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JULY 13
The Lord responded immediately, sending a message of confidence through the prophet
Jahaziel.“Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours,
but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them…. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position
yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD”(v. 15–17).
Here was the praise of faith (vv. 18–21).They were confident enough in God’s promise of vic-
tory to begin the praise before the battle was won. So great was their trust that the choir marched
in front of the army, singing psalms. People were appointed who should “praise the beauty of holi-
ness” (v. 21).The Lord is beautiful in holiness (Ex. 15:11; Ps. 27:4), but the text here would better be
translated “in holy attire,” which was referring to the manner in which the Levite singers were
clothed in symbolic sacred clothing (1 Chr. 16:29) in honor of the Lord’s holiness.
Similar to God’s intervention in Gideon’s day (Judg. 7:15–23), God caused confusion among
the enemy,who mistakenly turned upon themselves and slaughtered each other (vv.22–24).Some
think this may have been done by angels who appeared and set off this uncontrolled and deadly
panic.The destruction was complete before Jehoshaphat and his army ever met the enemy (v. 24).

and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to com-
July 13 mit harlotry, and led Judah astray.
And a letter came to him from Elijah the
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prophet, saying,
2 Chronicles 21:1–22:12 Thus says the LORD God of your father
David:
And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers,
21 and was buried with his fathers in the Because you have not walked in the
ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in
City of David. Then Jehoram his son reigned the ways of Asa king of Judah, but
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in his place. He had brothers, the sons of Je-
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hoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azar- have walked in the way of the kings of
Israel, and have made Judah and the
yahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the
the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. Their harlot like the harlotry of the house of
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father gave them great gifts of silver and gold Ahab, and also have killed your brothers,
and precious things, with fortified cities in Ju- those of your father’s household, who
dah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, were better than yourself, behold, the
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because he was the firstborn.
4 Now when Jehoram was established over LORD will strike your people with a
the kingdom of his father, he strengthened serious affliction—your children, your
wives, and all your possessions; and
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himself and killed all his brothers with the
sword, and also others of the princes of Israel.
5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he
became king, and he reigned eight years in Je-
rusalem. And he walked in the way of the 21:11 led Judah astray. Undoubtedly he was
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kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had influenced by his marriage to Ahab’s daughter
done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as a (v.6) and was influenced in the alliance just like
wife; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. his father (2 Chr. 18:1). They had not learned
7 Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of from Solomon’s sinful example (1 Kin. 11:3,4).
David, because of the covenant that He had His wicked wife, Athaliah, later became ruler
over Judah and tried to wipe out David’s royal
made with David, and since He had promised line (2 Chr. 22:10).
to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
8 In his days Edom revolted against Judah’s
authority, and made a king over themselves. 21:12–15 Elijah, best known for his confronta-
tions with Israel’s Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kin.17–2
9 So Jehoram went out with his officers, and all Kin. 2:11), confronted prophetically Jehoram’s
his chariots with him. And he rose by night sins of idolatry and murder (21:13).The conse-
and attacked the Edomites who had surround- quences from God’s judgment extended
ed him and the captains of the chariots. Thus beyond himself to his family and the nation
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Edom has been in revolt against Judah’s (21:14,15).This event undoubtedly occurred in
authority to this day. At that time Libnah revolt- the early years of Jehoram’s coregency with his
ed against his rule, because he had forsaken father Jehoshaphat and shortly before Elijah’s
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the LORD God of his fathers. Moreover he departure to heaven,ca.848 B.C. (2 Kin.2:11,12).
made high places in the mountains of Judah,
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