2 Chronicles 20:22

And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

And when {H6256} they began {H2490} to sing {H7440} and to praise {H8416}, the LORD {H3068} set {H5414} ambushments {H693} against the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983}, Moab {H4124}, and mount {H2022} Seir {H8165}, which were come {H935} against Judah {H3063}; and they were smitten {H5062}.

Then, during the time when they were singing and praising, ADONAI brought a surprise attack against the people of 'Amon, Mo'av and Mount Se'ir who had come to fight Y'hudah; and they were defeated.

The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.

And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:22 (KJV)

This verse describes a pivotal moment in the account of King Jehoshaphat and the invasion of Judah by a vast confederate army. It highlights the extraordinary way God delivered His people, not through military might, but through faith and worship.

Context

King Jehoshaphat of Judah was faced with an overwhelming force from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. His response was not to rely solely on his army, but to proclaim a fast throughout Judah and seek the LORD. After Jehoshaphat offered a powerful prayer acknowledging God's power and their helplessness (see 2 Chronicles 20:5-12), the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, who delivered a prophecy assuring them that the battle was not theirs, but God's, and they would not need to fight (2 Chronicles 20:15-17). In response, Jehoshaphat and all Judah bowed down and worshipped, and the Levites stood up to praise God with a loud voice (2 Chronicles 20:18-19). Acting on this prophecy, they went out the next morning, sending singers and praisers before the army, dressed in holy array. This verse describes the immediate result of their act of faith and worship.

Key Themes

  • The Power of Praise and Worship: The text explicitly states that God acted *when they began* to sing and praise. This highlights worship not just as an emotional response, but as a powerful spiritual weapon that can precede and enable divine intervention.
  • Faithful Obedience: Jehoshaphat and Judah demonstrated remarkable faith by following the prophet's instructions and leading their army with unarmed singers. Their obedience to God's word, even when unconventional, was key to their victory.
  • Divine Intervention: The LORD Himself set the "ambushments." This was not a natural event or a clever military tactic by Judah, but a direct act of God causing confusion and destruction among the enemy forces.
  • God Fights for His People: The promise given in 2 Chronicles 20:17—"stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD"—is fulfilled. God fought the battle on behalf of Judah, demonstrating His sovereignty and power to deliver those who trust in Him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sing and to praise" uses Hebrew words (related to shiyr for sing and halal for praise) that denote joyful, celebratory worship, often accompanied by instruments. The term "ambushments" (Hebrew: ma'arab or related forms) suggests setting a trap or causing confusion from a hidden source. In this context, God Himself orchestrated the confusion, possibly causing the enemy armies to turn on each other, as described in the following verses (see 2 Chronicles 20:23).

Reflection

2 Chronicles 20:22 offers a powerful lesson for believers today. It reminds us that when faced with overwhelming challenges, our first response should be to seek God, humble ourselves, and trust in His promises. Furthermore, it reveals the profound spiritual power of praise and worship. While it doesn't mean every act of worship will result in immediate physical victory over enemies, it assures us that praise aligns our hearts with God's will, invites His presence, and is a means through which He can work powerfully on our behalf, often in ways we don't expect. It encourages us to praise God not just for the victory, but in anticipation of it, even in the midst of the battle.

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 Samuel 14:20

    And Saul and all the people that [were] with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great discomfiture.

  • Ezekiel 38:21

    And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.

  • Isaiah 19:2

    And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, [and] kingdom against kingdom.

  • 2 Kings 6:17

    And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

  • Judges 7:22

    And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

  • Psalms 35:5

    Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].

  • Psalms 35:6

    Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

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