And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

2 CHRONICLES 20:10KJV
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2 Chronicles 20:10 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 20:10 mean?

2 Chronicles 20:10 recalls how, during Israel’s journey out of Egypt, God did not allow the Israelites to attack the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, so Israel passed by them and did not destroy them. The verse points out that these same groups are now causing trouble for Israel, despite Israel’s earlier restraint.

In this verse, King Jehoshaphat is praying to God while facing a threat from a coalition of enemies. He reminds God that Israel had previously shown mercy to these nations, obeying God’s command not to invade or destroy them when leaving Egypt. The verse sets up a sense of injustice: those spared by Israel are now turning against them.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 20:10

  • "children" (בְּנֵי, b’nei): This word means "sons" or "descendants," emphasizing that the current enemies are the direct descendants of Ammon and Moab, connecting the present threat to their ancestors.
  • "let" (נָתַן, natan): This word is often translated "to give" or "to allow." Here, it highlights that God did not permit Israel to attack these nations, showing that Israel’s restraint was an act of obedience.
  • "turned" (סוּר, sur): This word means "to turn aside" or "to avoid." It underlines that Israel deliberately changed course to avoid conflict, not just by chance but by intention.
  • "destroyed" (שָׁמַד, shamad): This word means "to destroy" or "to annihilate." The verse stresses that Israel refrained from wiping out these peoples, showing a conscious choice to spare them.

Why 2 Chronicles 20:10 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Israel’s current trouble comes from nations they had previously spared, highlighting a sense of betrayal and injustice.
  • It emphasizes Israel’s obedience to God’s instructions during the Exodus, showing that their restraint was not weakness but faithfulness.
  • The verse sets up the larger story in 2 Chronicles 20, where Jehoshaphat appeals to God’s justice and faithfulness in the face of an unexpected threat from former neighbors.

Where else these words appear

“Seir” Hebrew H8165 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 14:6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
  • Deuteronomy 2:1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.
  • Judges 5:4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

“destroyed” Hebrew H8045 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 31:3 The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.
  • Esther 7:4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

“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.