2 Chronicles 20 — Tyndale Study Notes
2Chr.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.
2Chr.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.)
2Chr.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).
2Chr.20.10
Mount Seir was another name for Edom (see Gen 32:3 and the study note on Gen 25:25).
2Chr.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).
2Chr.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.
2Chr.20.32-33
The comparison of Jehoshaphat with Asa is adopted from 1 Kgs 22:43 without alteration.
2Chr.20.35-37
The Lord destroyed the fleet to prevent Jehoshaphat’s alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel from prospering.