2 Chronicles 20:19

And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

And the Levites {H3881}, of the children {H1121} of the Kohathites {H6956}, and of the children {H1121} of the Korhites {H7145}, stood up {H6965} to praise {H1984} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478} with a loud {H1419} voice {H6963} on high {H4605}.

and the L'vi'im from the descendants of the K'hati and the descendants of the Korchi, stood up and praised ADONAI the God of Isra'el at the top of their voices.

And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice.

And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Jehovah, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.

2 Chronicles 20:19 records a powerful moment of worship by the Levites, specifically the Kohathites and Korhites, who stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. This verse is situated in the midst of King Jehoshaphat's reign, when Judah faced a formidable coalition of armies.

Context

This verse follows a critical juncture in Judah's history. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were confronted by a vast enemy army from Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir (2 Chronicles 20:1). In response, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and sought the LORD, praying fervently for deliverance (see 2 Chronicles 20:6-12). God responded through the prophet Jahaziel, assuring Judah that the battle was not theirs, but God's, and they would not need to fight (2 Chronicles 20:17). Immediately after this divine assurance, Jehoshaphat and all Judah bowed down and worshipped (2 Chronicles 20:18), and then the Levites joined in, taking their stand to offer fervent praise.

Key Themes

  • Faithful Worship: The Levites, as designated ministers of the temple, exemplified profound faith by praising God *before* the victory was seen. Their act of worship was a declaration of trust in God's promise.
  • Corporate Praise: This was not individual, quiet contemplation but a unified, public, and enthusiastic expression of worship by the Levites. The phrase "loud voice on high" emphasizes the fervor and intensity of their devotion.
  • God's Sovereignty and Deliverance: The praise of the Levites underscores the belief that God was fully in control and would deliver His people, reinforcing the theme that the battle belongs to the LORD.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "praise" here is halal (הָלַל), which means to shine, to boast, to rave, to celebrate. It often implies a boisterous, public, and enthusiastic expression of adoration. The phrase "loud voice on high" further emphasizes the uninhibited and powerful nature of their worship, reaching up to God and proclaiming His greatness for all to hear.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Praise Precedes Victory: Just as the Levites praised God before the battle, we are called to worship and trust God even in the midst of our challenges. Praise can be an act of faith that strengthens our resolve and acknowledges God's power over our circumstances.
  • The Power of Corporate Worship: There is immense strength and encouragement in believers uniting to praise God. Collective worship can uplift spirits, affirm faith, and draw God's presence.
  • Active Trust: The Levites "stood up" to praise, indicating an active, intentional choice to worship and trust God. This is a call to actively engage our faith, not passively wait for circumstances to change before we express gratitude and adoration. Their worship set the stage for God's miraculous intervention, as seen in 2 Chronicles 20:22.
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.

  • 1 Chronicles 23:5

    Moreover four thousand [were] porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, [said David], to praise [therewith].

  • 1 Chronicles 16:5

    Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

  • 1 Chronicles 15:16

    And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren [to be] the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:22

    And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, [was] for song: he instructed about the song, because he [was] skilful.

  • 1 Chronicles 16:42

    And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun [were] porters.

  • Ezra 3:12

    But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, [who were] ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

  • Ezra 3:13

    So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

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