2 Chronicles 20:24-37

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Lyle Mantooth 2025-02-26 09:05:40 -05:00
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title = "2 Chronicles 20:2437"
date = "2025-02-26"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles20.24-37)
By the time the invaders had slaughtered themselves, the men of Judah arrived to look upon the destruction.
From the watchtower of that spot in the wilderness, they were able to see their dead enemies.
Now, armies carry lots of useful things with them on campaign, so Jehoshaphat and his army goes down to take what they can get.
And what they can get is a ridiculous amount.
It takes them three days to take away all of the spoil, which is a testament to God's blessing on his people.
The invading coalition was set on conquering Judah, and armies have to carry in what they plan to use.
So they may have been three times bigger than Judah's army, which would be a sure victory under most circumstances.
However, the list of what Judah took is a bit odd.
"Goods, clothing, and precious things," it says. (_v. 25_)
Goods probably includes food and materials you'd expect in army supplies.
Arrows, whetstones, leather and such for making repairs.
Everyone needs clothing, and they wouldn't be uniforms like we think of in a modern context.
But "precious things" sounds like gold, silver, and jewelry.
Maybe it's not, because it could be precious goods like oil and salt, but the King James Version does translate these words as "precious jewels".
Furthermore, the Christian Standard Bible makes it clear that these things aren't just in the supply lines, but on the bodies of the fallen directly.
In any case, what is clear is that the Lord not only saved His people from destruction, but also enriched them at the same time.
The people's response of joy and praise with music is entirely appropriate.
Word of this incident also got out to the surrounding nations, and no one dared try anything like that against Judah for the rest of Jehoshaphat's reign.
The reign of Jehoshaphat is summarized in the end of the chapter.
He is given a good grade by the Chronicler for following the Lord faithfully in his policies and personal walk.
But he didn't do everything right, because the high places of idolatrous or syncretic worship remained, and he also kept making alliances with the wicked kings of northern Israel.
Ahab's son Ahaziah helped Jehoshaphat build ships to sail to Tarshish, but the Lord caused them to be wrecked before they could reach their destination.
* * *
Even when we see no way out of a situation, You are there to turn calamity into blessing.