What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 20:8?

They have lived in the land

• Jehoshaphat recalls that Israel is not a transient visitor but a settled people—God personally placed them in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Joshua 21:43-45; Deuteronomy 6:10-12).

• The verse roots their current crisis in covenant history. If God gave them the land, He will also defend it (2 Samuel 7:10; Psalm 44:1-3).

• By highlighting their long-term residence, the king underscores God’s ongoing commitment, not a one-time favor.

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and have built in it a sanctuary

• The “sanctuary” points to Solomon’s temple, a tangible witness of God’s desire to dwell among His people (1 Kings 8:27-30; 2 Chronicles 6:1-2).

• It was constructed according to divine pattern, echoing Exodus 25:8: “Have them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them.”

• The temple anchors national identity and directs every crisis response: instead of fortresses or foreign alliances, Israel’s strength is fellowship with God (Psalm 46:1-5).

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for Your Name

• “Name” represents God’s character, authority, and presence. The temple is not a shrine to stone but a place branded with the living God’s reputation (Deuteronomy 12:5, 11; 1 Kings 8:29).

• Calling on His Name means trusting His revealed nature—holy, covenant-keeping, merciful (Psalm 20:7; Proverbs 18:10).

• The people built the sanctuary so every generation could visibly connect crisis to covenant—turn toward His Name and expect Him to act consistently with it.

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saying,

• Jehoshaphat is about to quote Solomon’s dedication prayer (2 Chronicles 6:24-30). That prayer invited future generations to cry out in troubles—war, famine, plague—confident that God would hear “from heaven” (1 Kings 8:33-40).

• The single word “saying” signals that what follows is not new; it is rooted in a standing agreement ratified by God Himself (2 Chronicles 7:14).

• By repeating Solomon’s words, the king places Judah’s plea inside God’s own ordained script, expecting the same faithful response.

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summary

2 Chronicles 20:8 is Jehoshaphat’s reminder that Israel’s presence in the land, the temple they built, and the invocation of God’s Name all rest on promises God already made and kept. The verse sets the stage for his prayer of deliverance: “You placed us here, we built the house for Your Name by Your command, and You invited us to call on You in danger—so now, Lord, act according to Your covenant faithfulness.”