It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

2 CHRONICLES 20:1KJV
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2 Chronicles 20:1 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 20:1 mean?

2 Chronicles 20:1 describes how, after earlier events in Jehoshaphat’s reign, the people of Moab, Ammon, and others allied with the Ammonites gathered together to attack King Jehoshaphat and his kingdom. This verse sets the stage for a major conflict that will test Jehoshaphat’s leadership and faith.

The book of 2 Chronicles is recounting a historical moment when several neighboring nations united against Judah. Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah at this time, and the verse introduces a crisis that will lead to a significant story about how he and his people respond to this threat. The verse is not a speech but a narrative statement, giving readers the background for what follows.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 20:1

  • "Children" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word means "sons" or "descendants," and it is used here to refer to the people or nation of Moab and Ammon, not just literal children. It emphasizes the collective identity of these groups.
  • "Moab" (מוֹאָב, Moʾav) and "Ammon" (עַמּוֹן, ʿAmmôn): These are the names of neighboring nations east of Israel, often in conflict with Judah. Mentioning them by name highlights the seriousness of the threat.
  • "Ammonites" (עַמּוֹנִים, ʿAmmônîm): This word refers specifically to the people of Ammon, and the phrase "other beside the Ammonites" suggests that additional groups joined this alliance, making the threat even larger.
  • "Battle" (מִלְחָמָה, milḥāmāh): This word means "war" or "battle," making it clear that the intention was not just a raid but a full-scale military confrontation.

Why 2 Chronicles 20:1 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the threat to Judah was not from a single enemy but from a coalition, which makes the coming events more dramatic and the danger more severe.
  • By naming Moab and Ammon, the verse connects to earlier biblical stories about these nations’ complicated relationships with Israel and Judah, adding historical depth.
  • The verse sets up the context for the rest of the chapter, where Jehoshaphat’s response will become a key example of seeking God’s help in a time of crisis.

Where else these words appear

“Ammonites” Hebrew H5984 · used in 18 verses

  • Deuteronomy 2:20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
  • 1 Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
  • Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

“Jehoshaphat” Hebrew H3092 · used in 75 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
  • 2 Kings 3:1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

“Ammon” Hebrew H5983 · used in 98 verses

  • Genesis 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
  • Judges 11:36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
  • 1 Chronicles 19:9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.