2 Chronicles 20 23

2 Chronicles 20:23 kjv

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

2 Chronicles 20:23 nkjv

For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

2 Chronicles 20:23 niv

The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

2 Chronicles 20:23 esv

For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

2 Chronicles 20:23 nlt

The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.

2 Chronicles 20 verses

2 Chronicles 20 23 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate and dramatic outcome of God's intervention on behalf of Judah during a massive invasion. After the Ammonites, Moabites, and inhabitants of Mount Seir had united to attack Judah, God set an ambush. This ambush manifested as profound confusion among the invading armies. Consequently, the Ammonites and Moabites first turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly annihilating them. Once they completed this task, the remaining Ammonite and Moabite forces then turned their swords against each other, resulting in their complete self-destruction. The verse highlights God's power to deliver His people by causing their enemies to become instruments of their own demise.

2 Chronicles 20 23 Context

This verse is pivotal within the narrative of 2 Chronicles chapter 20, detailing a miraculous deliverance granted to King Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah. Jehoshaphat was confronted by an immense coalition of armies from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir (Edom), far outnumbering his own forces. In his desperation, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a national fast, gathered the people at the Temple, and offered a powerful public prayer, acknowledging Judah's utter helplessness and appealing to God's covenant promises and sovereignty.

In response, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, a Levite, who delivered a divine prophecy: Judah would not need to fight, but merely stand in position and observe God's salvation. He further specified that the victory would not be achieved through human strength. Encouraged by this, Jehoshaphat and the people prostrated themselves in worship. The next morning, they marched out to face the enemy, with singers leading the army, praising the Lord for His holy splendor. As the choir began to sing and praise, the Lord set an "ambush" against the invaders (2 Chr 20:22). Verse 23 then elaborates on how this divine ambush resulted in the enemies' total self-destruction, without Judah lifting a sword. The victory thus illustrates God's faithfulness to those who trust in Him completely, relying on His power rather than their own.

2 Chronicles 20 23 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - kiy): A conjunction introducing the explanation or reason for the "ambush" mentioned in the preceding verse. It explains the specific manner in which the divine intervention took place.
• the people of Ammon and Moab (בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן וּמוֹאָב - bənê ‘ammôn ûmô’āv): These two nations were descendants of Lot, related to Israel, but often hostile neighbors. They formed the primary aggressive force alongside Seir, representing ancient and ongoing adversaries of God's people.
• rose up against (קָמוּ עַל - qāmû ‘al): Literally "stood up against" or "rose upon." This phrase typically describes an act of aggression or hostility. Here, it signifies a tragic irony: their aggressive posture, originally aimed at Judah, was divinely redirected internally.
• the inhabitants of Mount Seir (יֹשְׁבֵי הַר שֵׂעִיר - yōšəbê har śē‘îr): These were the Edomites, descendants of Esau, Israel's ancient kin and often an antagonistic entity. Mount Seir is their rugged, mountainous homeland. Their inclusion in the coalition and their swift annihilation first, is significant, suggesting their strategic positioning or a particular internal vulnerability.
• utterly destroying them (לְהַחֲרִימָם - ləhaḥărîmām): From the root חרם (ḥāram), meaning "to utterly destroy," "to devote for destruction," or "to put under the ban." This strong term indicates a complete and ruthless massacre, akin to the concept of herem in holy war. This isn't just a defeat; it's total annihilation.
• and when they had finished with (וּכְכַלּוֹתָם עִם - ūḵəḵallōṯām ‘im): Conveys the completion of an action. The Ammonites and Moabites fully executed the destruction of the Seirites before moving to their next act. This points to a methodical, though divinely induced, progression of the enemy's self-destruction.
• the inhabitants of Seir (יֹשְׁבֵי שֵׂעִיר - yōšəbê śē‘îr): A repetition emphasizing the absolute focus of the initial, internal destructive act, confirming the specific target.
• they helped to destroy one another (הֶעֱזִירוּ אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו לְהַשְׁחִית - he‘ĕzîrû ’îš bə’āḥîw ləhašḥîṯ): This is the climax of the self-annihilation.
  • "helped to destroy": The root עזר (āzar) normally means "to help," but here it takes on a deeply ironic and tragic meaning. They were "helping" each other, not in battle, but in the common aim of mutual destruction.
  • "one another" (אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו - ’îš bə’āḥîw): Literally "man by his brother," a common idiom signifying reciprocal action or internecine strife within a group. It paints a picture of utter chaos and internal combat.
  • "destroy" (לְהַשְׁחִית - ləhašḥîṯ): From the root שחת (šāḥaṯ), meaning "to ruin, spoil, corrupt, annihilate." While "ḥāram" earlier spoke of devotion to utter destruction, "šāḥaṯ" denotes the process and outcome of ruination, underscoring the completeness of their internal demise.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For the people of Ammon and Moab... utterly destroying them, the inhabitants of Mount Seir": This segment highlights the divinely orchestrated confusion where the original attackers of Judah were turned into destroyers of a portion of their own coalition. The initial unity dissolved into a directed, self-inflicted slaughter. The term "utterly destroying" underscores the ferocity and totality of this first stage.
• "and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another": This phrase intensifies the preceding destruction, showcasing God's comprehensive judgment. Not content with partial elimination of the enemy through internal strife, the remaining factions continued the destructive process upon themselves. The grim irony of "helped to destroy one another" illustrates complete chaos, fulfilling God's promise of victory without Judah's intervention. This demonstrates the power of divine intervention that can disrupt enemy solidarity and weaponize their own presence against each other.

2 Chronicles 20 23 Bonus section

• The Power of Praising Before Battling: The precise moment the ambush was "set" by the Lord was when the choir began to sing and praise (2 Chr 20:22). This timing is crucial. It underscores that this victory was a direct result of worship and faith, not military might or human strategy. This demonstrates the spiritual nature of the conflict and the active power of glorifying God in dire circumstances.
• A "Bloodless" Victory for Judah: For Judah, this was a "bloodless" victory, emphasizing divine provision and protection. They did not raise a weapon against their foes. This highlights that when God fights, human effort becomes secondary or even unnecessary.
• Irony and Humiliation: The phrase "helped to destroy one another" is a profound biblical irony. The very forces intended to destroy Judah ironically became "helpers" in their own collective suicide. This serves as a significant polemic against reliance on human alliances and military strength when confronting God's purposes. It is a powerful illustration of divine justice and the humiliation of those who defy God's plan for His people.
• Precedent for Divine Ambushes: This account provides a remarkable historical example of God setting an "ambush" (literally 'liers in wait') through confusion and internal conflict, echoing similar accounts like the defeat of the Midianites by Gideon (Judg 7) or the Philistines by Jonathan (1 Sam 14). This pattern indicates a consistent divine strategy against overconfident or arrogant enemies.

2 Chronicles 20 23 Commentary

This verse stands as a testament to the omnipotence and faithfulness of God, who battles for His people in ways humanly incomprehensible. It details the precise fulfillment of the prophetic word that Judah would not need to fight, vividly illustrating how God's "ambush" worked. The immense enemy coalition, seemingly invincible, was turned upon itself, displaying total disarray. The sequence of destruction – Seirites first, then mutual annihilation between Ammon and Moab – highlights God's thoroughness. This was not a minor skirmish but a complete self-inflicted slaughter, leaving Judah's enemies totally vanquished. The incident serves as a powerful biblical type for believers: when facing overwhelming opposition, total surrender, prayer, and trust in God's unconventional methods can lead to miraculous deliverance, demonstrating that true victory belongs solely to the Lord. It underscores that spiritual warfare often triumphs not through human might or strategic genius, but through divine intervention sparked by faith and worship.