2 Chronicles 20:23

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy [them]: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

For the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983} and Moab {H4124} stood up {H5975} against the inhabitants {H3427} of mount {H2022} Seir {H8165}, utterly to slay {H2763} and destroy {H8045} them: and when they had made an end {H3615} of the inhabitants {H3427} of Seir {H8165}, every one {H376} helped {H5826} to destroy {H4889} another {H7453}.

What happened was that the people of 'Amon and Mo'av began attacking those people who lived by Mount Se'ir, to kill and destroy them completely; and when they had finished off the people from Se'ir, they set to work slaughtering one another.

The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had made an end to the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

Context of 2 Chronicles 20:23

2 Chronicles 20:23 presents the dramatic climax of God's miraculous intervention on behalf of King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. Faced with an overwhelming coalition of invading armies from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir (Edom), Jehoshaphat famously proclaimed a fast throughout Judah and sought the Lord with a powerful prayer, acknowledging Judah's helplessness but trusting in God's power (2 Chronicles 20:12). God responded through the prophet Jahaziel, assuring them that "the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15). The preceding verse, 2 Chronicles 20:22, reveals that as Judah began to sing praises, the Lord "set ambushments" against the invaders. This verse describes the devastating effect of those divine ambushments.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Intervention and Confusion: The primary theme is God's direct and miraculous intervention in warfare. Instead of Judah fighting, God caused the enemies to turn on each other, demonstrating His ability to bring confusion and self-destruction upon those who oppose His people.
  • God Fights Our Battles: This verse powerfully illustrates the principle that when we trust in God and obey His commands, He will fight on our behalf. The invaders' mutual destruction meant Judah did not have to lift a sword, fulfilling God's promise that the battle was His. This echoes themes seen in other biblical victories, such as Exodus 14:14.
  • The Folly of Unholy Alliances: The initial alliance of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, formed to attack Judah, ultimately crumbled from within. This serves as a cautionary tale about the instability and self-destructive nature of alliances not founded on righteousness or God's will.
  • Complete Victory: The phrase "utterly to slay and destroy" highlights the totality of the enemies' defeat. God's victory was not partial but complete, leaving no room for future threats from this specific coalition.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "utterly to slay and destroy" translates a strong Hebrew idiom (*lehašmiḏ uleḥarim*), which implies complete annihilation or putting to the ban. This emphasizes the thoroughness of the destruction these armies inflicted upon each other. The final clause, "every one helped to destroy another," vividly portrays the internal strife and chaos that God orchestrated, turning their collective strength into self-inflicted ruin.

Practical Application

2 Chronicles 20:23 offers profound encouragement for believers today. When faced with overwhelming challenges, whether personal, spiritual, or relational, this passage reminds us:

  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even when circumstances seem impossible, God is able to work in unexpected ways to bring about His purposes. Our part is to seek Him, pray, and trust, as Jehoshaphat did.
  • God Can Turn Enemies Against Themselves: In spiritual warfare, we are reminded that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. God can bring confusion and defeat to the schemes of the enemy, often in ways we cannot foresee.
  • Praise Precedes Victory: Just as Judah's praise preceded God's intervention, cultivating a heart of worship and gratitude, even in the midst of trials, can be a powerful act of faith that opens the way for God's miraculous work.
  • Rely on God's Strength, Not Your Own: This historical account serves as a timeless reminder that our might is insufficient for life's greatest battles, but God's strength is always sufficient. For ultimate victory, we must learn to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.
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.

  • 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.

  • Genesis 36:8

    Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau [is] Edom.

  • Genesis 36:9

    ¶ And these [are] the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:

  • Joshua 24:4

    And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

  • Ezekiel 35:2

    Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,

  • Ezekiel 35:3

    And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I [am] against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.

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