What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 20:1? After this - The phrase signals a direct link to the reforms in 2 Chronicles 19, where “Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people… and turned them back to the LORD” (19:4). - It follows his appointment of judges who were charged to “judge carefully, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD” (19:6). - Immediately after such spiritual renewal, opposition arises—echoing patterns seen in Exodus 5:1–2 and Acts 4:31–5:18, where obedience is quickly met by challenge. the Moabites and Ammonites - Two neighboring nations descended from Lot (Genesis 19:36–38). - Though historically spared from Israel’s conquest (Deuteronomy 2:9, 19), they frequently harassed God’s people (Judges 3:12–13; 2 Chronicles 20:10). - Their joint mobilization highlights how old grudges unite when God’s work advances—paralleled in Psalm 83:6–8, where Moab and Ammon appear on a roster of hostile alliances. together with some of the Meunites - Also called Meunim, a desert people from Edom’s vicinity (1 Chronicles 4:41; 2 Chronicles 26:7). - Their inclusion turns a bilateral threat into a coalition, reminiscent of the confederacy in Joshua 10:5. - The text underscores how spiritual battles can draw unexpected adversaries. came to make war - The aggression is deliberate, not defensive. Similar language is used when Amalek “came and fought against Israel” (Exodus 17:8). - 2 Chronicles 20:15 answers the threat: “Do not be afraid or discouraged… for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” - God’s people often face warfare after commitment; see 1 Peter 5:8–9’s call to vigilance. against Jehoshaphat - Targeting the godly king means targeting the nation he leads. Earlier Scripture affirms, “The LORD was with Jehoshaphat” (2 Chronicles 17:3). - His alliance with Ahab had almost cost him his life (18:31–32), yet grace restored him, and now fresh hostility tests that restoration. - Opposition to a righteous leader is consistent with patterns in 1 Samuel 17 (Goliath vs. David) and John 15:20 (“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also”). summary 2 Chronicles 20:1 records a sudden, multi-nation assault immediately following Jehoshaphat’s reforms. The timing (“After this”) shows that faithful obedience often provokes opposition. The coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites illustrates how longstanding enemies can unite against God’s people, yet the coming narrative (vv. 15–30) will demonstrate that the LORD, not human strength, decides the outcome of every battle. |
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