2 Chronicles 20:5-12

Why does the prayer remember Abraham, the sanctuary, and earlier restraint toward neighbors?

Berean Standard Bible

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard 6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. 7 Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? 8 They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ 10 And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt. So Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

What is the context?

Jehoshaphat praises God’s rule over kingdoms and remembers the land given to Abraham’s descendants. The people have lived there and built a sanctuary for the Lord’s name.

He recalls the appeal for help in distress associated with that house and the earlier instruction not to invade Ammon, Moab, and Seir. He asks God to judge those now seeking to drive Judah out.

The prayer ends by admitting that they do not know what to do and turning their eyes toward God. It joins remembered promises with candid acknowledgment of present inability.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley emphasizes God’s justice as a refuge for those wronged. The account itself connects the appeal with the temple prayer and the people’s remembered history. It does not say that the king’s large army has ceased to exist, nor supply every practical decision that follows his admission of dependence.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

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