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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Chronicles 20:1 - 20:13
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The Threatened Invasion
v. 1. It came to pass after this also, some six or seven years before the death of Jehoshaphat, that the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, namely, the Meunites of Arabia Petraea, all heathen nations east, southeast, and south of the Dead Sea, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
v. 2. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria, rather, from Edom beyond the Dead Sea, for their attack would naturally be made from that side; and, behold, they be in Hazazoa-tamar, which is En-gedi, at the middle of the western shore of the Dead Sea, some twenty-five miles from Jerusalem.
v. 3. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, he sought no other avenues of help, but steadfastly looked to the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah, as a sign of deep mourning and penitence over any misdeeds, in order to gain the good will of the Lord in their favor.
v. 4. And Judah gathered themselves together, all the people of the country assembled at Jerusalem for a solemn, universal fast at the Sanctuary of Jehovah, to ask help of the Lord; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord, for afflictions of every kind tend to drive men to the mercy of Jehovah.
v. 5. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, the great or outer court, which had apparently recently been repaired or enlarged, his position being at the entrance of the inner or priests' court,
v. 6. and said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not Thou God in heaven, the almighty Creator and Preserver, to whom the children of Israel owed all the rich benefits which they then enjoyed? And rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen, making it impossible for them to carry out any evil designs without His permission? And in Thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand Thee?
v. 7. Art not Thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land, all the heathen nations, before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham, Thy friend, for ever? Note the honor included in the word "friend," as applied to any believer.
v. 8. And they dwelt therein, and have built Thee a Sanctuary therein for Thy name, saying,
v. 9. If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house and in Thy presence, as King Solomon had prayed, 1Ki_8:33-37, (for Thy name is in this house,) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help. Jehoshaphat here made use of the proper importunity in his prayer, by reminding the Lord of His promise, 2Ch_7:14-16.
v. 10. And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom Thou wouldest not let Israel invade, for the Lord had expressly ordered that the children of Israel should not disturb these nations, Deu_3:4 to Deu_9:19, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and destroyed them not;
v. 11. behold, I say, how they reward us to come to cast us out of Thy possession which Thou hast given us to inherit. The heathen nations were attacking without provocation, their purpose being the conquest of the land.
v. 12. O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? namely, by letting His punitive justice strike them. For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us, neither know we what to do, they were unable to defend themselves against the overwhelming numbers; but our eyes are upon Thee, steadfastly and trustfully looking to God for His almighty assistance.
v. 13. And all Judah stood before the Lord, in seconding the king's prayer, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. That is the proper and effective way of bringing matters to the attention of the Lord, by reminding Him of His promises and declaring one's unwavering trust in His almighty power and mercy alone.