2 Chronicles 20 22

2 Chronicles 20:22 kjv

And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

2 Chronicles 20:22 nkjv

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

2 Chronicles 20:22 niv

As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

2 Chronicles 20:22 esv

And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

2 Chronicles 20:22 nlt

At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.

2 Chronicles 20 verses

2 Chronicles 20 22 Meaning

This verse recounts a powerful instance of divine intervention during Jehoshaphat's reign. As the appointed singers began to offer praise and worship to the LORD, God immediately caused confusion and internal strife among Judah's invading enemies—the Ammonites, Moabites, and those from Mount Seir—leading to their complete self-destruction, without Judah needing to strike a single blow. It illustrates that faithful obedience and worship can unleash God's supernatural power to fight on behalf of His people.

2 Chronicles 20 22 Context

Chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles details the momentous invasion of Judah by a massive confederation of Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites (from Mount Seir). Facing overwhelming odds, King Jehoshaphat proclaims a national fast and prays earnestly to the LORD, confessing God's sovereignty and acknowledging Judah's helplessness. Through the prophet Jahaziel, God reassures them with the promise: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chr 20:15). He instructs them to stand firm and witness His salvation. Following this prophetic word, Jehoshaphat and all Judah bow in worship, and Levites begin to praise God. Verse 21 describes Jehoshaphat's appointment of singers, clothed in holy attire, to go before the army, praising the LORD for His holy splendor. Verse 22 then records the immediate and dramatic divine response to this act of faith-filled worship, showcasing God's unique strategy in warfare.

2 Chronicles 20 22 Word analysis

• And when they began to sing and to praise:

  • Hebrew: B'hatḥilām l'rōnnāh ule-təhilāh.
  • "began" (b'hatḥilām): Implies an immediate action, as soon as they started. The divine intervention was simultaneous with the inception of their worship.
  • "to sing" (l'rōnnāh): Refers to a joyful, resounding song or cry, often associated with exultation and triumph.
  • "and to praise" (ule-təhilāh): Specifically points to words or actions of laudation for God, acknowledging His greatness and faithfulness, as well as giving thanks. The act was public, corporate, and a declaration of unwavering faith. This wasn't merely preparation for battle but the very act that triggered God's victory.

• the LORD:

  • Hebrew: Yahweh (יְהוָה). The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, active involvement and faithfulness to His people, Judah. This signifies that the action taken was by the one true God, not a result of human effort or chance.

• set ambushments:

  • Hebrew: Vayiten ma'arāvim. Nātan (to set, to give) in this context means "to cause" or "to place." Ma'arāvim (ambushments, ambushes, concealed forces).
  • This is not referring to Judah's army setting ambushes. It signifies God initiating a hidden attack. Scholarly consensus, supported by similar biblical accounts (Judg 7:22; 1 Sam 14:20), points to God causing confusion, fear, and internal strife among the invading armies. They likely mistook their allies for enemies, leading to a destructive free-for-all, or possibly God used unseen agents (angels) or internal tensions already present within the confederation.

• against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir:

  • These are specific, traditional enemies of Israel, often acting together or in shifting alliances.
  • Ammon and Moab: Descendants of Lot (Gen 19:37-38).
  • Mount Seir: Refers to Edom, descendants of Esau (Gen 36:8-9). Their alliance represented a formidable and concerted threat from Judah's east and southeast. God's action here is against a well-defined and potent enemy.

• which were come against Judah; and they were smitten:

  • "which were come against Judah": Confirms the direct aggressive intent of the coalition against God's people.
  • "and they were smitten" (Hebrew: vayikkātūn or vayikkhadu - more accurately, vayikkattū for the context's passive of nakah which means "to strike," implies utter defeat or destruction). This indicates a comprehensive and complete defeat. They were annihilated without Judah's intervention, underscoring the miraculous nature of the victory. The smiting was self-inflicted by the enemy forces, ensuring Judah's clean hands in the matter.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments": This phrase reveals the precise moment of divine intervention. It highlights a cause-and-effect relationship between faithful, obedient worship and God's miraculous response. The shift from human faith to divine action is instantaneous and powerful. It implies that true worship, stemming from trust in God's promises, acts as a trigger for His power to manifest in a way that confounds conventional warfare.

2 Chronicles 20 22 Bonus section

• The placement of the singers at the head of the army (2 Chr 20:21) was an audacious act of faith, openly declaring their trust in the invisible God more than their military strength. This challenged conventional warfare and served as a testimony to surrounding nations of YHWH's unique power.
• The "ambushments" laid by the LORD suggest a chaotic internal struggle where the confederate forces of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir began fighting each other. This is a recurring theme in the Old Testament where God uses confusion or terror to defeat His enemies (e.g., Gideon's defeat of the Midianites, or the terror sent upon the Philistines in 1 Sam 7).
• The detailed destruction that follows in the subsequent verses (2 Chr 20:23-25) shows not merely a routing but an absolute annihilation, which was so complete that Judah spent three days gathering the plunder, highlighting the magnitude of God's victory. This total victory not only preserved Judah but also served to solidify Jehoshaphat's rule and brought peace to the land (2 Chr 20:29-30).

2 Chronicles 20 22 Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:22 stands as a beacon of faith, demonstrating God's supernatural response to radical obedience and praise. This verse encapsulates the principle that battles that are "God's" are not fought with human might or strategy alone, but with spiritual weapons like worship. Jehoshaphat's army did not charge; they sent singers. This counter-intuitive strategy was born of deep trust in God's prior prophetic word. The resulting "ambushments" indicate a divinely orchestrated confusion that turned the enemy's strength against itself. God did not just protect Judah; He actively used the enemies' own internal dynamics or perhaps unseen angelic forces to bring about their complete destruction, removing the threat entirely. This account underscores that active, corporate worship, especially when accompanied by unwavering faith in the face of impossible odds, can move the hand of God, revealing His unique and unexpected ways of delivering His people and fulfilling His promises. It serves as a timeless encouragement for believers to face their overwhelming challenges not with fear and reliance on human strength, but with humble dependence and praise towards their sovereign God.