not know what to do, but his eyes are on the LORD.

37 verses≈ 8 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
  2. 2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
  3. 6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
  4. 8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of Sheba
  5. 10–16DivisionRehoboam to Asa
  6. 17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God'sChapter 20
  7. 21–24Dark yearsJehoram to Joash
  8. 25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
  9. 29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
  10. 33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book found
  11. 36Exile and returnMay he go up

War against Jehoshaphat

Early morning seen from the cliffs above En-gedi: far below, a green oasis of palms and reeds on the Dead Sea's shore, and beyond it a vast camp of dark tents and cooking smoke stretching south out of sight beside the pale sea.

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.

So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.

Ascent of Ziz (site uncertain)Wilderness of Jeruel (site uncertain)Valley of Beracah (site uncertain)MoabAmmonDead SeaEn-gediTekoaJerusalem

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

From beyond the Sea

Moab, Ammon and the people of Mount Seir came round the Dead Sea to En-gedi on its western shore, about twenty-five miles from Jerusalem. From there the way climbs through the wilderness by the Ascent of Ziz. Judah went out by Tekoa toward the Wilderness of Jeruel to meet them, and came home by the Valley of Beracah. The Ascent of Ziz, the Wilderness of Jeruel and the Valley of Beracah are uncertain sites.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

Morning in the temple court in Jerusalem: the king stands on a low stone platform, his back half to us, both hands lifted, praying aloud, while the men of Judah fill the court below him in plain wool and dark sackcloth, heads bowed; the long, plain temple and the bronze altar stand behind.

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.

Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’

And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt. So Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance.

Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us.

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

2 Chronicles 20:12

Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD.

Reflect

Our eyes are upon You

Jehoshaphat prayed, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” What is the “vast army” in front of you right now? Write it down, and under it write his prayer in your own words.

The Prophecy of Jahaziel

In the crowded temple court, one Levite in plain linen standing in the middle of the assembly raises his arm, about to speak; the people standing around him turn to look at him, and the king at the court's edge turns too, in ordinary daylight.

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly.

And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.

2 Chronicles 20:15

Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”

Then Jehoshaphat bowed facedown, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him. And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice.

Question

Quick question

In the waiting assembly, God answered the king’s prayer through one man who stood up to speak.

In the assembly, who did the Spirit of the LORD come upon?

The Enemies Destroy Themselves

First light in the Wilderness of Tekoa: on a low outcrop of pale rock beside the track, the king stands with one arm raised, speaking, while the army of Judah gathers below in loose ranks, spears upright, faces turned to him.

Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”

Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing:

“Give thanks to the LORD,

for His loving devotion endures forever.”

The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

The battle is the LORD’s

A vast armyFrom beyond the Sea ·2Seek the LORDA fast in all Judah ·3–4Our eyes areupon YouWe do not know whatto do · 12Not yours, butGod’sStand firm and see ·15–17BelieveAnd you will beupheld · 20Singers aheadGive thanks to theLORD · 21Valley ofBeracahBlessing · 26

Whiteboard

Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he sought the LORD. The answer came through a Levite, “the battle does not belong to you, but to God,” and Judah went out singing before they had seen anything. They came home by the Valley of Beracah, which means ‘blessing.’

The Joyful Return

On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.

Late afternoon at Jerusalem: a joyful procession streams up through the city's plain gate toward the temple on the height, the king at its head, Levites playing harps and lyres, priests blowing long silver trumpets, the army behind with spears upright, under a warm, empty sky.

Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

0:14

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

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. Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign

Judah

Jehoshaphat of Judah · 25 years

  1. Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah

    So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah.

  2. age 35

    Thirty-five, and twenty-five years

    He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years.

  3. His mother, Azubah daughter of Shilhi

    His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

  4. did right

    In the way of his father Asa

    And Jehoshaphat walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.

  5. The high places not removed

    The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

  6. The Chronicles of Jehu son of Hanani

    As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

Jehoshaphat’s Fleet Is Wrecked

Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber.

Morning after a storm at a small port at the head of a gulf: wooden trading ships with single masts lie broken on the rocks and stony beach, red and gray granite mountains behind.

Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.

Pray

The battle belongs to God

Thank God that the battle does not belong to you, but to Him. Ask for the faith to seek Him first when trouble comes, to pray “our eyes are upon You,” and to praise Him before the answer is seen. Pray for the singers and worshipers in your church. Ask for a whole heart, and for the wisdom Jehoshaphat lacked about his alliances.

You’ve experienced

2 Chronicles 20

0 of 36 chapters read

A verse to carry with you

Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.

2 Chronicles 20:15

or swipe left