2 Chronicles 20

Chap. XX. Ver. 1—37. Judah being invaded by confederates assures them of victory. Their enemies become so confounded that they destroy each other, and the land enjoys an interval of peace.—A grand confederacy is now formed against Jehoshaphat, by the children of Moab and Ammon, and their confederates. Instead of seeking help from man, as had generally been the case, he proclaims a fast, and calls upon the nation to humble themselves before God; and on this occasion the king himself offers up a most excellent and solemn prayer for the divine blessing and protection, in which he makes a striking allusion to the inspired prayer that his predecessor, Solomon, had offered at the dedication of the temple.

And impressive indeed must have been the sight, when, as we are told, “all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives and children.” In consequence of this national humiliation, a prophet is sent to assure them of an answer to their prayers, and to inform them, that they would have no oc-

Notes on the verses

Ver. 8. When they returned to Jerusalem.—That is, the Levites, priests, and fathers.

Ver. 1. Others beside the Ammonites.—That is, some of their [allies], which, according to the next verse, were probably Edomites.

Ver. 2. On this side Syria.—The ablest modern critics read, “from Edom.”

Ver. 5. The new court.—Probably that recently repaired by Asa, ch. xv. 3.

Ver. 7. Art not thou, &c.—The Hebrew reads, more literally, “Art not thou our God? Thou didst drive,” &c. So the Targum.

Ver. 11. They reward us.—Six MSS. and the Targums insert here the word “evil,” which the sense seems to require.