After that, Moabites, Ammonites, together with some Ammonim,aAmmonim Probably for mʻnym “Meunites” (1 Chron. 4.41); cf. Kimhi. came against Jehoshaphat to wage war.
The report was brought to Jehoshaphat: “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram, and is now in Hazazon-tamar”—that is, En-gedi.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויבאו
25
ויגידו
39
ליהושפט
440
לאמר
271
בא
3
עליך
130
המון
101
רב
202
מעבר
312
לים
80
מארם
281
והנם
101
בחצצון
246
תמר
640
היא
16
עין
130
גדי
17
II Chronicles 20:3
Gematria: 2869
ויראויתןיהושפטאתפניולדרושליהוהויקראצוםעלכליהודה
Jehoshaphat was afraid; he decided to resort to GOD and proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וירא
217
ויתן
466
יהושפט
410
אתפניו
547
לדרוש
540
ליהוה
56
ויקראצום
453
עלכליהודה
180
II Chronicles 20:4
Gematria: 2053
ויקבצויהודהלבקשמיהוהגםמכלערייהודהבאולבקשאתיהוה
Judah assembled to plead before GOD. They also came from all the towns of Judah to seek GOD.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויקבצו
214
יהודה
30
לבקש
432
מיהוה
66
גם
43
מכלערי
370
יהודה
30
באו
9
לבקש
432
אתיהוה
427
II Chronicles 20:5
Gematria: 2534
ויעמדיהושפטבקהליהודהוירושלםבביתיהוהלפניהחצרהחדשה
Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the House of GOD at the front of the new court.
He said, “ETERNAL God of our ancestors, truly You are the God in heaven and You rule over the kingdoms of the nations; power and strength are Yours; none can oppose You.
‘Should misfortune befall us—the punishing sword, pestilence, or famine, we shall stand before this House and before You—for Your name is in this House—and we shall cry out to You in our distress, and You will listen and deliver us.’
Now the people of Ammon, Moab, and the hill country of Seir, into whose [land] You did not let Israel come when they came from Egypt, but they turned aside from them and did not wipe them out,
Word-by-Word Analysis
ועתה
481
הנה
60
בניעמון
228
ומואב
55
והרשעיר
791
אשר
501
לאנתתה
886
לישראל
571
לבוא
39
בהם
47
בבאם
45
מארץ
331
מצרים
380
כי
30
סרו
266
מעליהם
195
ולא
37
השמידום
405
II Chronicles 20:11
Gematria: 3466
והנההםגמליםעלינולבואלגרשנומירשתךאשרהורשתנו
these now repay us by coming to expel us from Your possession that You gave us as ours.
O our God, surely You will punish them, for we are powerless before this great multitude that has come against us, and do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
אלהינו
102
הלא
36
תשפטבם
831
כי
30
אין
61
בנו
58
כח
28
לפני
170
ההמון
106
הרב
207
הזה
17
הבא
8
עלינו
166
ואנחנו
121
לא
31
נדע
124
מהנעשה
470
כי
30
עליך
130
עינינו
196
II Chronicles 20:13
Gematria: 1196
וכליהודהעמדיםלפנייהוהגםטפםנשיהםובניהםס
All JudahbAll Judah I.e., the militia that represents Judah on the battlefield. stood before GOD with their dependents—their womenfolk and their children.
Then in the midst of the congregation the spirit of GOD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah the Levite, of the sons of Asaph,
and he said, “Give heed, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalemcinhabitants of Jerusalem I.e., the militia that represents the city’s inhabitants on the battlefield. and King Jehoshaphat; thus said GOD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed by this great multitude, for the battle is God’s, not yours.
March down against them tomorrow as they come up by the Ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the wadi in the direction of the wilderness of Jeruel.
It is not for you to fight this battle; stand by, wait, and witness your deliverance by GOD, O Judah and Jerusalem; do not fear or be dismayed; go forth to meet them tomorrow and GOD will be with you.’”
Early the next morning they arose and went forth to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Trust firmly in the ETERNAL your God and you will stand firm; trust firmly in God’s prophets and you will succeed.”
After taking counsel with the people, he stationed singers to GOD extolling the One majestic in holiness as they went forth ahead of the vanguard, saying, “Praise GOD, whose steadfast love is eternal.”
As they began their joyous shouts and hymns, GOD set ambushes for the Ammonites, Moabites, and [the inhabitants of] the hill country of Seir, who were marching against Judah, and they were routed.
The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of the hill country of Seir to exterminate and annihilate them. When they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, each helped to destroy his fellow.
Jehoshaphat and his army came to take the booty, and found an abundance of goods, corpses, and precious objects, which they pillaged, more than they could carry off. For three days they were taking booty, there was so much of it.
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Blessing—for there they blessed GOD; that is why that place is called the Valley of Blessing to this day.
Judah’s and Jerusalem’s contingents, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for GOD had given them cause for rejoicing over their enemies.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וישבו
324
כלאיש
361
יהודה
30
וירושלם
592
ויהושפט
416
בראשם
543
לשוב
338
אלירושלם
617
בשמחה
355
כישמחם
418
יהוה
26
מאויביהם
114
II Chronicles 20:28
Gematria: 2700
ויבאוירושלםבנבליםובכנרותובחצצרותאלביתיהוה
They came to Jerusalem to the House of GOD, to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and trumpets.
dCf. 1 Kings 22.41–49. Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וימלך
106
יהושפט
410
עליהודה
130
בןשלשים
732
וחמש
354
שנה
355
במלכו
98
ועשרים
626
וחמש
354
שנה
355
מלך
90
בירושלם
588
ושם
346
אמו
47
עזובה
90
בתשלחי
750
II Chronicles 20:32
Gematria: 2294
וילךבדרךאביואסאולאסרממנהלעשותהישרבעינייהוה
He followed the course of his father Asa and did not deviate from it, doing what was pleasing to GOD.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וילך
66
בדרך
226
אביו
19
אסא
62
ולאסר
297
ממנה
135
לעשות
806
הישר
515
בעיני
142
יהוה
26
II Chronicles 20:33
Gematria: 1702
אךהבמותלאסרוועודהעםלאהכינולבבםלאלהיאבתיהם
However, the shrines did not cease; the people still did not direct their heart toward the God of their ancestors.
As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, early and late, they are recorded in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which were included in the book of the kings of Israel.
Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, “As you have made a partnership with Ahaziah, GOD will break up your work.” The ships were wrecked and were unable to go to Tarshish.