II Chronicles 20:1-12 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 20:1-12 Commentary: Prayer in Crisis
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jehoshaphat faces a massive invasion after his reforms.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A king and his nation, faced with an overwhelming enemy, respond with fasting, prayer, and total dependence on God, laying hold of His covenant promises.
- Key words: 'Set his face to seek' (natan panav lidrosh, determined intention), 'fast' (tsom), 'our eyes are on you' (eineinu aleikha, an expression of complete reliance).
- Main debate: The identity of the attackers: 'Syria' (Aram) in some texts vs. 'Edom' (a more geographically coherent reading) and the specific role of the Meunites.
- Theological theme: God's sovereignty over hostile nations, the efficacy of corporate prayer grounded in covenant remembrance, and the place of honest helplessness before deliverance.
- Best use: A model for praying in community when facing insurmountable odds; especially powerful for groups in crisis, for services of lament, or for teaching on the integration of fear and faith.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.
2Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).
3Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.
4So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.
5Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard
6and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.
7Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?
8They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying,
9‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’
10And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.
11See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance.
12Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
1After this, the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2Then 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).
3Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek Yahweh. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4Judah gathered themselves together to seek help from Yahweh. They came out of all the cities of Judah to seek Yahweh.
5Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in Yahweh’s house, before the new court;
6and he said, “Yahweh, 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.
7Didn’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?
8They lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying,
9‘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.’
10Now, 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;
11behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.
12Our 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.”
KJV King James Version 1769
1It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon–tamar, which is En–gedi.
3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
5And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,
6And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
7Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
10And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
11Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
12O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1And it came to pass after this, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (the same is En-gedi).
3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek unto Jehovah; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4And Judah gathered themselves together, to seek help of Jehovah: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah.
5And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court;
6and he said, O Jehovah, the God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and art not thou ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in thy hand is power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee.
7Didst not thou, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9If evil come upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before thee (for thy name is in this house), and cry unto thee in our affliction, and thou wilt hear and save.
10And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and destroyed them not;
11behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
12O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1And it cometh to pass after this, the sons of Moab have come in, and the sons of Ammon, and with them of the peoples, against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2And they come in and declare to Jehoshaphat, saying, `Come against thee hath a great multitude from beyond the sea, from Aram, and lo, they are in Hazezon-Tamar--it is En-Gedi.'
3And Jehoshaphat feareth, and setteth his face to seek to Jehovah, and proclaimeth a fast over all Judah;
4and Judah is gathered to inquire of Jehovah; also, from all the cities of Judah they have come in to seek Jehovah.
5And Jehoshaphat standeth in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, at the front of the new court,
6and saith, `O Jehovah, God of our fathers, art not Thou--God in the heavens? yea, Thou art ruling over all kingdoms of the nations, and in Thy hand is power and might, and there is none with Thee to station himself.
7`Art not Thou our God? Thou hast dispossessed the inhabitants of this land from before Thy people Israel, and dost give it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend to the age,
8and they dwell in it, and build to Thee in it a sanctuary for Thy name, saying,
9If evil doth come upon us--sword, judgment, and pestilence, and famine--we stand before this house, and before Thee, for Thy name is in this house, and cry unto Thee out of our distress, and Thou dost hear and save.
10`And now, lo, sons of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom Thou didst not grant to Israel to go in against in their coming out of the land of Egypt, for they turned aside from off them and destroyed them not,
11and lo, they are recompensing to us--to come in to drive us out of Thy possession, that Thou hast caused us to possess.
12`O our God, dost Thou not execute judgment upon them? for there is no power in us before this great multitude that hath come against us, and we know not what we do, but on Thee are our eyes.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And it came to pass after this [that] the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them certain of the Maonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2And they came and told Jehoshaphat saying, A great multitude is come against thee from beyond the sea, from Syria; and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar, which is Engedi.
3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek Jehovah, and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.
4And Judah gathered themselves together to ask [help] of Jehovah: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah.
5And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court;
6and he said, Jehovah, God of our fathers, art not thou God in the heavens, and rulest thou not over all the kingdoms of the nations? And in thy hand there is power and might, and none can withstand thee.
7Hast not thou, our God, dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and given it for ever to the seed of Abraham, thy friend?
8And they have dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9If evil come upon us, sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, and we stand before this house and before thee — for thy name is in this house — and cry unto thee in our distress, then thou wilt hear and save.
10And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab, and those of mount Seir, amongst whom thou wouldest not let Israel go when they came out of the land of Egypt, (for they turned from them, and destroyed them not,)
11behold, they reward us, in coming to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to possess.
12Our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might in presence of this great company which cometh against us, neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1After this the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them of the Ammonites, were gathered together to fight against Josaphat.
2And there came messengers, and told Josaphat, saying: There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea, and out of Syria, and behold they are in Asasonthamar, which is Engaddi.
3And Josaphat being seized with fear betook himself wholly to pray to the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Juda.
4And Juda gathered themselves together to pray to the Lord: and all came out of their cities to make supplication to him.
5And Josaphat stood in the midst of the assembly of Juda, and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court,
6And said: O Lord God of our fathers, thou art God in heaven, and rulest over all the kingdoms and nations, in thy hand is strength and power, and no one can resist thee.
7Didst not thou our God kill all the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8And they dwelt in it, and built in it a sanctuary to thy name, saying:
9If evils fall upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand in thy presence before this house, in which thy name is called upon: and we will cry to thee in our afflictions, and thou wilt hear, and save us.
10Now therefore behold the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and mount Seir, through whose lands thou didst not allow Israel to pass, when they came out of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and slew them not,
11Do the contrary, and endeavour to cast us out of the possession which thou hast delivered to us.
12O our God, wilt thou not then judge them? as for us we have not strength enough, to be able to resist this multitude, which cometh violently upon us. But as we know not what to do, we can only turn our eyes to thee.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 20:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The commentators agree that this passage depicts a moment of national crisis met with authentic, corporate dependence on God. Barnes notes that Jehoshaphat's appeal is threefold: to God's omnipotence (v.6), to God's covenant relationship with Israel (v.7), and to God's promise attached to the temple (v.8-9). Clarke calls the prayer 'one of the most sensible, pious, correct, and comprehensive' in Scripture. Keil and Delitzsch observe that the prayer shows Jehoshaphat laying the whole situation before God by reciting His past faithfulness. The invasion comes just after Jehoshaphat's reforms (ch.19), a pattern seen elsewhere in Chronicles where obedience is followed by testing.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Divine testing view: The invasion occurs after reforms and prophetic warning; it tests Jehoshaphat's newfound dependence on God.
- Political retaliation view: Moab/Ammon saw Judah as weakened after Jehoshaphat's failed alliance with Ahab; they seized an opportunistic moment.
- Text-critical confusion view: The ambiguity between 'Syria' and 'Edom' in v.2 creates uncertainty about which coalition attacked; this shapes interpretation but does not change the prayer's meaning.
What is clear: Whatever the historical cause, the passage teaches that God's people can respond to overwhelming threat with corporate prayer grounded in God's nature, past acts, and promises, leaving the outcome entirely to Him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The identity of the attackers | The coalition includes Moab and Ammon, traditional enemies of Israel, along with a third group (Meunites, from Mount Seir/Edom). Scripture consistently portrays these nations as opponents of God's people. | Some translations read 'Syria' (Aram) in v.2, while many commentators (Barnes, JFB, Cambridge) follow textual evidence for 'Edom.' This changes the historical geography but not the theological lesson. |
| The reason for the attack after reforms | The timing following Jehoshaphat's reforms (ch.19) and his prophetic rebuke (19:2) suggests a test or trial, not random chance. | Calvinist traditions often see it as a chastening for the Ahab alliance; others view it as a common pattern of spiritual opposition after obedience. The text does not assign an explicit cause, so readers differ. |
| The role of the temple and prayer | Jehoshaphat's prayer directly echoes Solomon's prayer of dedication (2 Chronicles 6), claiming the promise that God would hear cries from the temple. | Some see this as a dogmatic claim on God based on an unconditional guarantee; others emphasize that the prayer is humble and conditional, recognizing God's sovereign freedom to judge or save. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The attack comes from a coalition of Moab, Ammon, and the Meunites (likely from Mount Seir, an Edomite region). Jehoshaphat has just returned from the disastrous battle at Ramoth-Gilead (ch.18) and instituted judicial and spiritual reforms under prophetic counsel (ch.19). The sudden invasion may reflect political backlash from neighboring states who saw Judah weakened after the failed alliance with Israel, or it may be divine testing of Jehoshaphat's renewed commitment. The location of the enemy at En Gedi (on the western shore of the Dead Sea) indicates they have marched around the southern end of the Salt Sea, bypassing Judah's defenses.
Jehoshaphat's response is immediate: fear (human and honest), then a fixed resolve to 'seek Yahweh.' The Hebrew phrase natan panav ('set his face') emphasizes determined intention. He proclaims a fast, a rare, nationally decreed act of repentance and supplication (Barnes notes this is the first recorded instance of a king proclaiming a fast). The people gather from all cities to seek the Lord, showing unity. The prayer is offered in the temple before the 'new court' (likely a renovated section of Solomon's outer court), using the rhetoric of rhetorical questions (Hebrew: halo, 'are you not?') that assume positive answers. Jehoshaphat's conclusion, 'we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you', becomes a classic expression of helpless trust.
Textual Notes
The main textual issue is in 2 Chronicles 20:2, where the Hebrew reads 'from Aram' (Syria). Many manuscripts, including the LXX and Vulgate, along with the Syriac, support 'from Edom.' The likely confusion stems from the visual similarity of resh (ר) and daleth (ד) in the Hebrew script, making aram and edom nearly identical. The topographical reference to Mount Seir and En Gedi strongly favors 'Edom,' and most modern translations adopt this reading (NIV, ESV, WEB 'Syria' though WEB margin notes the alternative). No other significant textual variants affect the theological meaning of the passage.
Reception History
This passage has been cherished throughout church history as a model of corporate prayer in crisis. In the medieval period, monastic communities used verses 5-12 during times of invasion or plague, seeing Jehoshaphat's stance in the temple as a type of Christ interceding. The Reformers, particularly Calvin, appealed to this prayer to argue that true worship grounds petition in the character and promises of God. The verse 'We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you' became a watchword in Pietist and Evangelical circles, often sung in hymns of trust. In the modern era, it has been cited by leaders facing national threats (world wars, persecution) as an honest yet faithful response.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Crisis exposes hearts, Jehoshaphat's fear leads him to seek God, not to panic. The public fast shows that personal faith must become corporate faith.
- Prayer grounded in God's character and promises, Jehoshaphat appeals to God's sovereignty, covenant faithfulness, and the temple promise. He reminds God of His Word, not to inform God but to align his own heart.
- Honest helplessness opens the door for deliverance, The king admits 'we have no might' and 'we don't know what to do.' This confession is the turning point; it clears the stage for God to act.
Five-point outline
- The enemy arrives (vv.1-2), sudden, overwhelming, and illogical after a season of blessing and reform.
- Fear transformed into seeking God (vv.3-4), the fear is real, but it drives Jehoshaphat to prayer and fasting, not paralysis.
- The king's prayer in the assembly (vv.5-9), rehearses God's nature, past acts, and promises, making the request an act of covenant loyalty.
- The irony of ingratitude (vv.10-11), the very people God spared when Israel left Egypt now attack.
- The cry of dependence (v.12), 'our eyes are on you', the climax of surrendered trust.
Illustration hooks
- A family receiving a good report from the doctor, only to receive a worse diagnosis the next day. The spiritual high of relief crashes into new fear. Jehoshaphat's response models what that family can do: turn to God with the whole community.
- A company that after years of hard work and ethical restructuring faces a hostile takeover. Everything they built seems threatened. The prayer in this passage shows how to process injustice and vulnerability without losing faith.
- An athlete who trains for months and then gets injured on the day of the big game. The enemy comes when we least expect it. Jehoshaphat's reaction, fear, then seeking God, then assembling the community, gives a pattern for group lament.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does trouble often come right after a time of spiritual growth or good decisions? Is God punishing me?
- How can I pray when I don't know what to do? Is there a structure to follow?
- Does a public fast really make a difference? Should we do that at our church?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows a nation under threat turning to God in a structured, faith-filled prayer. The small group can explore how Jehoshaphat moves from fear to a settled dependence on God, and how corporate prayer strengthens individuals. The central question: what does it mean to 'set our eyes on God' when we have no answers?
Discussion questions
- Read verses 1-3. Jehoshaphat was afraid, but then he 'set himself to seek Yahweh.' What does that progression look like in your own life when bad news comes?
- Why do you think Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast for the whole nation? What role does corporate humility play in facing a crisis?
- Look at the prayer in verses 6-12. How does Jehoshaphat use God's past actions (v.7) and promises (v.9) as a foundation for his request? How can we do that in our own prayers?
- In verse 12, the king admits 'we don't know what to do.' Is it a sign of weak faith or strong faith to say that? Discuss the tension between helplessness and trust.
- What is the significance of the phrase 'our eyes are on you'? How does this change the posture of the one praying?
- How does this passage speak to a group that feels overwhelmed by a situation they cannot fix, whether in the church, at work, or at home?
- What is one concrete step you can take this week to 'seek the Lord' when you face a problem that seems too big?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Chronicles 4:41 | These written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents and the Meunim who were found there; and they destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. |
| II Chronicles 19:2 | Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? Because of this, wrath is on you from before Yahweh. |
| II Chronicles 19:5 | He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, |
| II Chronicles 19:11 | Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may Yahweh be with the good.” |
| II Chronicles 32:1 | After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, entered into Judah, encamped against the fortified cities, and intended to win them for himself. |
| Psalms 83:5 | For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you. |
| Psalms 83:8 | Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah. |
| Isaiah 7:1 | In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke suggests a textual corruption in the account, arguing the invaders were Edomites from Mount Seir rather than Syrians. He also commends Jehoshaphat's prayer as one of the most sensible, elegant, and pious ever offered under the Old Covenant, delivered extemporaneously before the congregation.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Jehoshaphat's prayer marks the first time a fast was proclaimed by official authority in Israel. He also highlights the king's threefold appeal: to God as omnipotent, as "our God," and as the God of the temple, and observes that this is the first occurrence of calling Abraham "thy friend."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight that Jehoshaphat's immediate response to danger is not military strategy but humble prayer rooted in God's past faithfulness.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB identifies a likely textual error, arguing "Edom" fits better than "Syria" here. He describes how the invaders, following the same route modern Arab raiders use, rounded the Dead Sea and marched north through the low-lying Ghor undetected. This explains why Jehoshaphat only learned of the threat when they reached En-gedi and why he urgently proclaimed a fast.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads the Chronicler deliberately portraying Jehoshaphat as a second David for Judah. He treats the remarkably large army numbers as ideal rather than literal, intended to suggest that Judah alone had grown as strong as the twelve united tribes under David.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to the way Jehoshaphat’s fear immediately drives him to seek the Lord rather than panic. The king does not rely on his own resources but gathers the nation in fasting and prayer, grounding his appeal in God’s sovereign power, covenant promises, and the assurance that He hears from His sanctuary.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads the verse as a detailed blueprint for a theocratic government, carefully distinguishing the separate roles of spiritual and civil authorities. He notes that the president handles "matters of the Lord," the ruler handles "the king's matters" in civil law, and the Levites enforce the sentences, while the Lord Himself protects righteous judges.