2 Chronicles 20:17 MEANING



2 Chronicles 20:17
(17) Ye shall not need to fight.--It is not for you to fight. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 5:1; 1 Chronicles 15:2.)

In this.--Herein, in this instance. (Comp. for the phrase, 2 Chronicles 19:2.)

Set yourselves (i.e., "withstand," 2 Chronicles 20:6).--Station yourselves, take your stand. Here the next verb, stand ye still, seems added as an explanation, and is, perhaps, a marginal gloss. "Fear not: take your stand, and see the salvation of the Lord," was the command of Moses to Israel at the Red Sea, just before the Great Deliverance (Exodus 14:13). (Comp. also the words of Psalm 46:8, "Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.")

The Lord with you.--Some explain the connection thus: "The Lord (who is) with you." Iahveh 'immdkhem may, perhaps, be compared with 'imm?n- el, "with us God" (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:8); it will then be a Divine title, suited to the present emergency. But, more probably, the stop should be at the Lord; and with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! is an elliptic expression, meaning "He is, or will be with you," &c, as in 2 Chronicles 19:6. (Comp. the refrain of Psalms 46, "The Lord of hosts is with us! The God of Jacob is our refuge.")

Verse 17. - Stand... and see the salvation of the Lord with you. The grand original of these words (Exodus 14:13) would be known to both Jahaziel and Jehoshaphat.

20:14-19 The Spirit of prophecy came upon a Levite in the midst of the congregation. The Spirit, like the wind, blows where and on whom He listeth. He encouraged them to trust in God. Let the Christian soldier go out against his spiritual enemies, and the God of peace will make him more than a conqueror. Our trials will prove our gain. The advantage will be all our own, but the whole glory must be given to God.Ye shall not need to fight in this battle,.... Since the Lord would fight for them:

set yourselves, stand ye still; present themselves they might, as if ready to engage; and keep their ground, not giving way in the least, but would have no need to strike a stroke:

and see the salvation of the Lord with you; which he would work for them, see Exodus 14:13,

and Judah, and Jerusalem, fear not, nor be dismayed; which is repeated for the confirmation of them:

tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you; to protect them, fight for them, and give them victory; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord shall be your help.''

Courtesy of Open Bible