2 Chronicles 20:10 – “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
In this verse, King Jehoshaphat is reminding God of a specific moment in Israel’s past as he prays for help in the face of a looming invasion. Jehoshaphat points out that when the Israelites first came out of Egypt, God did not allow them to attack or destroy the territories of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. Out of obedience to God, Israel avoided conflict with these nations and spared them.
Now, Jehoshaphat finds it ironic that these same nations, who had been spared by Israel at God’s command, are coming to invade Judah. This statement is part of Jehoshaphat’s appeal to God for justice, asking why these nations are now threatening God’s people after they were shown mercy in the past.
Historical Context
The background to this verse is rooted in Israel’s history during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. When the Israelites were traveling through the wilderness under Moses’ leadership, they encountered various nations, including the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites (Mount Seir). God specifically commanded Israel not to engage in battle with these groups because they were descendants of Lot and Esau, who were relatives of Israel (Deuteronomy 2:4-9).
Fast forward to Jehoshaphat’s time, these same nations that had been spared by Israel centuries earlier were now forming an alliance to attack Judah. Jehoshaphat is essentially saying, “God, we obeyed you and spared them in the past, but now they are coming to destroy us. Please intervene.”
Theological Implications
This verse touches on several theological ideas, including God’s justice and the concept of mercy. Jehoshaphat reminds God that Judah showed mercy to these nations out of obedience to His command, and now they are seeking to repay that mercy with violence. This sets up a clear appeal to God’s sense of justice. It asks God to intervene and right this wrong, as the invading nations seem to be acting unjustly after receiving mercy.
It also highlights the theme of God’s sovereignty in the affairs of nations. Even though Israel obeyed God’s command not to attack these people in the past, the situation has now changed. This suggests that God has a plan, even when things seem unfair or confusing from a human perspective.
Literary Analysis
In terms of structure, this verse continues the flow of Jehoshaphat’s prayer, which moves from recalling God’s past faithfulness to the specific current crisis. Jehoshaphat uses this historical event as part of his argument, building a case before God as to why He should intervene on behalf of Judah. The contrast between Israel’s obedience and the current threat from the spared nations creates a sense of tension and urgency in the prayer.
The language Jehoshaphat uses is a form of rhetorical argument. He reminds God of what happened in the past and essentially asks, “Why should we suffer at the hands of these nations when we spared them according to your command?” This rhetorical device emphasizes the injustice of the situation and highlights Jehoshaphat’s trust that God will act.
Biblical Cross-References
- Deuteronomy 2:4-5 – “Give the people these orders: ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful. Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on.'” This passage directly connects to Jehoshaphat’s reference to Israel sparing the Edomites.
- Deuteronomy 2:9 – “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land.’” This is the instruction God gave regarding the Moabites, reinforcing Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:10.
- Proverbs 17:13 – “Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.” This verse underscores the wrongness of what Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing—repaying Israel’s past mercy with hostility.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For Christians today, this verse highlights the principle of trusting in God’s justice, even when things seem unfair. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were facing an unjust situation—nations they had spared out of obedience to God were now attacking them. Yet, rather than taking matters into their own hands, Jehoshaphat brings the issue before God, trusting that He will act righteously.
In our own lives, there are times when we may feel wronged or treated unfairly, especially when we have acted with kindness or obedience. This verse reminds us to bring those concerns to God, trusting in His ability to bring justice and make things right in His perfect timing.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
This verse highlights God’s patience and mercy. Even though the nations of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir had rejected and turned against Israel, God had once shown them mercy by sparing their land. Jehoshaphat’s prayer recognizes that God is a God who deals patiently with people, even when they don’t deserve it. But it also recognizes that God is just, and when His people are in need, He will not turn a blind eye to their suffering.
Jehoshaphat’s appeal reflects his belief in a loving God who cares about justice. God’s love is shown in His willingness to listen to the cries of His people and respond to their need, especially when they have been wronged.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
This verse connects to Jesus Christ in a significant way through the themes of mercy and justice. Jesus Himself taught about the importance of showing mercy, even to enemies (Matthew 5:44). Yet, like Jehoshaphat, Jesus also trusted in God’s ultimate justice. On the cross, Jesus showed mercy to those who crucified Him, praying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). At the same time, the New Testament teaches that Jesus will one day return to judge the world in righteousness, bringing justice where there has been wrongdoing (Acts 17:31).
Jesus is the ultimate expression of both mercy and justice. Through Him, we experience God’s mercy, even though we deserve judgment for our sins. And through His future return, we look forward to a day when all wrongs will be made right.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- Have you ever experienced a situation where you felt like you were treated unfairly despite doing the right thing? How did you respond?
- What can we learn from Jehoshaphat’s example of bringing his concerns before God instead of taking matters into his own hands?
- How does this passage encourage you to trust in God’s justice, even when the situation seems unfair or difficult?
- In what ways do you see God’s mercy and justice working together in this story? How does that relate to the mercy and justice we see in Jesus Christ?
- How can you practice both mercy and trust in God’s justice in your relationships with others?
This verse reminds us that when we face difficult and unjust situations, we can turn to God with confidence, knowing that He is both merciful and just. Through Jesus, we have the assurance that all wrongs will one day be made right, and we are invited to live in His mercy, even as we trust in His justice.