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2 Chronicles

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After this, the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. See also: Isaiah 8:9-10 Psalms 83:5-8 Isaiah 16:6Then some came who told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea from Syria. Behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). See also: Genesis 14:7 1 Samuel 23:29 Joshua 15:62Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek the LORD. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. See also: Daniel 9:3 2 Chronicles 19:3 Jonah 3:5-9Judah gathered themselves together to seek help from the LORD. They came out of all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD. See also: Psalms 50:15 Psalms 60:10-12 Psalms 69:35Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the LORD’s house, before the new court; See also: 2 Chronicles 6:12-13 2 Kings 19:15-19 2 Chronicles 34:31and he said, “LORD, the God of our fathers, aren’t you God in heaven? Aren’t you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so that no one is able to withstand you. See also: 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 Deuteronomy 4:39 Daniel 4:17Didn’t you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the offspring of Abraham your friend forever? See also: James 2:23 Isaiah 41:8 Genesis 12:7They lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying, See also: 2 Chronicles 2:4 2 Chronicles 6:10‘If evil comes on us—the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this house, and before you (for your name is in this house), and cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ See also: 2 Chronicles 6:28-30 1 Kings 8:33 2 Chronicles 6:20Now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned away from them, and didn’t destroy them; See also: Deuteronomy 2:4-5 Deuteronomy 2:19 Deuteronomy 2:9behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. See also: Psalms 83:3-12 Proverbs 17:13 Jeremiah 18:20Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” See also: Psalms 121:1-2 Psalms 25:15 Psalms 141:8All Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. See also: Ezra 10:1 Jonah 3:5 Acts 21:5Then the LORD’s Spirit came on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly; See also: 2 Chronicles 15:1 2 Chronicles 24:20 Daniel 9:20-21and he said, “Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat. The LORD says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. See also: 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 Deuteronomy 31:6 Exodus 14:13-14Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’” See also: Exodus 14:13-14 2 Chronicles 15:2 Isaiah 41:10Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. See also: Exodus 4:31 2 Chronicles 7:3 Genesis 24:26The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice. See also: 1 Chronicles 16:5 1 Chronicles 15:16-22 1 Chronicles 16:42They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper.” See also: Romans 8:31 John 11:40 John 14:1When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and give praise in holy array as they go out before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his loving kindness endures forever.” See also: Psalms 107:1 Psalms 106:1 2 Chronicles 5:13When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck. See also: 1 Samuel 14:20 Ezekiel 38:21 2 Kings 6:17For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy each other. See also: Judges 7:22 1 Samuel 14:20 Ezekiel 35:2-3When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none who escaped. See also: Isaiah 37:36 1 Chronicles 5:22 Exodus 14:30When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their plunder, they found among them in abundance both riches and dead bodies with precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away. They took plunder for three days, it was so much. See also: 1 Samuel 30:19-20 2 Kings 7:9-16 Numbers 31:15On the fourth day, they assembled themselves in Beracah Valley, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place was called “Beracah Valley” to this day. See also: Exodus 17:15 Isaiah 62:4 Genesis 32:20Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. See also: Nehemiah 12:43 Isaiah 51:11 Psalms 30:1They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments, harps, and trumpets to the LORD’s house. See also: Revelation 14:2-3 Psalms 149:3 1 Chronicles 23:5The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. See also: 2 Chronicles 17:10 2 Kings 7:6 Exodus 23:27So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. See also: 2 Chronicles 15:15 2 Chronicles 14:6-7 2 Samuel 7:1So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign. He reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. See also: 1 Kings 22:41-44He walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in the LORD’s eyes. See also: 2 Chronicles 16:7-12 2 Chronicles 14:2-5 Psalms 36:3However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers. See also: 2 Chronicles 17:6 2 Chronicles 19:3 2 Chronicles 12:14Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is included in the book of the kings of Israel. See also: 1 Kings 16:1 2 Chronicles 19:2 1 Kings 16:7After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. The same did very wickedly. See also: 1 Kings 22:48-49 2 Kings 1:2-16He joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber. See also: 1 Kings 9:26 2 Chronicles 9:21 1 Kings 10:22Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” The ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish. See also: Proverbs 13:20 2 Chronicles 19:2 Joshua 7:11-12

See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)23 notes

Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.

These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity

2 Chronicles 20:1

Ver. 1. Of the Ammonites; people sprung from them. Those who explain the Psalm lxxxii. of this war, find many nations mentioned. Some of these, not daring to appear openly, assumed the name of Ammonites. Perhaps we should read (C.) Mannim. H. --- Sept. "the Mineans," who dwelt in Arabia Felix, upon the Red Sea, (Pliny vi. 28.) or rather the Maonians, in the environs of Gaza. C.

--- Some MSS. and Latin editions have "Idumeans," which is conformable to v.

11, 23, and S. Jerom Trad. Lyran, &c. M.

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2 Chronicles 20:2

Ver. 2. Sea of Sodom, (H.) or the Red Sea. D. --- Syria, which comprised the country of Ammon. M. --- Perhaps Edom might rather have been in the text, as we find no Syrians in this war, but many of the Idumeans. C. --- Adom and Arom, (Syria. H.) have often been confounded.

4 K. xvi. 6. C. --- Asasonthamar, "the palm-tree cottage," (Bochart) between Jericho and the Dead Sea.

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2 Chronicles 20:3

Ver. 3. Juda. The whole kingdom was concerned. Sometimes a fast was proclaimed for one city.

3 K. xxi. 9. Jonas iii. 7. C. --- They were accustomed to fast, not only to subdue the flesh, but also for other necessities. W.

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2 Chronicles 20:4

Ver. 4. Prot. "to ask help of." H. --- Cities. Here we have an example of a pilgrimage to a holy place, as God is more willing to hear the virtuous in one place than in another. C. vi. 7. &c. W.

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2 Chronicles 20:5

Ver. 5. New court of the priests. Why it is so called, does not appear. C. ---

Some understand the court for the women; (Salien) others, that for Gentiles.

Le Clerc. --- Probably some of the courts had been found too spacious after the schism, and had been neglected; but now, as many had returned to serve the Lord in the dominions of Josaphat, he had made some repairs. T.

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2 Chronicles 20:7

Ver. 7. All, or the greatest part. Heb. "drive out the inhabitants." H.

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2 Chronicles 20:9

Ver. 9. Sword of. Prot. " as the sword, judgment, or," &c. Sept. "the sword, judgment, death, famine." All these are sent in punishment of sin. H. --- The sword of the enemy is a judgment of God. M.

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2 Chronicles 20:12

Ver. 12. Judge and punish them, as they fight against thee? C. --- Enough. Yet we read that Josaphat had above a million soldiers; and he knew that his father had discomfited a greater army of Zara with half the forces. He thus puts us in mind that no power can stand against God's will; and he endeavours, by humility, to obtain the protection of heaven. The invading army must, however, have been very numerous, to extort these expressions from a potent king, and to have thrown his whole people into such consternation. It could hardly be less than that of Zara; and thus, in the space of a century, above two millions and a half of idolaters perished by the hand of God, without Juda losing a single man, v. 29. C. xiii. 17. H.

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2 Chronicles 20:13

Ver. 13. Children. Even the little infants were deprived of the breasts, on such emergencies, that their cries might be more affecting. H. Joel ii. 16. Judit. iv. 8.

--- The pagans of Ninive even made the cattle also fast. Jonas iii. 7. C. S. Amb.

ser. 40. T.

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2 Chronicles 20:14

Ver. 14. Spirit of prophecy. M. --- Jahaziel is known only by this event. C.

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2 Chronicles 20:16

Ver. 16. Six. Some translate "flowry ascent." C. --- Prot. "the cliff of Ziz." H. --- If it had been Zin, we might understand the desert of stony Arabia, where Ptolemy places the town of Ziza. C.

--- But we may recollect that the army was already advanced as far as Engaddi; (v. 2,) so that it seems to have lain nearer Jerusalem. H. --- Jeruel, "the fear of God," which name was given to the place, in consequence of the panic with which God struck the enemy. S. Jerom. M.

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2 Chronicles 20:19

Ver. 19. High. Rejoicing at the promised deliverance. C.

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2 Chronicles 20:20

Ver. 20. Thecua, two mile east of Bethlehem, on the road to Jeruel. Adric. M. ---

Believe. Faith is the foundation of all good works; (Heb. xi.) but not alone sufficient, as here the people fasted and prayed, and would have fought, if God had not dispensed with them. See Jos. xxiii. W. ---

We may also translate Heb. "trust."

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2 Chronicles 20:21

Ver. 21. Ever. This was usually sung in times of joy. C. v. 13. The army seemed thus to be returning victorious. C.

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2 Chronicles 20:22

Ver. 22. Ambushments, placed by the Moabites, (M.) and Ammonites, (H.) against Juda. Some detachments of Mount Seir, perhaps, coming suddenly on them, were taken for foes, and slaughtered. H.

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2 Chronicles 20:24

Ver. 24. Tower. Maspha, in the tribe of Benjamin, (C.) or some other (H.) eminence. M.

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2 Chronicles 20:25

Ver. 25. Insomuch. Heb. and Sept. "Three days passed, while they gathered the spoils, because it was great," (H.) "without weight," or estimation. C.

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2 Chronicles 20:26

Ver. 26. Blessing. SS. Jerom and Epiphanius place Caphar-barucha, "the field of blessing," near Hebron, on the east. Hither Abraham attended the Lord, when he was going to destroy Sodom.

Epist. Paulæ.

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2 Chronicles 20:29

Ver. 29. Lands, in the vicinity. M. --- Israel, as he had lately treated Zara. C. xiv.

13. H.

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2 Chronicles 20:33

Ver. 33. Places, erected in honour of God, but displeasing to him. C. xvii. 6. H.

--- The good king perhaps attempted to take these also away, but was obliged to desist by the rebellious people.

M. --- Hence we find that they are here blamed. H. --- They would not conform exactly to the law, (Lev. xvii. 3. T.) and the king was not able to bring all to perfection. W. --- "It is better to pass over....vices, than to shew which we cannot subdue." Tacit. An. iii.

↑ 33

2 Chronicles 20:34

Ver. 34. Which. Sept. "who wrote a book of the kings of Israel." H. --- Jehu rebuked Josaphat, C. xix. C. --- His book is not extant. M.

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2 Chronicles 20:35

Ver. 35. Things: the victory over Ammon, &c. H. --- Wicked. See C. xvi. 3.

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2 Chronicles 20:36

Ver. 36. Tharsis; probably Cilicia, (C.) or some part of the ocean. --- Asiongaber was on the Red Sea; and ships would not have been built there, to trade on the Mediterranean. C. ix. 21. T.

↑ 36

License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses

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