2 Chronicles 20

20:1 Meunites (see 1 Chr 4:41): The Meunites were a nomadic group living on the southern borders of Judah; their name probably survives as the Arab town of Ma’an, twelve miles southeast of Petra.

20:2 Translating the word as Edom instead of Aram is consistent with the Chronicler’s later description of the armies (20:10, 22-23) and with the geographical description of the attack from the southeast through En-gedi. (Aram was northeast of Judah.)

20:3-12 Jehoshaphat responded to the news of war with neighboring nations with a prayer of lament, keeping with the ideals of Solomon’s prayer (6:24-40).

20:10 Mount Seir was another name for Edom (see Gen 32:3 and the study note on Gen 25:25).

20:14-17 Following Jehoshaphat’s lament, Jahaziel’s proclamation of rescue fulfilled the requirements for the speech that a priest was to give before battle (Deut 20:2-4).

20:20-21 The song of the appointed singers replaced a battle cry. The prophets were Jahaziel (20:14-17) and the Levitical musicians (20:21), whose musical praise for the battle march was a prophecy, a declaration that God was at the head of the army.

20:32-33 The comparison of Jehoshaphat with Asa is adopted from 1 Kgs 22:43 without alteration.

20:35-37 The Lord destroyed the fleet to prevent Jehoshaphat’s alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel from prospering.