King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 20:22 Mean?

2 Chronicles 20:22 in the King James Version says “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir,...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. And when: Heb. And in the time that they, etc to sing: Heb. in singing and praise they were: or, they smote one another”

2 Chronicles 20:22 · KJV

Context

20

And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

21

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. that: Heb. praisers

22

And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. And when: Heb. And in the time that they, etc to sing: Heb. in singing and praise they were: or, they smote one another

23

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. to destroy: Heb. for the destruction

24

And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. none: Heb. there was not an escaping

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

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 · 16 words
וּבְעֵת֩1 of 16

“And when”

H6256

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc

הֵחֵ֨לּוּ2 of 16

“they began”

H2490

properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin

בְרִנָּ֜ה3 of 16

“to sing”

H7440

properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e., shout (of joy or grief)

וּתְהִלָּ֗ה4 of 16

“and to praise”

H8416

laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn

נָתַ֣ן5 of 16

“set”

H5414

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

יְהוָ֣ה׀6 of 16

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

מְ֠אָֽרְבִים7 of 16

“ambushments”

H693

to lurk

עַל8 of 16
H5921

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

בְּנֵ֨י9 of 16

“against 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

עַמּ֜וֹן10 of 16

“of Ammon”

H5983

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

מוֹאָ֧ב11 of 16

“Moab”

H4124

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

וְהַר12 of 16

“and mount”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

שֵׂעִ֛יר13 of 16

“Seir”

H8165

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

הַבָּאִ֥ים14 of 16

“which were come”

H935

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

לִֽיהוּדָ֖ה15 of 16

“against Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וַיִּנָּגֵֽפוּ׃16 of 16

“and they were smitten”

H5062

to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease)

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 20:22 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 20:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Samuel 14:20Ezekiel 38:21Isaiah 19:22 Kings 6:17Judges 7:22Psalms 35:5-6

Places in This Verse

AmmonRegion · Modern: Amman · 31.95°N, 35.93°E106 verses across 19 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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