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 20:10KJVWhat 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.