“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”
My Notes
What Does 2 Chronicles 20:17 Mean?
2 Chronicles 20:17 is one of the most extraordinary military instructions in the Bible — because the instruction is to not fight. Stand still. Watch God work.
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle" — the Hebrew lo' lakhem lĕhillachem bazoth (not for you to fight in this one) removes the army from the equation. Three nations — Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir — have combined to invade Judah (v. 1-2). Jehoshaphat has proclaimed a national fast (v. 3). The entire nation is gathered before God (v. 13). And the word through the prophet Jahaziel is: this battle isn't yours.
"Set yourselves, stand ye still" — the Hebrew hithyatsĕvu 'imdu (take your positions, stand) is paradoxical. Take a battle position — but don't fight from it. Stand — but don't advance. The army arranges itself for combat and then... watches.
"And see the salvation of the LORD with you" — the Hebrew ur'u 'eth-yĕshu'ath Yahweh 'immakhem (and see the salvation/deliverance of the LORD with you) makes them witnesses, not warriors. The Hebrew yĕshu'ah (salvation, deliverance, victory) is God's to produce. Israel's role is to see it happen.
"O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed" — the Hebrew 'al-tir'u vĕ'al-techatthu (do not fear and do not be terrified) follows the standard formula: the command not to fear follows the promise of divine intervention.
"To morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you" — the Hebrew tse'u liphnehem (go out before them) does require marching — but not fighting. Verse 21 reveals what Jehoshaphat actually sent ahead of the army: singers. Worship leaders. People singing "Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever." The army marched behind a choir.
The result (v. 22-24): the three enemy nations turned on each other and destroyed themselves. By the time Judah arrived, the battlefield was covered with corpses. They spent three days collecting the spoil (v. 25). The army that didn't fight won the biggest battle of Jehoshaphat's reign.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Jehoshaphat sent worship leaders ahead of the army. What would it look like for you to lead with worship rather than strategy in a current battle?
- 2.'We have no might... neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee' (v. 12). When was the last time you were that honest about your helplessness before God?
- 3.The enemy destroyed itself. Judah didn't strike a blow. Have you experienced a situation resolving without your intervention — where standing still was the most faithful action?
- 4.'Ye shall not need to fight in this battle.' How do you discern when God is calling you to fight versus when He's calling you to stand still and watch?
Devotional
Three nations are invading. The army takes the field. And the first unit deployed is a choir.
This is the battle of 2 Chronicles 20, and it defies everything the military world understands about warfare. The enemy is massive — three nations combined. Jehoshaphat is terrified (v. 3). The nation fasts. The king prays one of the most honest prayers in the Old Testament: "we have no might against this great company... neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" (v. 12).
And God's answer through the prophet is: don't fight. Stand still. Watch.
Jehoshaphat does something so audacious it borders on insanity: he puts worship leaders at the front of the army. Not archers. Not cavalry. Singers, singing "Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever" (v. 21). The praise goes ahead of the army the way the Ark went ahead of Israel at the Jordan.
The enemy destroys itself. Moab and Ammon attack Mount Seir. Then they turn on each other. By the time Judah arrives at the overlook (v. 24), the valley is full of bodies. Not one of them killed by Judah. Three days of collecting spoil (v. 25). The battle that wasn't fought was the most profitable of Jehoshaphat's reign.
This verse asks the hardest question in the life of faith: can you stand still when everything tells you to fight? Can you position yourself for battle and then let God fight it? Can you send singers instead of soldiers, worship instead of weapons, trust instead of strategy?
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle." Not every battle. This battle. God doesn't promise you'll never fight. He promises that sometimes — when the odds are impossible, when you have no might, when you don't know what to do — the instruction is to stand, watch, and let the salvation of the LORD appear.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle,.... Since the Lord would fight for them:
set yourselves, stand ye still;…
The prophet uses words familiar to the people, and connected with several great deliverances (see the marginal…
For the Lord will be with you - "The Word of the Lord shall be your Helper." - Targum.
We have here God's gracious answer to Jehoshaphat's prayer; and it was a speedy answer. While he was yet speaking God…
see the salvation Cp. Exo 14:13.
will be with you R.V. is with you; cp. 2Ch 15:2.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture