II Chronicles 20:26 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 20:26 Commentary: Blessing That Named a Valley
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Jehoshaphat and Judah named a valley 'Blessing' after God’s deliverance, and what it teaches about gratitude and memorials.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The valley was named Beracah (blessing) because the people assembled there to bless Yahweh after a miraculous victory.
- Key words: qahal (assembled, H6950), a formal gathering; barak (blessed, H1288), to kneel in homage and praise.
- Main debate: Minimal; a few scholars debate the valley’s exact location (Wady Bereikut vs. part of Kidron).
- Theological theme: Corporate blessing as the fitting response to divine deliverance; memorials preserve faith across generations.
- Best use: To teach that gratitude must be spoken and gathered, not just felt; and that naming our “Beracahs” helps us and others remember God’s faithful acts.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.
WEB World English Bible 2000
On the fourth day, they assembled themselves in Beracah Valley, for there they blessed Yahweh. Therefore the name of that place was called “Beracah Valley” to this day.
KJV King James Version 1769
And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Beracah; for there they blessed Jehovah: therefore the name of that place was called The valley of Beracah unto this day.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And on the fourth day they have been assembled at the valley of Blessing, for there they blessed Jehovah: therefore they have called the name of that place, `Valley of Blessing,' unto this day.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah, for there they blessed Jehovah; therefore the name of that place was called The valley of Berachah, to this day.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And on the fourth day they were assembled in the valley of Blessing: for there they blessed the Lord, and therefore they called that place the valley of Blessing until this day.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y al cuarto día se juntaron en el valle de Beracah; porque allí bendijeron á Jehová, y por esto llamaron el nombre de aquel paraje el valle de Beracah, hasta hoy.
E ao quarto dia se juntaram no vale de Beraca; porque ali bendisseram ao SENHOR, e por isto chamaram o nome daquele lugar o vale de Beraca, até hoje.
Le quatrième jour, ils s’ assemblèrent dans la vallée de Beraca, où ils bénirent l’ Éternel; c’ est pourquoi ils appelèrent ce lieu vallée de Beraca, nom qui lui est resté jusqu’ à ce jour.
Am vierten Tage aber kamen sie zusammen im Lobetal; denn daselbst lobten sie den HERRN. Daher heißt die Stätte Lobetal bis auf diesen Tag.
En op den vierden dag vergaderden zij zich in het dal van Beracha, want daar loofden zij den HEERE; daarom noemden zij den naam dierzelver plaats het dal van Beracha, tot op dezen dag.
Il quarto giorno si radunarono nella Valle di Benedizione, dove benedissero l’Eterno; per questo, quel luogo è stato chiamato Valle di Benedizione fino al dì d’oggi.
Potem dnia czwartego zebrali się w dolinie Beracha; bo iż tam błogosławili Pana, przetoż nazwali imię miejsca onego doliną Beracha, aż do dzisiejszego dnia.
А в четвертый день собрались на долину благословения, так как там они благословили Господа. Посему и называют то место долиною благословения до сего дня.
第四 日 眾人聚集 在比拉迦 谷（就是稱頌的意思）， 在那裡 稱頌 耶和華。因 此 那 地方 名 叫 比拉迦 谷，直到 今日。
On the fourth day they all came together in the Valley of Blessing, and there they gave blessing to the Lord; for which cause that place has been named the Valley of Blessing to this day.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 20:26
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the valley was named Beracah, Hebrew for “blessing”, because the people gathered there on the fourth day after the battle to bless Yahweh. Gill notes that they had likely offered praise earlier but now united “in a set, solemn, and public manner” to ascribe glory to God. Keil & Delitzsch emphasize that the assembly was specifically “to give thanks to God the Lord for this blessing.” Wesley’s Explanatory Notes calls the valley “the valley of blessing; so called from their solemn blessings and praises given to God in it upon this occasion.” The name served as a permanent memorial of the deliverance and of Judah’s response of worship. No commentator disputes that the naming was driven by the people’s act of blessing rather than by any other event.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The valley received its name because the people of Judah assembled there to bless Yahweh after he gave them victory over their enemies.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of the naming | The valley was named Beracah because the people blessed the Lord there after the deliverance. | None significant; all sources affirm this straightforward reading. |
| Location of the valley | It is a valley in the hill country near Tekoa, southwest of Bethlehem. | Keil & Delitzsch and Cambridge Bible identify it with Wady Bereikut; others (noted but rejected by Keil) have connected it with the Valley of Jehoshaphat in Kidron. The two locations are different. |
| Significance of ‘fourth day’ | The fourth day marks the shift from gathering plunder (three days) to gathering for worship. | Wesley and Gill view the fourth day as the appointed time for solemn praise; there is no dispute that it indicates the timing after the plunder. |
| Nature of the ‘blessing’ act | It was public, corporate, and verbal, blessing as praise to God. | Some traditions emphasize the sacrificial dimension (blessing often accompanied offerings); others focus on song and acclaim. The text itself is simple: ‘they blessed Yahweh.’ |
Historical & Cultural Context
The narrative leading to this verse is extraordinary. Judah faced a vast coalition of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. Jehoshaphat responded by seeking the Lord and positioning singers at the front of the army to praise “the beauty of holiness” (2 Chronicles 20:21). As they began to sing, the Lord set ambushes against the invaders, who turned on one another until not one escaped (vv. 22, 24). The plunder was so great that it took three days to collect (v. 25).
On the fourth day the people assembled in a valley to bless Yahweh, not a spontaneous exclamation but a deliberate act of corporate worship. The valley received a new name: Beracah, “blessing.” This practice of renaming a site after a divine encounter was common in Old Testament narrative; compare Bethel (“house of God,” Genesis 28:19) and Ebenezer (“stone of help,” 1 Samuel 7:12). Geographically, the location is likely the Wady Bereikut, southwest of Tekoa, a wide valley that Jerome later called Caphar Baruca (mapped in the fourth century AD). The naming “to this day” (the Chronicler’s phrasing) asserts the valley continued to bear witness even after the exile, as Cambridge Bible notes: the phrase suggests the name persisted into the Chronicler’s own time.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Chronicles 20:26. The verse is stable across the Masoretic tradition and the ancient versions (Septuagint, Vulgate). The place name Beracah appears consistently; the YLT renders it as “Valley of Blessing” while others transliterate the Hebrew name.
Reception History
The verse has been treasured in both Jewish and Christian traditions as a model of gratitude after deliverance. Jerome, writing in the fourth century AD, mentions “Caphar Baruca” (Village of Blessing) near the road from Hebron to Jerusalem, noting that the name still survived in his day (Keil & Delitzsch cite this). Medieval Jewish commentators like Rashi highlighted the lesson of praising God after experiencing his salvation. In Protestant preaching, the passage has often been paired with the preceding battle narrative to demonstrate that praise precedes victory (vv. 21, 22) and follows it (v. 26). The image of a “valley of blessing” has also been taken up in hymns that speak of God turning sorrow into joy, though no specific hymn title is identifiable from supplied sources.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Deliverance Completely from the Lord. The battle was won without Judah swinging a sword. Their role was to stand and see the salvation of God (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:17). The three days of plunder underlined the completeness of the gift.
- Blessing as a Deliberate Response. They did not simply celebrate victory; they blessed their God. The verb barak includes kneeling in homage and speaking well of God. This was public, solemn, and united.
- A Memorial That Speaks. The valley’s new name was a landmark of praise. Long after the generation that lived through the battle had died, travelers would ask why it was called Beracah, and the story would be told.
Five-point outline
- The Lord fights for his people (vv. 22, 24).
- He supplies abundantly, beyond what they can carry (v. 25).
- The appropriate response is deliberate, corporate blessing (v. 26).
- The memory is preserved in a place name that endures (v. 26b).
- Joy and worship carry back to the house of God (vv. 27, 28).
Illustration hooks
- A family who survived a house fire marks the anniversary by writing a list of blessings rather than dwelling on what was lost. The date becomes a “Beracah day” in their calendar.
- A church that counseled a couple through a crisis later names their new counseling room “Beracah” as a reminder that God brought good out of the conflict.
- Hikers passing a landmark named “Rescue Point” hear the story of a stranded climber, analogous to how the valley’s name invited future generations to hear of God’s help.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Chronicler mention the fourth day specifically? (The three days of plunder occupied v. 25; the fourth marks the shift from gathering spoils to gathering to bless.)
- What does it mean to “bless” the Lord? It is more than thank-you; it is to acknowledge his worth and speak well of him.
- How can I create a “Beracah” in my own life, a tangible memory of God’s deliverance that I revisit?
Leading a Discussion
This verse captures the moment the people of Judah turned from receiving God’s gift to giving God praise. The valley became a permanent landmark of blessing. As you discuss, consider how your group creates and preserves memories of God’s work.
Discussion questions
- What happened on the three days before the fourth day (see v. 25)? Why do you think the Chronicler includes that detail?
- The people “blessed” Yahweh. Look up the Hebrew verb barak (H1288). What range of actions does it cover? How is “blessing” God different from thanking him?
- The valley was renamed “Beracah.” Compare this with Genesis 28:19 (Bethel) and 1 Samuel 7:12 (Ebenezer). What function did place names serve in ancient Israel?
- Why do you think the Chronicler notes “to this day”? What does that phrase tell us about the durability of the memory?
- In verse 27, the people returned “with joy” because the Lord had made them rejoice. How does the act of blessing connect to deep joy?
- When has your group experienced a “three days of plunder” followed by a “fourth day of blessing”? How can you mark that moment?
- How might naming a place, a date, or an object help your community remember God’s faithfulness in future hard times?
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)
| Genesis 28:19 | He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. |
| Genesis 32:20 | You shall say, ‘Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.’” For, he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” |
| Exodus 15:1 | Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, “I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea. |
| Exodus 15:19 | For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and Yahweh brought back the waters of the sea on them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea. |
| Exodus 17:15 | Moses built an altar, and called its name “Yahweh our Banner”. |
| I Samuel 7:12 | Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.” |
| II Samuel 22:1 | David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, |
| II Chronicles 5:9 | The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the ark in front of the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen outside; and it is there to this day. |
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
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the valley's name, Berachah, literally means valley of benediction or blessing, and he attributes this translation to the Targum, the ancient Aramaic paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes identifies the valley of Berachah with the Wady Bereikut, a specific location a short distance northwest of Tekoa. This geographical note clarifies the setting of the event.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the valley where Jehoshaphat’s army gathered after victory is known as Berachah, meaning “blessing.” It is likely the same location south of Tekoa, and may also be the “valley of Jehoshaphat” Joel later mentions, linking that name to this deliverance.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes observe that the valley was named Berachah, meaning blessing, because the people gathered there to bless the Lord, not because they received a blessing. The name commemorates their act of praise toward God rather than a benefit they obtained from Him.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that this was not the first time the people praised God, but it was the first time they did so in a formal, public, and united ceremony after the victory. This solemn act of corporate blessing gave the valley its lasting name, Berachah, meaning "blessing." He also notes that the valley was likely known as Cepharbarucha in Jerome's day.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch identify the Valley of Beracah with the modern Wady Bereikut, west of Tekoa, a site mentioned by Jerome as Caphar baruca. They see no basis for equating it with the Valley of Jehoshaphat in the Kidron Valley, which is associated with Joel's prophecy.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws from Jehoshaphat's words a simple principle for any believer: faith in God secures you, and faith in his prophets brings success. The king's instruction that praising God's beauty of holiness would go before the army is not empty ceremony—it is the very means by which God fights for his people.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the place was named Berachah, Hebrew for "of blessing," precisely because the people offered solemn blessings and praises to God there at that moment. The name itself commemorates the occasion of their worship.