_A.M. 3108. B.C. 896._ The land being invaded, Jehoshaphat and all the people seek God by fasting and prayer, 2 Chronicles 20:1. They thankfully receive the promise of victory given by a prophet, 2 Chronicles 20:14. Their enemies are overthrown, 2 Chronicles 20:20. Their thanksgiving, 2 Chronicles... [ Continue Reading ]
_It came to pass after this also_, &c. After Jehoshaphat had been so very well and zealously employed in reforming his kingdom, and providing for the due administration of justice, and the support of religion in it, and when one would have expected to hear of nothing but the peace and prosperity of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat_ That brought him the surprising intelligence of this invasion, when his enemies had already entered his kingdom. _Saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea_ The Dead sea, beyond which mount Seir lay; and from _this side Syria... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoshaphat feared_ Partly from human frailty, and partly from the remembrance of his own guilt, and the wrath of God denounced against him for it, 2 Chronicles 19:2. _And set himself to seek the Lord_ The phrase denotes his settled resolution, seriousness, and earnestness in it, and the preparing... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judah gathered themselves together_ The people readily assembled, out of all the cities of Judah, in the court of the temple, to join in fasting and prayer to the Lord for help in this time of great danger and distress. _And Jehoshaphat stood in the house of the Lord_ Largely so called, that is, in... [ Continue Reading ]
_And said, O Lord God_, &c. Jehoshaphat himself was the mouth of the congregation to God, and did not devolve the work upon his chaplains. For though the kings were forbidden to burn incense, they were allowed to pray and preach. _Art thou not God in heaven_, &c. Which none of the gods of the heathe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have built thee a sanctuary_ He does not mention this under an idea that they had merited any thing at God's hand by building it, for only _of his own they had given him;_ but considers it as such a token of God's favourable presence with them, as had encouraged them to hope he would hear and help... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade_, &c. Or give them any disturbance. He pleads the ingratitude and injustice of his enemies, and intimates that it would be for God's glory to appear against them, and for the people whom they had so ill requited for the kindness shown them. We may comfortabl... [ Continue Reading ]
_O our God, wilt thou not judge them?_ He appeals to the justice of God, the righteous Judge, who rights those that suffer wrong, especially when they have no helper. Wilt thou not give sentence against them, and execute it upon them? For to _judge_, in this place, signifies to _punish_, as it also... [ Continue Reading ]
_All Judah stood before the Lord with their 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 wil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon Jahaziel came the Spirit of the Lord_ It seems he was not a prophet before this time, but was now suddenly inspired by God with the following message, to comfort this great assembly with an assured hope of deliverance, before they stirred from the place where they had prayed. For it is never i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid_ You have admitted fear enough to induce you to have recourse to God: now do not give way to that fear which would drive you from him. _The battle is not yours_ It is not in your own cause, nor in your own strength, that you engage; _the battle is God's_ And he do... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground _ In token of his reverence for God and his message, his belief of the promise, and his thankfulness for so great a favour. _The Levites stood up to praise the Lord_ By Jehoshaphat's appointment. _With a loud voice on high_ With heart and voic... [ Continue Reading ]
_Believe in the Lord your God_ Believe God's promise delivered to us by this prophet, and consequently all other predictions of the prophets. _So shall ye prosper_ Take heed lest by your unbelief you frustrate God's promise.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he had consulted with the people_ That is, with the elders and heads of the tribes, who represented the rest. He called a council 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they began to sing and to praise_ So acceptable are the fervent prayers and praises of God's people to him, and so terrible to their enemies! _The Lord set ambushments_ Hebrew, מארבים, _mearebim, insidiantes, persons lying in wait_, or _plotting_, and _laying snares._ The meaning seems to be,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Ammon and of Moab_, &c. These fell foul upon the Edomites, and cut them off; and then fell out with one another, and cut one another off. Thus God often makes wicked people instruments of destruction to one another. _When Judah came toward the watch-tower_ Which stood upon the cliff... [ Continue Reading ]
_They found among them in abundance both riches and jewels,_ &c. Which they had 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the fourth day_, &c. Undoubtedly many thanksgivings were offered to God immediately, and perhaps even a day of praise was kept in the camp, before they drew their forces out of the field: but in the fourth day they assembled in a valley, and blessed God with so much zeal and fervency, that a nam... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoshaphat in the fore-front of them_ They marched all in a body, in solemn procession, and Jehoshaphat at their head, that the country, as they passed along, might join with them in their praises. _To go again to Jerusalem with joy_ That they might give thanks for the mercy there, where by prayer... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of God was on all the kingdoms_, &c. Which were near, or which heard these things. They were afraid to attack or molest the worshippers of a God who was able to help his people in so wonderful a manner. _So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet_ Those that were displeased at the destroying of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Howbeit, the high places were not taken away_ Not universally; the fault was not in Jehoshaphat, but in the people, who, though they did worship the true God, yet would not be confined to the temple; but, for their own convenience, or from their affection to their ancient customs, chose to worship... [ Continue Reading ]
_After this did Jehoshaphat join him with Ahaziah_ This is mentioned as an aggravation of his sin, after so great an obligation laid upon him by God, and after he had been so sharply reproved by a prophet, yet he relapsed into the same sin; which proceeded partly from that near relation which was co... [ Continue Reading ]