2 พงศาวดาร 20:24 วิจารณ์

We have here, I. The great danger and distress that Jehoshaphat and his kingdom were in from a foreign invasion (Ch2 20:1, Ch2 20:2). II. The pious course he took for their safety, by fasting, and praying, and seeking God (Ch2 20:3-13). III. The assurance which God, by a prophet, immediately gave them of victory (Ch2 20:14-17). IV. Their thankful believing reception of those assurances (Ch2 20:18-21). V. The defeat which God gave to their enemies thereupon (Ch2 20:22-25). VI. A solemn thanksgiving which they kept for their victory, and for a happy consequences of it (Ch2 20:26-30). VII. The conclusion of the reign of Jehoshaphat, not without some blemishes (Ch2 20:31-37).

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 20 Jehoshaphat having notice of a numerous army coming against him, Ch2 20:1, betakes himself to fasting and prayer with his people, Ch2 20:3, when they were immediately assured of victory by a prophet, which filled them with joy and thankfulness, Ch2 20:14, and accordingly their enemies destroyed one another, and Jehoshaphat and his people returned to Jerusalem rejoicing and praising God, Ch2 20:22, and the chapter is closed with an account of the latter part of Jehoshaphat's reign, Ch2 20:31.

When Judah came towards the watch tower in the wilderness,.... Which might stand upon the hill or cliff of Ziz, for the sake of the direction of travellers, and the preservation of them from thieves and robbers: they looked unto the multitude; which they could take a view of from the top of the hill: and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped; all to a man slain, there was not one to be seen standing on his feet.

The Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, invade Judah, Ch2 20:1, Ch2 20:2. Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast, and gathers the people together to seek the Lord, Ch2 20:3, Ch2 20:4. His prayer to God, Ch2 20:5-12. Great and small, male and female, seek the Lord, Ch2 20:13. Jahaziel predicts the downfall of their enemies, Ch2 20:14-17. The king, the Levites, and the people take courage; praise and magnify God; and go forth to meet their enemies, Ch2 20:18-21. The enemies are confounded, and destroy each other, Ch2 20:22-24. The men of Judah take the spoil, praise the Lord, and return with joy to Jerusalem, Ch2 20:25-28. The fear of the Lord falls upon all their enemies round about; and the land has rest, Ch2 20:29, Ch2 20:30. Transactions and character of Jehoshaphat, Ch2 20:31-34. He joins with Ahaziah, king of Israel, in building a fleet of ships to go to Tarshish, but they are wrecked at Ezion-geber, Ch2 20:35-37.

JEHOSHAPHAT, INVADED BY THE MOABITES, PROCLAIMS A FAST. (2Ch. 20:1-21) the children of Moab . . . Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites--supposed to be rather the name of a certain people called Mohammonim or Mehunim (Ch2 26:7), who dwelt in Mount Seir--either a branch of the old Edomite race or a separate tribe who were settled there.

when Judah came toward the watchtower in the wilderness--Most probably the conical hill, Jebel Fereidis, or Frank Mountain, from the summit of which they obtained the first view of the scene of slaughter. Jehoshaphat and his people found the field strewed with dead bodies, so that they had not to fight at all, but rather to take possession of an immense booty, the collection of which occupied three days. On the fourth they set out on their return to Jerusalem in the same order and joyful mood as they came. The place where they mustered previous to departure was, from their public thanksgiving service, called, "The Valley of Berachah" ("benediction"), now Wady Bereikut.

Now, when Judah came to the height in the wilderness (מצפּה, specula, watch-tower, here a height in the wilderness of Tekoa, whence one might look out over the wilderness Jeruel, Ch2 20:16), and turned, or was about to turn, against the multitude of the enemy (ההמון referring back to Ch2 20:12), behold, they saw "corpses lying upon the earth, and none had escaped," i.e., they saw corpses in such multitude lying there, that to all appearance none had escaped.