2 Chronicles 20:28

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.

And they came {H935} to Jerusalem {H3389} with psalteries {H5035} and harps {H3658} and trumpets {H2689} unto the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}.

They came to Yerushalayim with lyres, lutes and trumpets and went to the house of ADONAI.

So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of Jehovah.

Commentary

Context of 2 Chronicles 20:28

This verse marks the triumphant return of King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah to Jerusalem, following one of the most remarkable deliverances in Israelite history. In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, Judah faced an immense coalition of Ammonites, Moabites, and inhabitants of Mount Seir. Overwhelmed, Jehoshaphat sought the Lord with fasting and prayer, acknowledging God's sovereignty and their utter dependence on Him (2 Chronicles 20:12). God responded through the prophet Jahaziel, promising victory without Judah having to fight (2 Chronicles 20:17). The next day, as the Levites led the army in praise, the Lord caused the enemy armies to turn on each other, resulting in their complete destruction. This verse describes the joyful procession back to the Temple, offering profound gratitude for their miraculous salvation.

Key Themes

  • Thanksgiving and Worship: The immediate and natural response to God's powerful deliverance. The people understood that their victory was solely from the Lord, prompting them to return to the "house of the LORD" for worship and praise.
  • God's Deliverance: This passage powerfully illustrates God's faithfulness to fight for His people when they trust and obey Him. Their victory was not achieved by human strength but by divine intervention.
  • Joyful Celebration: The use of musical instruments—psalteries, harps, and trumpets—signifies overwhelming joy and exuberant celebration, a testament to the profound relief and gratitude felt by the nation. This mirrors other biblical accounts of worship after a great deliverance, such as Moses' song after crossing the Red Sea.

Linguistic Insights

The instruments mentioned are significant for ancient Israelite worship:

  • Psalteries (Hebrew: nevel): A stringed instrument, likely a type of lyre or lute, producing a pleasant, resonant sound. It was commonly used in temple worship and for joyful occasions.
  • Harps (Hebrew: kinnor): Another stringed instrument, often associated with praise and joyous melodies, famously played by David.
  • Trumpets (Hebrew: chatsotserah, typically silver trumpets, or shofar, a ram's horn): These instruments were used for signaling, in warfare, and prominently in temple rituals. Their sound often symbolized solemnity, declaration, and loud praise, making them fitting for a triumphal return to the Lord's house. The combination of these instruments indicates a full and vibrant musical expression of praise.

    Practical Application

    2 Chronicles 20:28 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

    1. Respond to God's Goodness with Worship: Just as Judah returned to the Temple with instruments of praise, our natural response to God's faithfulness and deliverance in our lives should be heartfelt worship and thanksgiving.
    2. Trust in God's Power: This story reminds us that God is able to fight our battles, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Our primary role is often to seek Him, trust His promises, and offer Him praise.
    3. Cultivate a Spirit of Joy: Experiencing God's intervention brings immense joy. This verse encourages us to express that joy openly and celebrate His goodness in our lives, recognizing Him as the source of our blessings and victories. The Book of Psalms often calls for using various instruments to praise the Lord.

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

Cross-References

  • Revelation 14:2 (3 votes)

    And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

  • Revelation 14:3 (3 votes)

    And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

  • Psalms 92:3 (2 votes)

    Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.

  • Psalms 57:8 (2 votes)

    Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I [myself] will awake early.

  • 1 Chronicles 13:8 (2 votes)

    And David and all Israel played before God with all [their] might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

  • 2 Samuel 6:5 (2 votes)

    And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

  • 1 Chronicles 23:5 (2 votes)

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