2 Chronicles 36

2 Chronicles 36:2

The house - Largely so called, in the court of the people, upon that brazen scaffold which Solomon had erected. New court - Before the priests court: which is called the new court, because it had lately been renewed when the altar was renewed.

2 Chronicles 36:4

Abraham - To whom thou hast engaged thyself by covenant to be his friend, and the friend of his seed for ever.

2 Chronicles 36:6

The sword - Or rather, the sword of judgement or of vengeance, that is, war, whereby thou punisheth thy people for their sins.

2 Chronicles 36:9

Wilt thou not judge - Wilt thou not give sentence against them, and execute it upon them? The justice of God is the refuge of those that are wronged. No might - Though he had great armies, yet he seems to have been surprized by these men, before his forces were in readiness to oppose them.

2 Chronicles 36:10

Little ones - Whom they used to present before the Lord in times of great distress, to stir up themselves to more fervent prayers, their eyes being upon their harmless and tender children, and to move God to compassion, because God hath declared, that he will be prevailed with, by such methods as these.

2 Chronicles 36:12

But God’s - God will fight for you, and he alone will do the work, you need not strike a stroke.

2 Chronicles 36:13

Go down - From Jerusalem, where he and his army now were; which stood upon high ground.

2 Chronicles 36:16

Stood up - By Jehoshaphat’s appointment. On high - With heart and voice lifted up: whereby they shewed their full assurance of the victory.

2 Chronicles 36:17

Believe - God’s promise delivered to us by this prophet, and consequently all other predictions of the prophet.

2 Chronicles 36:18

Consulted - Jehoshaphat called a counsel of war, and it was resolved, to appoint singers to go out before the army, who had nothing to do, but to praise God, to praise his holiness, which is his beauty, to praise him as they did in the temple, that beauty of holiness. By this strange advance to the field of battle, Jehoshaphat shewed his firm reliance on the word of God, which enabled him to triumph before the battle, to animate his own men and confound the enemy.

2 Chronicles 36:19

To sing - So acceptable are the fervent prayers of God’s people to God, and so terrible to their enemies. Ambushments - Or, liers in wait, either the holy angels, who appeared in the shape of men, and possibly put on the appearances and visages of the Moabites or Ammonites, and in that shape slew the rest, who supposing this slaughter to be done by a part of their own army, fell upon them, and so broke forth into mutual slaughters. Or, God raised jealousies and animosities among themselves, which broke forth, first into secret ambushments, which one party laid for another, and then into open hostilities to their utter destruction. So vain are all mens attempts against God, who needs none to destroy his enemies but themselves, and their own mistakes, and passions, which he can, when he pleaseth, arm against them.

2 Chronicles 36:21

The watch tower - Which stood upon the cliff of Ziz, mentioned ver.16, and looked toward the wilderness, where their enemies lay encamped, whose numbers, and order, and condition, they could descry from thence.

2 Chronicles 36:22

Jewels - Which they brought with them to corrupt any of Jehoshaphat’s officers as they saw occasion: to procure necessaries for their vast army from time to time: and because they came as to triumph rather than to fight, being confident of the victory because of their numbers, and especially because they thought to surprize Jehoshaphat ere he could make any considerable preparations against them; God also permitting them to be puffed up to their own destruction.

2 Chronicles 36:23

Berachah - Heb. of blessing; so called from their solemn blessings and praises given to God in it upon this occasion.