2 Chronicles 20:14

ยถ 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 the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;

Then upon Jahaziel {H3166} the son {H1121} of Zechariah {H2148}, the son {H1121} of Benaiah {H1141}, the son {H1121} of Jeiel {H3273}, the son {H1121} of Mattaniah {H4983}, a Levite {H3881} of the sons {H1121} of Asaph {H623}, came the Spirit {H7307} of the LORD {H3068} in the midst {H8432} of the congregation {H6951};

Then, in the middle of the assembly, the Spirit of ADONAI came upon Yachzi'el the son of Z'kharyahu, the son of B'nayah, the son of Ye'i'el, the son of Matanyah the Levi, from the descendants of Asaf.

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaphโ€™s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly.

Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Jehovah in the midst of the assembly;

Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:14 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah. In a time of national crisis, with overwhelming enemy forces arrayed against them, this verse describes the dramatic moment when God provides His divine response to His people's desperate plea.

Context

The kingdom of Judah, led by King Jehoshaphat, was facing an immense and terrifying invasion from a coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. Instead of despairing or immediately resorting to military strength, Jehoshaphat wisely proclaimed a national fast and gathered all of Judah, including women and children, in the temple court to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:5-12). This collective act of humility and dependence on God set the stage for the miraculous intervention described in this verse.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation: The verse powerfully illustrates God's direct communication with His people in times of desperate need. It shows that God hears and responds to sincere prayer.
  • Prophetic Empowerment: The "Spirit of the LORD" coming upon Jahaziel signifies a divine anointing for prophetic utterance, transforming an ordinary Levite into God's messenger.
  • God's Presence in the Congregation: The Spirit's descent "in the midst of the congregation" emphasizes God's active presence among His gathered people, affirming His closeness and attentiveness to their cries.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "came the Spirit of the LORD" is a translation of the Hebrew ืจื•ึผื—ึท ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” (Ruach Adonai). This expression consistently denotes a supernatural endowment or inspiration from God, enabling individuals to perform specific divine tasks, particularly in prophetic speech, leadership, or miraculous acts. It underscores that Jahaziel's subsequent message was not of human origin, but a direct, divinely inspired word from God Himself.

Significance of Jahaziel

Jahaziel is specifically identified as "a Levite of the sons of Asaph." The sons of Asaph were a prominent family of Levites known for their roles as temple musicians, singers, and sometimes prophets through their worship (see 1 Chronicles 25:1). This lineage adds credibility to his prophetic role and demonstrates that God can choose anyone from within His covenant community, often those dedicated to worship and service, to deliver His vital messages.

Practical Application

This powerful account from 2 Chronicles 20:14 offers timeless principles for believers today:

  • Seek God First: In moments of overwhelming difficulty or uncertainty, our primary response should be to humbly seek God through prayer and collective worship, trusting in His sovereignty.
  • Expect God to Speak: God is not silent. He desires to guide His people and often provides clear direction, sometimes through unexpected individuals or means. We must remain attentive and open to His voice.
  • Trust God's Guidance: The message delivered by Jahaziel ultimately led to Judah's miraculous and bloodless victory (2 Chronicles 20:17). This encourages us to fully trust and obey God's revealed will, even when the path seems counterintuitive or impossible from a human perspective.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 15:1

    ยถ And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:

  • 2 Chronicles 24:20

    And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

  • Daniel 9:20

    ยถ And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

  • Daniel 9:21

    Yea, whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

  • Acts 10:4

    And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

  • Acts 10:31

    And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

  • Isaiah 65:24

    And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
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