Jehoshaphat's Battle of Praise

Illustration of Jehoshaphat's Battle of Praise

In the days of King Jehoshaphat, Judah faced a massive invasion by a coalition of Moabite, Ammonite, and Meunite forces that threatened the nation's survival. After seeking divine guidance through prayer and fasting, Jehoshaphat positioned temple singers at the front of his army to praise God with the refrain "Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever." As the praise began, the Lord caused the enemy armies to turn on one another in confusion, resulting in their complete self-destruction and leaving Judah to gather abundant spoils without engaging in combat. This account in 2 Chronicles 20 illustrates the scriptural principle that faithful reliance on God, expressed through worship rather than military strength, can bring deliverance and underscores praise as a powerful act of trust in divine intervention.

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Details

Era
Divided Kingdom
Category
Divided Kingdom
Participants
Judah vs. Moab, Ammon, and Edom
Outcome
Enemies destroy each other
Divine Intervention
Yes

Key Passages

The Battle

2 Chronicles 20:21-25

A21nd when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.

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Did You Know?

1

Jehoshaphat sent worship singers ahead of the army. Praise was the battle strategy.

2

The enemy armies turned on each other and destroyed themselves. Israel never drew a sword.

3

It took 3 days just to collect the plunder from the defeated armies.