2 Chronicles 20

2 Chronicles 20:1

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

children = sons.

2 Chronicles 20:2

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6.

2 Chronicles 20:3

himself = his face.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

2 Chronicles 20:4

to ask = to seek. Supply “counsel” here.

2 Chronicles 20:5

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).

2 Chronicles 20:6

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.

2 Chronicles 20:7

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

2 Chronicles 20:9

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”.

2 Chronicles 20:10

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

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

2 Chronicles 20:12

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.

2 Chronicles 20:14

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

Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

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

2 Chronicles 20:15

Be not afraid = “Be not [ye] afraid”.

2 Chronicles 20:16

cliff = ascent.

brook = valley.

2 Chronicles 20:17

stand ye still. Compare Exodus 14:13.

2 Chronicles 20:21

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.

2 Chronicles 20:22

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

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

2 Chronicles 20:25

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

stripped off = raked together.

2 Chronicles 20:26

Berachah = Blessing.

2 Chronicles 20:29

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

2 Chronicles 20:32

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

2 Chronicles 20:33

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

2 Chronicles 20:34

book = words.

Jehu. Compare 2 Chronicles 19:2.

2 Chronicles 20:35

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.

2 Chronicles 20:36

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” (2 Chronicles 20:49). And the ships “did not go”, for they were “broken” (2 Chronicles 20:48). The marginal note in Authorized Version is neither correct nor necessary.

2 Chronicles 20:37

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.