2 Chronicles 20:15

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) Hearken ye.—So Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 51:4, &c.

Be not afraid nor dismayed.—Isaiah 51:7; Deuteronomy 1:21; Chron. 22:3; 2Chronicles 20:17, infr.

Great multitude—i.e., “great company” (2Chronicles 20:12)

The battle is not your’s, but God’s.—Comp. David’s words to Goliath, “The battle is Jehovah’s” (1Samuel 17:47); and the Divine title Jehovah Sabaoth, i.e., Jehovah, the leader of the hosts of Israel. “It was on the battle-field that Jehovah’s presence was most clearly realised.”—Prof. Robertson Smith. (Comp. also Psalm 46:2; Psalm 46:7; Psalm 46:9.)

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:15-17. Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid — You have admitted fear enough to induce you to have recourse to God: now do not give way to that fear which would drive you from him. The battle is not yours — It is not in your own cause, nor in your own strength, that you engage; the battle is God’s — And he doth and will interest himself in your favour, as you have desired, and will fight for you. To-morrow go ye down — From Jerusalem, where he and his army now were, which stood upon high ground. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle — The work shall be done to your hands, and you will not need to strike a stroke, nor shall you be the instruments, but only the spectators of the defeat of the enemy. O Judah and Jerusalem, fear not — Thus does he encourage them to trust in God, though the danger was very threatening, and to expect certain victory and deliverance.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:14-19 The Spirit of prophecy came upon a Levite in the midst of the congregation. The Spirit, like the wind, blows where and on whom He listeth. He encouraged them to trust in God. Let the Christian soldier go out against his spiritual enemies, and the God of peace will make him more than a conqueror. Our trials will prove our gain. The advantage will be all our own, but the whole glory must be given to God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The prophet uses words familiar to the people, and connected with several great deliverances (see the marginal references).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14-18. Then upon Jahaziel … came the Spirit of the Lord—This prophet is not elsewhere mentioned, but his claim to the inspiration of a prophetic spirit was verified by the calm and distinct announcement he gave, both of the manner and the completeness of the deliverance he predicted.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

God will fight for you, and he alone will do the work; you need not strike a stroke.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said, hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat,.... There is a climax or gradation in these words rising from the lowest to the highest; from the people of the cities in the country, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem the metropolis, and from thence to the king the supreme governor:

thus saith the Lord unto you, be not afraid, nor dismayed, by reason of this great multitude; whose numbers were discouraging to the king, and he had taken notice of them, which this respects:

for the battle is not your's, but God's: the cause was his, and he would espouse and maintain it; not they, but he, would fight the battle, and therefore they had nothing to fear.

Geneva Study Bible

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the {k} battle is not yours, but God's.

(k) They fight against God and not against you, therefore he will fight for you.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15. the battle is not yours, but God’s] Jahaziel gives a special turn to the general troth, “The battle is the Lord’s” (David to Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:47).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - The battle is not yours, but God's; i.e. God will do the fighting (see ver. 17, first and third clauses); so also 1 Samuel 17:47. 2 Chronicles 20:15

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Jehaziel announced to the king and people that they need not fear before the great multitude of their foes; "for the war is not yours, but Jahve's," i.e., you have not to make war upon them, for the Lord will do it; cf. 1 Samuel 17:47.