Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. New Living Translation At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. English Standard Version And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. Berean Standard Bible 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. Berean Literal Bible And as they began to sing and to praise, YHWH set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, and they were struck down. King James Bible 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. New King James Version Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. New American Standard Bible When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down. NASB 1995 When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed. NASB 1977 And when they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed. Legacy Standard Bible When they began singing for joy and praising, Yahweh set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were defeated. Amplified Bible When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down [in defeat]. Berean Annotated Bible The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD {YHWH} set ambushes against the men of Ammon (tribal), Moab (of his father), and Mount Seir (shaggy) who had come against Judah (praised), and they were defeated. Christian Standard Bible The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated. Holman Christian Standard Bible The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version As soon as they began singing, the LORD confused the enemy camp, English Revised Version And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set liers in wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. GOD'S WORD® Translation As they started to sing praises, the LORD set ambushes against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir who had come into Judah. They were defeated. Good News Translation When they began to sing, the LORD threw the invading armies into a panic. International Standard Version Right on time, as they began to sing and praise, the LORD ambushed the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who had attacked Judah, and they were defeated. NET Bible When they began to shout and praise, the LORD suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. New Heart English Bible When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushers against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck. Webster's Bible Translation And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who were come against Judah; and they were smitten. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe 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. World English Bible When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd at the time they have begun with singing and praise, YHWH has put ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who are coming in to Judah, and they are struck, Berean Literal Bible And as they began to sing and to praise, YHWH set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, and they were struck down. Young's Literal Translation And at the time they have begun with singing and praise, Jehovah hath put ambushments against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who are coming in to Judah, and they are smitten, Smith's Literal Translation And in the time they began in rejoicing and praising, Jehovah gave ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, coming against Judah; and they will be smitten. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when they began to sing praises, the Lord turned their ambushments upon themselves, that is to say, of the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and of mount Seir, who were come out to fight against Juda, and they were slain. Catholic Public Domain Version And when they had begun to sing praises, the Lord turned their ambushes upon themselves, that is, those of the sons of Ammon, and of Moab, and of mount Seir, who had gone forth so that they might fight against Judah. And they were struck down. New American Bible At the moment they began their jubilant praise, the LORD laid an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and those of Mount Seir who were coming against Judah, so that they were defeated. New Revised Standard Version As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd 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. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten. Brenton Septuagint Translation And when they began the praise and thanksgiving, the Lord caused the children of Ammon to fight against Moab, and the inhabitants of mount Seir that came out against Juda; and they were routed. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Enemies Destroy Themselves…21Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.” 22The 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. 23The 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.… Cross References The moment they began their shouts and praises 2 Kings 3:15-20 But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha / and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ … Joshua 6:15-20 Then on the seventh day, they got up at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. That was the only day they circled the city seven times. / After the seventh time around, the priests blew the horns, and Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! / Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. … Psalm 149:6-9 May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands, / to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, / to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with shackles of iron, … the LORD set ambushes Joshua 8:2-8 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.” / So Joshua and the whole army set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out at night / with these orders: “Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready. … Judges 7:22 And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath. 1 Samuel 14:20 Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir Ezekiel 25:1-7 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. / Tell the Ammonites to hear the word of the Lord GOD, for this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you exclaimed, “Aha!” when My sanctuary was profaned, when the land of Israel was laid waste, and when the house of Judah went into exile, … Ezekiel 25:8-11 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,” / therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land. / I will give it along with the Ammonites as a possession to the people of the East, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. … Ezekiel 35:1-15 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it, / and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Mount Seir. I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolate waste. … who had come against Judah 2 Kings 18:13-17 In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah. / So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand from me.” And the king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. / Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. … Isaiah 36:1-2 In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah. / And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh, with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stopped by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. 2 Chronicles 12:2-4 In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem / with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. / He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. and they were defeated 2 Kings 19:35-37 And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place. Judges 4:15-16 And in front of him the LORD routed with the sword Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot. / Then Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left. Exodus 14:27-28 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea. / The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. Exodus 14:13-14 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Treasury of Scripture And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 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. 1 Samuel 14:16,20 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another… 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. were smitten. Jump to Previous Ambush Ambushers Ambushes Ammon Attack Children Defeated First Judah Moab Mount Notes Overcome Praise Praising Routed Seir Se'ir Sing Singing Smitten Struck Surprise Time TriumphJump to Next Ambush Ambushers Ambushes Ammon Attack Children Defeated First Judah Moab Mount Notes Overcome Praise Praising Routed Seir Se'ir Sing Singing Smitten Struck Surprise Time Triumph2 Chronicles 20 1. Jehoshaphat, invaded by Moab, proclaims a fast5. His prayer 14. The prophecy of Jahaziel 20. Jehoshaphat exhorts the people, and sets singers to praise the Lord 22. The great overthrow of his enemies 26. The people, having blessed God at Berachah, return in triumph 31. Jehoshaphat's reign 35. His convoy of ships, according to the prophecy of Eliezer, unhappily perishes. The moment they began their shouts and praises This phrase highlights the power of worship and praise in spiritual warfare. In the biblical context, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, had appointed singers to lead the army with songs of praise to God. This act of faith demonstrates the belief that God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). The immediate response from God upon their worship underscores the principle that spiritual victories often begin with worship and reliance on divine intervention rather than human strength. the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah and they were defeated Persons / Places / Events 1. JehoshaphatThe King of Judah who led the nation in seeking the Lord's guidance and deliverance from their enemies. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, facing a coalition of enemies. 3. Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir The nations that formed an alliance to attack Judah. 4. The LORD The God of Israel, who intervened on behalf of Judah. 5. Ambushes The divine intervention that led to the defeat of Judah's enemies. Teaching Points The Power of PraisePraise is not just a response to victory but a catalyst for it. When we praise God, we invite His presence and power into our situations. Faith in Action Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah demonstrated their faith by praising God before the victory was visible. Faith often requires us to act in trust before we see the outcome. Divine Intervention God is actively involved in the lives of His people. He can set ambushes against our spiritual enemies when we rely on Him. Community in Worship The collective praise of Judah shows the strength and unity found in communal worship. Gathering together to seek God can lead to powerful outcomes. Trust in God's Promises The account encourages believers to trust in God's promises and His ability to deliver, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 20:22?2. How does 2 Chronicles 20:22 demonstrate the power of praise in battles? 3. What role did faith play in the victory described in 2 Chronicles 20:22? 4. How can we apply the principle of praise in our daily spiritual battles? 5. What other biblical events show God intervening when His people praise Him? 6. How can we cultivate a heart of praise in challenging circumstances today? 7. How does 2 Chronicles 20:22 demonstrate the power of praise in spiritual warfare? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Chronicles 20:22? 9. How does 2 Chronicles 20:22 reflect God's sovereignty over human conflicts? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 20? 11. How could an alliance of hostile armies suddenly turn on each other and destroy themselves without any plausible explanation (2 Chronicles 20:22–23)? 12. Why does this account depict God favoring one nation over others with a miraculous intervention while ignoring widespread conflicts elsewhere (2 Chronicles 20)? 13. Psalm 68:1–2: How can the defeat of enemies described as “vanishing like smoke” be understood in light of historical or scientific plausibility? 14. Psalm 48:5–6: Is there any historical or scientific evidence that opposing kings literally “saw and were amazed” to the point of trembling? What Does 2 Chronicles 20:22 Mean The moment they began- Scripture highlights an immediate cause-and-effect: “The moment they began…” (2 Chron 20:22). - God’s timing responds to obedient faith, not to human strength (cf. 1 Samuel 17:48–50; Isaiah 65:24). - Jehoshaphat’s people had already acted on the prophetic word, marching out in trust (2 Chron 20:20–21). The verse underscores that God often waits for our step of faith before unveiling His deliverance (Joshua 3:13). Their shouts and praises - The focus is not on weaponry but on worship: “their shouts and praises.” - Praise acknowledges God’s character—His steadfast love and sovereignty (Psalm 22:3; Psalm 149:6–9). - Practical takeaways: • Praise redirects eyes from crisis to Christ (Psalm 34:1–5). • Praise unites God’s people in a shared confession of trust (Acts 16:25-26). The LORD set ambushes - “The LORD” is the subject; His action alone turns the battle (2 Chron 20:15,17). - “Set ambushes” implies invisible, strategic intervention. God devises means beyond human foresight (2 Kings 7:6; Psalm 37:12-15). - Victory belongs to the Lord; our role is responsive worship (Proverbs 21:31). Against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir - Three historic adversaries converge (Genesis 19:36-38; Deuteronomy 2:4-5, 9, 19). - Their alliance pictures the world’s hostility toward God’s covenant people (Psalm 83:5-7). - God’s ambush turns the enemies’ own swords against each other (2 Chron 20:23; Judges 7:22). Who had come against Judah - The threat is national and existential; Judah faces annihilation (2 Chron 20:2). - Yet Judah is the covenant line through which Messiah will come (2 Chron 21:7; Isaiah 9:6-7). - God defends His redemptive purposes even when His people are outnumbered (2 Kings 19:32-34). And they were defeated - The clash ends without Judah drawing a sword, confirming Exodus 14:13: “Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation.” - Aftermath: three days gathering plunder (2 Chron 20:25) illustrates Ephesians 3:20—God does “exceedingly abundantly” beyond what was asked. - The surrounding nations hear and fear (2 Chron 20:29), fulfilling Psalm 46:10. summary 2 Chronicles 20:22 shows that when God’s people respond to His word with wholehearted praise, He moves instantly and decisively. Worship becomes a weapon, faith opens the door for divine action, and the Lord alone secures victory over overwhelming odds. (22) And when they began.--Literally, And at the. time when they began with shouting and praise. (Comp. Deuteronomy 16:9, to begin with.) They had now reached the neighbourhood of the enemy; and their joyful paean was the signal for a Divine interposition. (Comp. Joshua 6:16; Joshua 6:20, and Psalm 46:6.)The Lord set ambushments.--Jehovah placed liers in wait (Judges 9:25). (n?than here is equivalent in meaning to s?m there.) . . . Verse 22. - Set ambushments. The Hebrew is נָתַן מְאָרְבִים, i.e. "set persons lying in wait," or "in ambush" (piel part. plur. of אָרַב). So Judges 9:25, but kal participle with apparently future equivalent meaning occurs eighteen times in Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Ezra, Jeremiah, and Lamentations. Who the persons were, supernatural or not, or what their mode of operation, is not told, and is not plain. The effects are quite plain - that first the two confederates, Moab and Ammon, thought they saw reason to fall on them "of Mount Seir," and secondly, having this done, to fall on one another to the end of mutual extermination. They were smitten. The marginal, "they smote one another," may be better, but it is not at all necessary, the meaning being that collectively they became the smitten instead of the smiters!Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The momentוּבְעֵת֩ (ū·ḇə·‘êṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - common singular Strong's 6256: Time, now, when they began הֵחֵ֨לּוּ (hê·ḥêl·lū) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play their shouts בְרִנָּ֜ה (ḇə·rin·nāh) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 7440: A creaking, shout and praises, וּתְהִלָּ֗ה (ū·ṯə·hil·lāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8416: Praise, song of praise the LORD יְהוָ֣ה ׀ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel set נָתַ֣ן (nā·ṯan) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set an ambush מְ֠אָֽרְבִים (mə·’ā·rə·ḇîm) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 693: To lie in wait against the men עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against of Ammon, בְּנֵ֨י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son Moab, מוֹאָ֧ב (mō·w·’āḇ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4124: Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled and Mount וְהַר־ (wə·har-) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country Seir שֵׂעִ֛יר (śê·‘îr) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 8165: Seir -- a mountain range in Edom, also its inhabitants, also a mountain in Judah who had come הַבָּאִ֥ים (hab·bā·’îm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go against Judah, לִֽיהוּדָ֖ה (lî·hū·ḏāh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites and they were defeated. וַיִּנָּגֵֽפוּ׃ (way·yin·nā·ḡê·p̄ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5062: To push, gore, defeat, stub, inflict Links 2 Chronicles 20:22 NIV2 Chronicles 20:22 NLT 2 Chronicles 20:22 ESV 2 Chronicles 20:22 NASB 2 Chronicles 20:22 KJV 2 Chronicles 20:22 BibleApps.com 2 Chronicles 20:22 Biblia Paralela 2 Chronicles 20:22 Chinese Bible 2 Chronicles 20:22 French Bible 2 Chronicles 20:22 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Chronicles 20:22 When they began to sing (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr) |
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