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War with Surrounding Nations

20 After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[a] declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom[b] is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.[c] They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.

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Footnotes

  1. 20:1 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 26:7); Hebrew repeats Ammonites.
  2. 20:2a As in one Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions read Aram.
  3. 20:2b Hebrew the sea.

Judah is Invaded Unexpectedly

20 Sometime after these events, the Moabites and the Ammonites, accompanied by some other descendants of Ammon,[a] attacked Jehoshaphat and started a war. Jehoshaphat’s military advisors[b] came and informed him, “We’ve been attacked by a vast invasion force from Aram,[c] beyond the Dead[d] Sea. Be advised—they’ve already reached Hazazon-tamar, also known as En-gedi.”

In mounting fear, Jehoshaphat devoted himself[e] to seek the Lord. He proclaimed a period of[f] fasting throughout all of the territory of[g] Judah, and the tribe of[h] Judah assembled together to seek the Lord. People[i] came from all of the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 20:1 Or some Meunites; cf. 2Chr 26:7
  2. 2 Chronicles 20:2 Lit. They
  3. 2 Chronicles 20:2 I.e., from Edom
  4. 2 Chronicles 20:2 The Heb. lacks Dead
  5. 2 Chronicles 20:3 Lit. devoted his face
  6. 2 Chronicles 20:3 The Heb. lacks a period of
  7. 2 Chronicles 20:3 The Heb. lacks of the territory of
  8. 2 Chronicles 20:4 The Heb. lacks the tribe of
  9. 2 Chronicles 20:4 Lit. They