2 Chronicles 20:20
And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ
And they rose early
H7925
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ
And they rose early
Strong's:
H7925
Word #:
1 of 20
literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e., to start early in the morning
בַבֹּ֔קֶר
in the morning
H1242
בַבֹּ֔קֶר
in the morning
Strong's:
H1242
Word #:
2 of 20
properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning
וּבְצֵאתָ֞ם
and as they went forth
H3318
וּבְצֵאתָ֞ם
and as they went forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
3 of 20
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
לְמִדְבַּ֣ר
into the wilderness
H4057
לְמִדְבַּ֣ר
into the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
4 of 20
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
וּבְצֵאתָ֞ם
and as they went forth
H3318
וּבְצֵאתָ֞ם
and as they went forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
6 of 20
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
עָמַ֣ד
stood
H5975
עָמַ֣ד
stood
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
7 of 20
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
יְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֗ט
Jehoshaphat
H3092
יְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֗ט
Jehoshaphat
Strong's:
H3092
Word #:
8 of 20
jehoshaphat, the name of six israelites; also of a valley near jerusalem
שְׁמָע֗וּנִי
Hear
H8085
שְׁמָע֗וּנִי
Hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
10 of 20
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
יְהוּדָה֙
me O Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָה֙
me O Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
11 of 20
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֣י
and ye inhabitants
H3427
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֣י
and ye inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
12 of 20
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם
of Jerusalem
H3389
יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם
of Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
13 of 20
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
הַֽאֲמִ֥ינוּ
Believe
H539
הַֽאֲמִ֥ינוּ
Believe
Strong's:
H539
Word #:
14 of 20
properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanen
בַּֽיהוָ֤ה
in the LORD
H3068
בַּֽיהוָ֤ה
in the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
15 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙
your God
H430
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙
your God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
16 of 20
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
הַֽאֲמִ֥ינוּ
Believe
H539
הַֽאֲמִ֥ינוּ
Believe
Strong's:
H539
Word #:
17 of 20
properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanen
הַֽאֲמִ֥ינוּ
Believe
H539
הַֽאֲמִ֥ינוּ
Believe
Strong's:
H539
Word #:
18 of 20
properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanen
Cross References
John 14:1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.John 11:40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.Romans 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?Luke 16:31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.John 13:20Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.Isaiah 26:3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.Exodus 14:31And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.Isaiah 7:9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.Jeremiah 6:1O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.
Historical Context
Spoken as Judah marched to battle (c. 853 BCE), this charge required immediate application - would they believe God's prophetic word or trust military assessment? Their faith resulted in miraculous victory, validating Jehoshaphat's exhortation.
Questions for Reflection
- How firm is your belief in God's Word when circumstances seem to contradict His promises?
- What would change in your life if you truly believed and acted on what God has revealed in Scripture?
Analysis & Commentary
Jehoshaphat's exhortation 'Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper' links faith with stability and prosperity. The dual command to believe God and His prophets (God's Word) shows that faith must align with revelation. The Hebrew construction 'believe in the LORD your God' (ha'aminu b'YHWH) is the same root as 'amen' - establishing truth. Being 'established' (ta'amenu - same root) creates wordplay: believe/amen → be established/made firm. Prosperity follows covenant faithfulness. This foreshadows New Testament teaching that faith in Christ's word brings spiritual stability and true prosperity.