2 Chronicles 20:5

And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

And Jehoshaphat {H3092} stood {H5975} in the congregation {H6951} of Judah {H3063} and Jerusalem {H3389}, in the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, before {H6440} the new {H2319} court {H2691},

Standing in front of the new courtyard in the house of ADONAI, among those assembled from Y'hudah and Yerushalayim,

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard

And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court;

Commentary

Context of 2 Chronicles 20:5

This verse sets the scene for one of the most remarkable accounts of divine deliverance in the Old Testament. King Jehoshaphat of Judah found himself facing an overwhelming military threat from a vast coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites (or Edomites, depending on the manuscript). Having received news of the impending invasion, Jehoshaphat's immediate response, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:3, was to "fear, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." Verse 5 then describes the public, national gathering that followed, emphasizing the communal nature of their distress and their unified appeal to God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Leadership in Crisis: King Jehoshaphat demonstrates exemplary spiritual leadership by not only seeking God personally but also by gathering his entire nation to do the same. His public stance in the Temple underscored his reliance on God, providing a powerful example for his people.
  • Corporate Prayer and Unity: The act of "Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem" highlights the importance of communal prayer in times of national or collective crisis. It signifies a unified front, a collective cry for divine intervention, demonstrating that the entire nation was humbling itself before God.
  • The Centrality of the Temple: The "house of the LORD" (the Temple in Jerusalem) was the designated place where God's presence dwelt and where His people were to bring their prayers and petitions. Standing "before the new court" indicates a specific area within the Temple complex, likely designed for such large public assemblies, emphasizing the sacred space where they sought God's face.
  • Dependence on God: Faced with an impossible human situation, Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah turned not to military strategy first, but to the Lord. This act of seeking God's help collectively demonstrates a profound trust in His sovereignty and power, which is further articulated in Jehoshaphat's profound prayer for divine intervention that follows this verse.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "house of the LORD" is a direct translation of the Hebrew beit Yahweh (ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื”), consistently referring to the Temple in Jerusalem, the place of God's special presence among His people. The term "congregation" (Hebrew: qahal - ืงึธื”ึธืœ) emphasizes the assembled community, often implying a formal, religious gathering. It underscores that this was not a casual meeting but a solemn assembly of the entire nation.

Practical Application

2 Chronicles 20:5 offers enduring lessons for believers today. It reminds us that:

  • In times of personal or collective crisis, our first response should be to seek God.
  • There is immense power in corporate prayer, where believers unite in common supplication and trust in God's ability to intervene.
  • Leaders, whether in families, communities, or nations, have a crucial role in directing people towards God in challenging circumstances.
  • Just as God met Judah in their designated place of worship, He meets us today wherever we humbly seek Him, demonstrating the power of corporate prayer and humility before God.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 19:15 (2 votes)

    And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest [between] the cherubims, thou art the God, [even] thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

  • 2 Kings 19:19 (2 votes)

    Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the LORD God, [even] thou only.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:31 (2 votes)

    And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:12 (2 votes)

    ยถ And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:

  • 2 Chronicles 6:13 (2 votes)

    For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,