2 Chronicles 20:15

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's.

And he said {H559}, Hearken {H7181} ye, all Judah {H3063}, and ye inhabitants {H3427} of Jerusalem {H3389}, and thou king {H4428} Jehoshaphat {H3092}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} unto you, Be not afraid {H3372} nor dismayed {H2865} by reason {H6440} of this great {H7227} multitude {H1995}; for the battle {H4421} is not yours, but God's {H430}.

He said, "Listen, all Y'hudah, you who live in Yerushalayim and King Y'hoshafat: here is what ADONAI is saying to you: 'Don't be afraid or distressed by this great horde; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.

and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat: Thus saith Jehovah unto you, Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

The powerful declaration in 2 Chronicles 20:15 serves as a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. Facing an overwhelming invasion from a vast coalition of armies, this verse delivers a divine message of hope and assurance directly from the LORD through the prophet Jahaziel.

Context

King Jehoshaphat, a righteous king of Judah, found himself in a dire situation when the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites launched a formidable attack against his kingdom. Overwhelmed by the sheer size of the enemy forces, Jehoshaphat's first response was not to muster his army, but to proclaim a national fast and seek the LORD. The people of Judah and Jerusalem gathered in the temple, and Jehoshaphat offered a heartfelt prayer, acknowledging God's sovereignty and their utter helplessness. It was in response to this earnest plea that the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, a Levite, who then delivered this reassuring prophecy.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Control: The most profound message is "the battle is not yours, but God's." This emphasizes that ultimate control and responsibility for the outcome belong to the Almighty. It shifts the focus from human capability and might to divine power and intervention.
  • Trust Over Fear: The command "Be not afraid nor dismayed" directly addresses the natural human response to overwhelming odds. It is a call to courageous faith, urging Judah to set aside terror and discouragement and instead place their confidence entirely in God. This echoes similar promises of divine protection found throughout scripture, such as Exodus 14:14 where Moses tells Israel, "The LORD shall fight for you."
  • God Fights for His People: The verse assures that God Himself will actively engage in the conflict on behalf of His people. This promise of divine intervention is a cornerstone of biblical history, demonstrating God's faithfulness to those who rely on Him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Be not afraid nor dismayed" translates from Hebrew words that convey a strong sense of not being terrified (yare') or broken in spirit and utterly crushed (chathath). This is more than just a casual instruction; it's a profound command to resist paralyzing fear and despair. The declaration "the battle is not yours, but God's" highlights the singular ownership and responsibility that God takes for the conflict, removing the burden from human shoulders.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Chronicles 20:15 offers immense encouragement when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, whether personal, spiritual, or communal. It teaches us several vital lessons:

  • Prayer as the First Response: Like Jehoshaphat, our initial reaction to fear and adversity should be to seek God wholeheartedly.
  • Reliance on God, Not Self: We are reminded that many "battles" in life are beyond our capacity to win on our own. True victory comes from surrendering control and allowing God to fight for us.
  • Overcoming Fear with Faith: This verse is a powerful antidote to anxiety and fear. When we are overwhelmed, we can recall this promise and choose to trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to deliver. It encourages us to step forward in faith, even when the path ahead seems daunting, knowing that God is our strength and our deliverer, as articulated in Proverbs 3:5-6.

This verse stands as a timeless testament to God's readiness to intervene on behalf of those who trust in Him, transforming situations of despair into opportunities for divine glory.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:7

    Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that [is] with him: for [there be] more with us than with him:

  • 2 Chronicles 32:8

    With him [is] an arm of flesh; but with us [is] the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

  • Deuteronomy 31:6

    Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

  • Exodus 14:13

    And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

  • Exodus 14:14

    The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

  • 1 Samuel 17:47

    And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

  • Deuteronomy 31:8

    And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

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