2 Chronicles 20 16

2 Chronicles 20:16 kjv

To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

2 Chronicles 20:16 nkjv

Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.

2 Chronicles 20:16 niv

Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.

2 Chronicles 20:16 esv

Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel.

2 Chronicles 20:16 nlt

Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.

2 Chronicles 20 verses

2 Chronicles 20 16 Meaning

The verse provides King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah with specific, detailed instructions regarding the exact time and geographical location to position themselves to encounter the invading armies. It communicates divine foresight and a precise military strategy, indicating where and when the enemy will be found, not for direct engagement in battle, but for them to witness God's forthcoming deliverance.

2 Chronicles 20 16 Context

Chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles details a massive invasion of Judah by the combined forces of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meunites. Faced with overwhelming odds, King Jehoshaphat, known for his commitment to the Lord, calls for a national fast and prays earnestly to God for deliverance. In response, the Spirit of the LORD comes upon Jahaziel the Levite, who prophesies that the battle is not Judah's, but God's, and that they need not fight. Instead, they are instructed to merely "stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD." Verse 16 then follows directly as the divine military instruction, providing the exact "where and when" for them to observe this miraculous intervention. It bridges the prophetic assurance with the specific actionable steps required for their obedient participation in God's plan.

2 Chronicles 20 16 Word analysis

• Tomorrow (מָחָר - machar): Denotes immediate action and precise timing. The deliverance promised by God is not for some vague future, but for the very next day. This emphasis on promptness builds faith and demands swift obedience from Jehoshaphat and his army.
• go down (רֵד - red): An imperative verb, directing a physical descent. Geographically, this refers to moving down from Jerusalem or the central plateau towards the Judean wilderness. This seemingly active command must be understood in light of the prior instruction (v. 17) to "stand firm." They "go down" to take up a designated observation post, not to engage in combat.
• against them (לִפְנֵיהֶם - lifneihem): Literally "before their faces" or "in front of them." It indicates the direction and placement – positioning themselves directly in the path of the invading army to observe their arrival, rather than hiding or avoiding them. This bold posture reflects divine confidence, not human aggression.
• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection demanding attention. It introduces a vital and certain detail, confirming the specific movements and location of the enemy that God already knows and now reveals.
• they will come up (הֵם עֹלִים - hem ‘olim): Indicates the ascent of the enemy forces. This shows their direction of travel – moving from a lower elevation (like the Dead Sea plain) up towards the Judean plateau, consistent with routes from Moab and Ammon.
• by the ascent of Ziz (בְּמַעֲלֵה הַצִּיץ - b'ma'aleh ha-tsits): A highly specific geographical feature, a challenging ascent or pass. This is likely one of the steep wadis or mountain trails leading up from the Dead Sea into the wilderness of Judah, such as Nahal Tze'elim or a path from Ein Gedi. This pinpoint accuracy eliminates ambiguity about the enemy's approach.
• and you will find them (וּמְצָאתֶם אֹתָם - u-metza'tem 'otam): Conveys the certainty of encountering the enemy without a laborious search or strategic pursuit. It implies ease of discovery, a testament to God's precise intelligence.
• at the end of the wadi (קְצֵה הַנַּחַל - q'tseh ha-naḥal): Refers to the mouth or outlet of a wadi (a dry riverbed/valley). This implies a specific juncture where the challenging terrain of the wadi either opens up or reaches its terminus before another significant land feature.
• before the wilderness of Jeruel (לִפְנֵי מִדְבַּר יְרוּאֵל - lifnei midbar yeruel): A more general but still precise geographical landmark. The Wilderness of Jeruel would be a desolate area near Tekoa, east of Bethlehem. "Before" indicates that the interception point is prior to the enemy spreading out into this broader, more open wilderness, implying they would still be funneled through the difficult pass.

Word-Groups Analysis:

• "Tomorrow go down against them": This group conveys the specific command of time ("Tomorrow") and action/positioning ("go down against them"). It's a direct, actionable order from God, requiring immediate obedience and a bold stance without a combat directive.
• "Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz": This phrase gives God's precise foresight into the enemy's exact movement ("come up") and the narrow, specific geographical path they will take ("ascent of Ziz"). The "Behold" underscores the certainty of this divinely revealed intelligence.
• "and you will find them at the end of the wadi, before the wilderness of Jeruel": This cluster provides a three-part geographical pinpoint: the enemy's expected position ("at the end of the wadi") relative to their emergence from the pass and their next terrain ("before the wilderness of Jeruel"). It paints a clear picture for Jehoshaphat's troops, showing God's meticulous strategic planning and His omniscience regarding the enemy's progress.

2 Chronicles 20 16 Bonus section

• The detail in verse 16 provided by God acts as "divine reconnaissance," revealing the enemy's path, timing, and point of vulnerability without the need for human scouting.
• The terrain described—a difficult ascent and wadi leading into a wilderness—would naturally funnel the invading forces, making them concentrated and easier to observe (and, later, for God to defeat without Judah's intervention).
• The instruction to "go down" and find them suggests that Jehoshaphat's army was expected to take up an observation post early enough to witness the invaders emerging from the narrow, arduous ascent, thereby being perfectly positioned for God to act on their behalf.

2 Chronicles 20 16 Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:16 stands as a profound illustration of God's strategic genius and His precise involvement in the affairs of His people. After commanding Judah to simply "stand still" and witness His salvation (v. 17), this verse details the practical, actionable step required of them: going to a specific, challenging location ("ascent of Ziz," "end of the wadi," "wilderness of Jeruel") at a precise time ("Tomorrow") to find the enemy. This was not a command to fight, but to position themselves as spectators of a divine miracle. The meticulous geographical detail underscores God's omnipresent knowledge, as He perfectly knew the enemy's approach route, even when Judah did not. It served not only to guide them physically but also to build their faith and ensure that when the victory came, there could be no doubt it was by God's hand alone, seen in full view. For Jehoshaphat, obedience meant actively moving according to God's instructions, trusting that God's detailed knowledge would lead to victory without their physical struggle. This demonstrates that while God fights the battle, His people must still obey and be present according to His precise direction to experience His deliverance fully.