2 Chronicles 20:21
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּוָּעַץ֙
And when he had consulted
H3289
וַיִּוָּעַץ֙
And when he had consulted
Strong's:
H3289
Word #:
1 of 18
to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve
הָעָ֔ם
with the people
H5971
הָעָ֔ם
with the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
3 of 18
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וַיַּֽעֲמֵ֤ד
he appointed
H5975
וַיַּֽעֲמֵ֤ד
he appointed
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
4 of 18
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּֽמְהַלְלִ֖ים
and that should praise
H1984
וּֽמְהַלְלִ֖ים
and that should praise
Strong's:
H1984
Word #:
7 of 18
to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causativ
קֹ֑דֶשׁ
of holiness
H6944
קֹ֑דֶשׁ
of holiness
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
9 of 18
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
בְּצֵאת֙
as they went out
H3318
בְּצֵאת֙
as they went out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
10 of 18
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
11 of 18
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הֶֽחָל֔וּץ
the army
H2502
הֶֽחָל֔וּץ
the army
Strong's:
H2502
Word #:
12 of 18
to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflexive) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen
הוֹד֣וּ
Praise
H3034
הוֹד֣וּ
Praise
Strong's:
H3034
Word #:
14 of 18
physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
15 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
16 of 18
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Cross References
Psalms 107:1O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.Psalms 106:1Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.2 Chronicles 5:13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;1 Chronicles 16:34O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.1 Chronicles 16:29Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.Psalms 29:2Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.Jeremiah 33:11The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.2 Chronicles 7:3And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.2 Chronicles 7:6And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.Psalms 96:9O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Historical Context
This unconventional military tactic (c. 853 BCE) required extraordinary faith from both Jehoshaphat and the people. Archaeological evidence shows ancient Near Eastern armies didn't employ worship choirs as front-line troops, making this strategy unique to covenant faith.
Questions for Reflection
- What battles in your life need to be approached with worship and praise rather than conventional strategy?
- How can praising God's character before seeing deliverance strengthen your faith in difficult circumstances?
Analysis & Commentary
The extraordinary battle strategy 'he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army' demonstrates worship as warfare. Sending singers ahead of soldiers seems militarily foolish but theologically profound. Praising 'the beauty of holiness' (hadrat qodesh) focuses on God's character rather than the threat. This act of faith - worshiping before seeing victory - exhibits trust in God's promise (20:15). The result was miraculous: God set ambushments and enemies destroyed each other (20:22-23). This teaches that spiritual battles are won through worship and faith, prefiguring Christ's victory through apparent weakness (the cross).