2 Chronicles 20:13

KJV

And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

KJV (with Strong's)

And all Judah {H3063} stood {H5975} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, with {H1571} their little ones {H2945}, their wives {H802}, and their children {H1121}.

Complete Jewish Bible

All Y'hudah stood before ADONAI with their little ones, their wives and their children.

Berean Standard Bible

Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD.

American Standard Version

And all Judah stood before Jehovah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 20:13 captures a profound moment of national unity and desperate dependence, portraying the entire populace of Judah—men, women, and children—gathered in collective supplication before the LORD. Faced with an overwhelming enemy invasion, this verse vividly illustrates their unified response to King Jehoshaphat's call for a national fast, underscoring their complete reliance on divine intervention rather than human strength. It stands as a powerful testament to corporate faith and intergenerational solidarity in the face of an existential threat, laying the groundwork for God's miraculous deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the dramatic narrative of [2 Chronicles 20](/2-chronicles/20 "2 Chronicles 20 - Jehoshaphat's Prayer and God's Deliverance"), immediately following King Jehoshaphat's heartfelt and humble prayer of desperation and trust in God's sovereignty, as recorded in [2 Chronicles 20:5-12](/2-chronicles/20-5-12 "2 Chronicles 20:5-12 - Jehoshaphat's Prayer in Crisis"). The chapter opens with the alarming news of a vast coalition—the Ammonites, Moabites, and some of the Meunites—marching against Judah ([2 Chronicles 20:1-2](/2-chronicles/20-1-2 "2 Chronicles 20:1-2 - The Invasion Threat")). Jehoshaphat's immediate and exemplary response was to "set himself to seek the LORD and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah" ([2 Chronicles 20:3](/2-chronicles/20-3 "2 Chronicles 20:3 - Jehoshaphat Proclaims a Fast")). Verse 13 then describes the nation's comprehensive and immediate obedience to this royal decree, demonstrating their unified spiritual posture. This collective act of humility and seeking God directly precedes the LORD's miraculous intervention through the prophet Jahaziel ([2 Chronicles 20:14-17](/2-chronicles/20-14-17 "2 Chronicles 20:14-17 - Jahaziel's Prophecy of Deliverance")) and the subsequent, astonishing victory without battle ([2 Chronicles 20:20-25](/2-chronicles/20-20-25 "2 Chronicles 20:20-25 - God Grants Victory to Judah")). The gathering of the entire populace underscores the gravity of the crisis and the depth of their collective faith, setting the stage for divine action.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of [2 Chronicles 20](/2-chronicles/20 "2 Chronicles 20 - Jehoshaphat's Reign and God's Deliverance") unfold during the reign of King Jehoshaphat (c. 870-848 BC), a period generally characterized by religious reforms, a strengthening of the kingdom, and relative peace, though punctuated by external threats. The formidable coalition of Ammonites, Moabites, and inhabitants of Mount Seir (Edomites) represented an unexpected and grave danger from the east and south, threatening the very existence of Judah. In ancient Israelite culture, national crises, particularly military threats or natural disasters, frequently prompted calls for public fasting, lament, and assembly at the Temple or a designated holy place. Such gatherings signified communal repentance, expressions of deep sorrow, and a unified appeal to God for mercy and deliverance. The explicit mention of "their little ones, their wives, and their children" was not merely descriptive but profoundly culturally significant, indicating a total national mobilization of faith. It highlighted that even the most vulnerable members of society were brought into the sphere of divine protection and communal supplication, emphasizing the dire nature of the threat and the comprehensive nature of their spiritual response. This gathering most likely took place in the outer courts of the Temple in Jerusalem, the spiritual and governmental heart of Judah.

* **Key Themes:** [2 Chronicles 20:13](/2-chronicles/20-13 "2 Chronicles 20:13 - All Judah Stands Before the LORD") powerfully encapsulates several enduring themes prevalent throughout the book of Chronicles and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **corporate prayer and unity**, demonstrating the immense strength derived from a community uniting in humble supplication before God. The phrase "all Judah" emphasizes a collective act of faith, transcending individual fears and concerns, mirroring the principle of communal seeking found in passages like [Joel 2:15-17](/joel/2-15-17 "Joel 2:15-17 - A Call for National Repentance and Fasting"). Secondly, the explicit mention of "their little ones, their wives, and their children" underscores **intergenerational faith** and the vital importance of involving every segment of society, including the most vulnerable, in spiritual matters. This echoes the Deuteronomic command for all—men, women, and children—to gather to hear the law, as seen in [Deuteronomy 31:12](/deuteronomy/31-12 "Deuteronomy 31:12 - The Importance of Hearing the Law"). Finally, the act of standing "before the LORD" signifies **total dependence on God**, acknowledging human helplessness and vulnerability in the face of overwhelming odds. This posture of humble supplication, as articulated in Jehoshaphat's prayer in [2 Chronicles 20:12](/2-chronicles/20-12 "2 Chronicles 20:12 - Jehoshaphat's Prayer of Helplessness"), precedes and sets the stage for God's miraculous deliverance, reinforcing the overarching theme that victory comes from God alone.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stood (Hebrew, _ʿāmāḏ'_ H5975):** This verb signifies more than mere physical presence; it implies a deliberate posture of readiness, waiting, or service. In cultic or judicial contexts, to "stand before" someone denotes a formal appearance, often in a position of humility, submission, or expectation. Here, it conveys Judah's collective posture of presenting themselves before God, ready to hear His word and receive His intervention, acknowledging His supreme authority and their own vulnerability. It is an active, intentional stance of seeking, enduring, and abiding in His presence.
* **Before (Hebrew, _pânîym'_ H6440):** This noun, typically plural, refers to "the face" and is used in a vast array of applications, often with prepositional prefixes to mean "before," "in the presence of," or "in front of." When combined with "the LORD" (YHWH), it forms the idiom "before the LORD," indicating a direct, intimate encounter or appeal to the divine presence. For Judah, standing "before the LORD" was an act of profound reverence and an acknowledgment of God's immediate accessibility and sovereign power. It was a plea for divine audience and intervention, placing their desperate situation directly into God's hands, seeking His favor and direction.
* **Little ones (Hebrew, _ṭaph'_ H2945):** This term specifically refers to young children, infants, or dependents, highlighting their vulnerability and complete reliance on adults. Its inclusion here, alongside "wives" and "children," emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Judah's assembly. It signifies that the crisis affected *everyone* in the family unit, and therefore *everyone* was brought into the sphere of communal prayer and divine protection. It underscores the intergenerational aspect of faith and the collective burden and appeal of the nation, appealing to God's compassion for the most helpless.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all Judah stood before the LORD,"**: This clause powerfully emphasizes the remarkable unity and collective action of the entire nation. "All Judah" signifies a comprehensive gathering, transcending social strata, individual fears, or personal preferences, united by a common existential threat and a shared resolve to seek God. Their posture of "stood before the LORD" is one of profound reverence, submission, and active expectation. It indicates a formal presentation of themselves and their dire situation directly to God, awaiting His response and intervention. This is a powerful visual of a nation stripped of self-reliance, placing its hope entirely in the divine, acknowledging God's sovereignty over their circumstances.
* **"with their little ones, their wives, and their children."**: This phrase meticulously details the inclusivity of the assembly, highlighting that absolutely no one was excluded from this national act of spiritual dependence. The explicit mention of "little ones" (referring to infants and toddlers, the most vulnerable), "wives," and "children" (likely older offspring capable of understanding) underscores the complete vulnerability of the community. It signifies that the crisis impacted every household and every generation, and thus every family member was brought into the communal act of seeking God. This inclusion also serves to intensify the plea, as the presence of the most helpless members of society would naturally evoke divine compassion and underscore the urgency and gravity of their need. It is a poignant image of a nation laying bare its entire future, including its most precious and defenseless, before God.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. **Imagery** is central, painting a vivid and moving picture of the entire nation—men, women, and children—gathered in a unified, humble stance before God, likely within the sacred precincts of the Temple. This visual evokes a powerful sense of both profound vulnerability and unwavering faith. **Inclusivity** or **Totality** is powerfully conveyed through the phrase "all Judah" and the subsequent exhaustive enumeration of family members ("their little ones, their wives, and their children"). This emphasis highlights that this was not a partial or segmented response, but a complete national act of dependence, underscoring the universal impact of the crisis and the communal nature of their spiritual response. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** between the overwhelming human helplessness in the face of a vast, impending enemy and the anticipated, yet unseen, divine power that Judah is appealing to. The very act of standing in supplication, rather than preparing for battle, underscores this stark contrast, effectively setting the stage for God's miraculous and unconventional intervention in the subsequent narrative.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Chronicles 20:13 stands as a profound testament to the power of corporate prayer and the absolute necessity of complete dependence on God in times of overwhelming crisis. It illustrates that when human resources are exhausted, and fear is overwhelming, the appropriate and most potent response for God's people is to turn collectively to Him, bringing every aspect of their lives—including their most vulnerable members—before His sovereign presence. This act of national humility and unified supplication acknowledges God as the ultimate deliverer and the only true source of salvation. It teaches that God honors a people who lay down their self-sufficiency, confess their helplessness, and trust implicitly in His power, thereby setting the stage for His miraculous work and demonstrating His faithfulness to those who seek Him wholeheartedly.

* [Joel 2:15](/joel/2-15 "Joel 2:15 - A Call for Solemn Assembly and National Repentance")
* [Psalm 46:1](/psalms/46-1 "Psalm 46:1 - God is Our Refuge and Strength in Trouble")
* [Matthew 18:20](/matthew/18-20 "Matthew 18:20 - Where Two or Three Gather in My Name")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The poignant scene in 2 Chronicles 20:13 offers timeless and vital lessons for believers and communities today. In a world often characterized by self-reliance, the pursuit of human solutions, and the fragmentation of community, Judah's unified response challenges us to deeply consider our posture in the face of overwhelming challenges—whether personal anxieties, familial struggles, or global crises. It powerfully reminds us that true strength and enduring security are found not in our own might, ingenuity, or sophisticated strategies, but in humble, unified dependence on God. This verse calls us to embrace corporate prayer as a powerful and indispensable spiritual discipline, recognizing that there is unique and profound power when God's people gather together in one accord, laying their burdens and their very future before Him. Furthermore, the explicit inclusion of "their little ones, their wives, and their children" serves as a poignant reminder of the intergenerational nature of faith and the sacred responsibility to intentionally involve every member of our families and communities, especially the young, in spiritual practices and in fostering a deep-seated reliance on God from an early age. Our crises, like Judah's, can become profound opportunities for spiritual growth, a deeper experience of God's delivering power, and a renewed understanding of His sovereignty when we collectively "stand before the LORD."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I, or my community, typically respond to overwhelming challenges or crises? Is our first instinct to seek God collectively in humility and dependence?**
* **What does it truly mean for me to "stand before the LORD" in my personal life, acknowledging my complete dependence on Him, and how can I embody this posture more fully?**
* **How can we, as families and churches, more effectively involve all generations—from the youngest children to the oldest elders—in corporate spiritual practices and in fostering a culture of profound dependence on God?**

### FAQ
**Why was it significant that "all Judah" gathered, including women and children?**

Answer: The gathering of "all Judah," encompassing men, women, and children, was profoundly significant for several reasons, highlighting both the depth of the crisis and the nature of their faith. Firstly, it underscored the comprehensive nature of the national crisis; the impending invasion threatened every single person, leaving no one unaffected. This total mobilization demonstrated the gravity of the situation. Secondly, it revealed a remarkable unity and solidarity within the nation, as everyone responded to King Jehoshaphat's call for a national fast and prayer. This collective action highlighted their shared faith and common dependence on God, demonstrating that their trust was not in military might but in divine intervention. Thirdly, the inclusion of the most vulnerable—the "little ones" and "wives"—served to intensify their plea before God, appealing to His compassion and emphasizing their utter helplessness. It also served as a powerful lesson for the younger generation, teaching them early on about the importance of seeking God in times of trouble, echoing the principle of intergenerational instruction found in passages like [Deuteronomy 31:12](/deuteronomy/31-12 "Deuteronomy 31:12 - All Israel to Hear the Law"). It was a visual testament to a nation laying its entire future, including its most precious and vulnerable members, at the feet of God.

**What does the phrase "stood before the LORD" imply about their posture and expectation?**

Answer: The phrase "stood before the LORD" (Hebrew: *ʿāmāḏ lippnê YHWH*) implies a posture of profound reverence, humility, and active expectation. It is not merely a passive presence but a formal, intentional stance of presenting oneself. In biblical contexts, standing "before" a king or a deity often signifies readiness to listen, to serve, to receive judgment, or to make a solemn appeal. For Judah, it conveyed their complete submission to God's will, their readiness to obey any divine instruction, and their earnest expectation of His intervention. It was an acknowledgment of God's supreme authority, His immediate presence, and their own utter dependence. This posture of humble supplication, stripped of self-reliance, is key to understanding why God responded so powerfully. It demonstrates a faith that believes God is not only present but also able and willing to act on behalf of His people, as seen in the subsequent verses where God's Spirit comes upon Jahaziel to deliver a message of hope and victory ([2 Chronicles 20:14-17](/2-chronicles/20-14-17 "2 Chronicles 20:14-17 - The Prophecy of Jahaziel")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The powerful scene in [2 Chronicles 20:13](/2-chronicles/20-13 "2 Chronicles 20:13 - All Judah Stands Before the LORD"), where all Judah stands united in vulnerability and dependence before the LORD, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. Just as Judah gathered in desperate recognition of their inability to save themselves from an overwhelming foe, humanity stands utterly helpless before the far more formidable forces of sin, death, and the devil. Christ, however, is the one who truly "stood before the LORD" on our behalf, not in a posture of desperate need, but as the perfect High Priest and the spotless [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). He is the ultimate "little one" who became vulnerable, taking on human flesh to identify completely with our weakness and suffering ([Hebrews 2:14](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14 - Jesus Shared in Our Humanity")), yet He is also the powerful Son who perfectly obeyed and interceded for us. In Him, the corporate unity of Judah finds its spiritual reality in the Church, His body, where believers are called to gather in His name, knowing that "where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them" ([Matthew 18:20](/matthew/18-20 "Matthew 18:20 - Where Two or Three Gather in My Name")). Our "standing before the LORD" is now made possible and effective solely through Christ, who grants us bold and confident access to the throne of grace ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")). He is the true King who leads His people not to physical battle, but to spiritual victory, having already triumphed over our greatest enemies—sin and death—on the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Spiritual Powers")), ensuring that those who trust in Him will never be put to shame. In Christ, the vulnerability of Judah's "little ones" is transformed into the secure adoption of all believers as beloved children of God, heirs to an eternal inheritance through His perfect sacrifice and glorious resurrection ([Romans 8:15-17](/romans/8-15-17 "Romans 8:15-17 - Adoption as Sons and Heirs")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jonah 3:5

¶ So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Ezra 10:1

¶ Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.

Acts 21:5

And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till [we were] out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

Deuteronomy 29:10

¶ Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, [with] all the men of Israel,