II Chronicles 26:7
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God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs living in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Jotham having ascended the throne at the age of twenty-five, reigned altogether in the spirit and power of his father, with the single limitation that he did not go into the sanctuary of Jahve (cf. Ch2 26:16.). This remark is not found in 2 Kings 15, because there Uzziah's intrusion into the temple is also omitted. The people still did corruptly (cf. Ch2 26:16). This refers, indeed, to the continuation of the worship in the high places, but hints also at the deep moral corruption which the prophets of that time censure (cf. especially Isa 2:5., Ch2 5:7.; Mic 1:5; Mic 2:1.).
Open source ↗This chapter gives us an account of the reign of Uzziah (Azariah he was called in the Kings) more fully than we had it before, though it was long, and in some respects illustrious, yet it was very briefly related, Kg2 14:21; Kg2 15:1, etc. Here is, I. His good character in general (Ch2 26:1-5) II. His great prosperity in his wars, his buildings, and all the affairs of his kingdom (Ch2 26:6-15). III. His presumption in invading the priests' office, for which he was struck with a leprosy, and confined by it (Ch2 26:16-21) even to his death (Ch2 26:22, Ch2 26:23).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
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Then the LORD stirred against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs who lived near the Cushites.
And because they cried out to God in battle, they were helped against their enemies, and the Hagrites and all their allies were delivered into their hands. Because they put their trust in God, He answered their prayers.
Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”
Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.
Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg.
But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall.
Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.