20:1 It came to pass after this also, [that] the children of
Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them [other]
beside the a Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to
battle.
(a) That is, who copied the Ammonites in language and
apparel. The Hebrews thought that they were the
Amalekites, but as it appeared by (2Ch 20:10) they
were the Idumeans of mount Seir.
20:2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There
cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the b
sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they [be] in
Hazazontamar, which [is] Engedi.
(b) Called the Dead sea, where God destroyed the five
cities because of their sin.
20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself c to seek the
LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
(c) This declares what the fear of the godly is, which is
the prick to stir them to prayer and to depend on the
Lord, while it moves the wicked either to seek after
worldly means and policies or else to fall into
despair.
20:7 [Art] not thou our God, [who] didst drive out the
inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and d
gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
(d) He grounds his prayer on God's power, by which he is
able to help and also on his mercy, which he will
continue toward his, as he has once chosen them and
began to show his graces toward them.
20:9 If, [when] evil cometh upon us, [as] the e sword,
judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this
house, and in thy presence, (for thy name f [is] in this
house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt
hear and help.
(e) Meaning war which comes by God's just judgments for our
sins.
(f) That is, it is here called on and you declared your
presence and favour.
20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might
against this great company that cometh against us; neither
know we what to do: but our eyes g [are] upon thee.
(g) We only put our trust in you, and wait for our
deliverance from heaven.
20:13 And all Judah stood h before the LORD, with their little
ones, their wives, and their children.
(h) That is, before the ark of the covenant.
20:14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of
Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite
of the sons of Asaph, came i the Spirit of the LORD in
the midst of the congregation;
(i) Who was moved by the Spirit of God to prophecy.
20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD
unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this
great multitude; for the k battle [is] not yours, but
God's.
(k) They fight against God and not against you, therefore
he will fight for you.
20:18 And Jehoshaphat l bowed his head with [his] face to the
ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
(l) Declaring his faith and obedience to the word of the
Lord, and giving thanks for the deliverance promised.
20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into
the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth,
Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye
inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so
shall ye be established; believe his m prophets, so
shall ye prosper.
(m) Give credit to their words and doctrine.
20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed
singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty
of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say,
n Praise the LORD; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(n) This was a psalm of thanksgiving which they used
commonly to sing when they praised the Lord for his
benefits, and was made by David, (Ps 136:1-26).
20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set
ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and o
mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were
smitten.
(o) Meaning, the Idumeans who dwelt in mount Seir.
20:23 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 p destroy another.
(p) Thus the Lord according to Jehoshaphat's prayer
declared his power, when he delivered his by causing
their enemies to kill one another.
20:26 And on the fourth day they q assembled themselves in the
valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD:
therefore the name of the same place was called, The
valley of Berachah, unto this day.
(q) To give thanks to the Lord for the victory: and
therefore the valley was called Berachah, that is,
blessing or thanksgiving, which was also called the
valley of Jehoshaphat, (Joel 3:2,12) because the
Lord judged the enemies according to Jehoshaphat's
prayer.
20:29 And the r fear of God was on all the kingdoms of [those]
countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought
against the enemies of Israel.
(r) He declares by this that the works of God always bring
comfort or deliverance to his, and fear or destruction
to his enemies.
20:32 And he walked in the way of s Asa his father, and
departed not from it, doing [that which was] right in the
sight of the LORD.
(s) Meaning, in his virtues, and those ways in which he
followed God.
20:33 Howbeit the high places were t not taken away: for as
yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God
of their fathers.
(t) If the great care and diligence of this good king was
not able to utterly abolish all the superstition of
this people, but they still retained it, how much less
are they able to reform evil, who either have little
zeal, or not as he had: though here he was not to be
excused?
20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied
against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast u joined
thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And
the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to
Tarshish.
(u) Thus God would not have his join in company with
idolaters and wicked men.
