Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 20

Verse 1

after this: i.e. after Ahab's death (2 Kings 3:5 ).

children = sons.

Verse 2

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6 .

Verse 3

himself = his face.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 4

to ask = to seek. Supply "counsel" here.

Verse 5

stood. On the platform provided for such purposes as this (2 Kings 11:14 ; 2 Kings 23:3 ).

congregation = assembly. Hebrew. kahal. See note on "multitude" (Genesis 28:3 ).

and. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "in".

the new court. The court of the priests, built by Solomon (2 Chronicles 4:9 ; 2 Chronicles 15:8 ).

Verse 6

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

art not . . . rulest not . . . is there not? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

heathen = nations (Daniel 4:34 , Daniel 4:35 ).

in Thine hand. The words of David were accessible to Jehoshaphat (1 Chronicles 29:12 ). See App-47 .

so that none = and there is none.

Verse 7

Abraham Thy friend. Three times so called: here, Isaiah 41:8 , quoted in James 2:23 . Compare Moses (Exodus 33:11 ).

Verse 9

evil. Hebrew. raa'. App-44 .

sword. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the execution done by it. Compare 1 Kings 8:37 . 1 Kings 6:28 .

Thy name = Thy presence.

affliction = distress. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "distresses".

Verse 10

mount Seir. The Edomite Mehunim. See 2 Chronicles 20:1 .

wouldest not, &c. Compare Deuteronomy 2:9 .

Verse 12

wilt Thou not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

judge = bring judgments. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the judgments themselves.

company = rout.

Verse 14

Jahaziel . . . Asaph. Probably Psalms 83:0 written at that time.

Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

of: or from. Genitive of Origin: i.e. spiritual power from Jehovah.

Verse 15

Be not afraid = "Be not [ye] afraid".

Verse 16

cliff = ascent.

brook = valley.

Verse 17

stand ye still. Compare Exodus 14:13 .

Verse 21

the beauty of holiness = in His glorious sanctuary. See note on 1 Chronicles 16:29 .

Praise the LORD = Praise Jehovah. App-4 .

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

Verse 22

the LORD. Some think the "Yod" (= J) was an abbreviation for "Judah".

ambushments = liers in wait. The Targum interprets them of angelic powers.

Verse 25

the dead bodies. Some codices, with five early printed editions and Vulgate, read "apparel".

stripped off = raked together.

Verse 26

Berachah = Blessing.

Verse 29

fear = dread, as in 2 Chronicles 19:7 (not as in 2 Chronicles 19:9 ). Genitive of Character = a great dread.

Verse 32

Asa his father. Some codices, with six early printed editions, read "his father Asa".

Verse 33

not taken away. See note on 2 Chronicles 17:6 .

Verse 34

book = words.

Jehu. Compare 2 Chronicles 19:2 .

Verse 35

after this. In the twentieth or twenty-first year of his reign. Compare 1 Kings 22:51 . See App-50 . "After" this wonderful deliverance. "After" the solemn warning of 2 Chronicles 19:2 . "After" his experience in 2 Chronicles 18:31 .

join himself. This was the third alliance (Commercial). See note on 2 Chronicles 18:1 . Note the Figure of speech Repetitio ( App-6 ), by which great emphasis is laid on these words by their repetition in verses: 2 Chronicles 20:36 and 2 Chronicles 20:37 .

who did very wickedly. This is added to show that the reason against such an alliance was just as strong with Ahaziah as with Ahab.

wickedly = lawlessly. App-44 .

Verse 36

to make ships to go to Tarshish. This was prior to the similar event recorded in 1 Kings 22:48 , 1 Kings 22:49 , where he made (himself) "Tarshish ships to go to Ophir". Ahaziah again sought to implicate Jehoshaphat. But he failed in the attempt, for we there read "Jehoshaphat would not" ( 2Ch 20:49 ). And the ships "did not go", for they were "broken" ( 2Ch 20:48 ). The marginal note in Authorized Version is neither correct nor necessary.

Verse 37

Eliezer. Sent by Jehovah, just as Jehu had been sent (2 Chronicles 19:2 ).

broken. A Homonym. Hebrew. paraz, to break. Rightly so rendered here. Its other meaning, to increase, as rightly given in Genesis 30:43 .Exodus 1:12 .