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The Blue Letter Bible

2 Chronicles 20 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

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War with Surrounding Nations

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:1

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:1 - After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[fn] declared war on Jehoshaphat.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:2

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:2 - Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom[fn] is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.[fn] They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:3

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:3 - Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:4

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:4 - So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:5

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:5 - Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:6

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:6 - He prayed, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:7

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:7 - O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:8

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:8 - Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:9

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:9 - They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war,[fn] plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:10

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:10 - “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:11

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:11 - Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:12

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:12 - O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:13

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:13 - As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children,

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:14

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:14 - the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:15

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:15 - He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:16

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:16 - Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:17

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:17 - But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!”

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:18

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:18 - Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:19

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:19 - Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:20

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:20 - Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:21

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:21 - After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:
“Give thanks to the LORD;
his faithful love endures forever!”

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:22

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:22 - At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:23

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:23 - The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:24

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:24 - So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:25

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:25 - King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing,[fn] and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:26

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:26 - On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing,[fn] which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the LORD there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:27

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:27 - Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the LORD had given them victory over their enemies.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:28

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:28 - They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the LORD.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:29

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:29 - When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the LORD himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:30

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:30 - So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
(1Ki 22:41–50 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:31

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:31 - So Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:32

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:32 - Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:33

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:33 - During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:34

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:34 - The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Jehu Son of Hanani, which is included in The Book of the Kings of Israel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:35

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:35 - Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:36

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:36 - Together they built a fleet of trading ships[fn] at the port of Ezion-geber.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 20:37

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:37 - Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.[fn]
See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NLT Footnotes
As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 26:7); Hebrew repeats Ammonites.
As in one Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions read Aram.
Hebrew the sea.
Or sword of judgment; or sword, judgment.
As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Latin Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts read corpses.
Hebrew valley of Beracah.
Or who made him do what was wicked.
Hebrew fleet of ships that could go to Tarshish.
Hebrew never set sail for Tarshish.
NLT

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Full copyright information is provided here. Visit the New Living Translation website.

For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

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2 Chronicles Chapter 20 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras