King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 20:10 Mean?

2 Chronicles 20:10 in the King James Version says “And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And 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;”

2 Chronicles 20:10 · KJV

Context

8

And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

9

If, 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.

10

And 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;

11

Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

12

O 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.

Read 2 Chronicles 20 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And 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;

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing God fights for those who seek Him in crisis. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This pattern provides instruction for the post-exilic community on the conditions for God's blessing.

The account demonstrates God's covenant faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. Even in judgment, God preserves a remnant and offers restoration through repentance. The repeated cycle of apostasy, judgment, and restoration reveals both human sinfulness and divine mercy. References to the temple, proper worship, and priestly service emphasize the Chronicler's concern for correct religious observance.

Theologically, these accounts point beyond immediate history to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line. Despite repeated failures, God preserves David's dynasty, anticipating the perfect King who will reign in righteousness. The pattern of judgment for sin and restoration through repentance prefigures the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This passage occurs during the divided monarchy period when Judah existed separately from northern Israel. The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, addressing the restored community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (539 BCE onward). His emphasis on temple worship, proper religious observance, and God's covenant faithfulness speaks directly to the needs of his audience who had just rebuilt the temple and were reestablishing their identity as God's people.

The historical context demonstrates both God's judgment on persistent sin and His readiness to restore those who genuinely repent. The Chronicler omits most northern kingdom material, focusing on Judah and the Davidic line to emphasize God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Lachish, Beersheba, and Jerusalem corroborate the biblical accounts of various kings' reigns and building projects.

Understanding the Chronicler's post-exilic perspective is crucial—he's not merely recording history but applying past lessons to his contemporary audience, showing that the same principles of seeking God, maintaining proper worship, and covenant faithfulness that determined blessing or judgment in the past still apply.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse illustrate the principle of divine retribution (blessing for obedience, judgment for sin)?
  2. What specific applications does this passage have for maintaining spiritual faithfulness in contemporary Christian life?
  3. How does this account point to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line and the coming Messiah?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וְעַתָּ֡ה1 of 21
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

הִנֵּה֩2 of 21
H2009

lo!

בְנֵֽי3 of 21

“And now behold the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

עַמּ֨וֹן4 of 21

“of Ammon”

H5983

ammon, a son of lot; also his posterity and their country

וּמוֹאָ֜ב5 of 21

“and Moab”

H4124

moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants

וְהַר6 of 21

“and mount”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

שֵׂעִ֗יר7 of 21

“Seir”

H8165

seir, a mountain of idumaea and its indigenous occupants, also one in palestine

אֲ֠שֶׁר8 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹֽא9 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

נָתַ֤תָּה10 of 21

“whom thou wouldest not let”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙11 of 21

“Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

בְּבֹאָ֖ם12 of 21

“invade”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בָהֶ֔ם13 of 21
H0
בְּבֹאָ֖ם14 of 21

“invade”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ15 of 21

“of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרָ֑יִם16 of 21

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

כִּ֛י17 of 21
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

סָ֥רוּ18 of 21

“but they turned”

H5493

to turn off (literally or figuratively)

מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם19 of 21
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

וְלֹ֥א20 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

הִשְׁמִידֽוּם׃21 of 21

“from them and destroyed”

H8045

to desolate

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Chronicles 20:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Chronicles 20:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 2:19Deuteronomy 2:4-5Deuteronomy 2:92 Chronicles 20:1Numbers 20:17-21Judges 11:15-18

Places in This Verse

AmmonRegion · Modern: Amman · 31.95°N, 35.93°E106 verses across 19 books
EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
Moab 1Region · Modern: Kerak · 31.18°N, 35.70°E162 verses across 22 books
Mount Seir 1Mountain Range · Modern: Jebel esh Shera · 30.18°N, 35.32°E34 verses across 9 books
View all places in 2 Chronicles 20 →

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