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2 Chronicles 20:14

in 2 Chronicles 20

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Jehovah in the midst of the assembly;

KJV

Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;

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This verse in 2 Chronicles 20

Commentary

5 notes on this verse
“Mattaniah” is thought to be a corrupt reading for “Nethaniah,” who is mentioned among the sons of Asaph in 1Ch 25:2, 1Ch 25:12.

This site's exposition

a Levite of the sons of Asaph

on 2 Chronicles 20:14-17

The answer comes through a singer: Jahaziel is of the sons of Asaph, the choir David founded in 1 Chr 25, and the Spirit of the LORD comes on him in the midst of the congregation. The oracle carries the sentence that occurs nowhere else in Scripture, the battle is not yours, but God's, and its instruction repeats Moses at the sea: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD, the shape of Ex 14:13, a correspondence the bench draws and the words invite. Tomorrow they must still march out; standing still is a posture of trust, not of absence.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He was of the sons of Asaph, and therefore one of the singers; on that office God would put an honour. Whether he was a prophet before this or no is uncertain, most probably he was, which would make him the more regarded. There needed no sign, the thing itself was to be performed the very next day, and that would be confirmation enough to his prophecy.
Then upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jehiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite, of the sons of Asaph,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

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.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

also their infants It is customary that when troops attack a country, the infants, wives, and children flee the villages to the fortified cities.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on II Chronicles 20:13:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
You shall not fear, neither shall you be dismayed This refers back to what they said, (verse 12) “we have no strength before this multitude.” The prophet said to them, “Although they outnumber you, do not fear them.”
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on II Chronicles 20:15:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

19 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וְיַחֲזִיאֵ֡לand Jahaziel

    veyachazielH3166 →

  • בֶּן־[the] son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • זְכַרְיָ֡הוּZechariah

    zekharyahuH2148 →43 times

  • בֶּן־[the] son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • בְּ֠נָיָהBenaiah

    benayahH1141 →

  • בֶּן־[the] son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • יְעִיאֵ֧לJeiel

    yeielH3273 →14 times

  • בֶּן־[the] son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • מַתַּנְיָ֛הMattaniah

    matanyahH4983 →

  • הַלֵּוִ֖יthe Levite

    haleviH3881 →291 times

  • מִן־one of

    min-H4480 →1188 times

  • בְּנֵ֣י[the] descendants of

    beneiH1121 →4930 times

  • אָסָ֑ףAsaph

    ʾasafH623 →34 times

  • הָיְתָ֤הit was

    hayetahH1961 →3559 times

  • עָלָיו֙on him

    ʾalavH5921 →5755 times

  • ר֣וּחַ[the] spirit of

    ruachH7307 →378 times

  • יְהוָ֔הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • בְּת֖וֹךְin [the] midst of

    betokhH8432 →418 times

  • הַקָּהָֽל׃the assembly

    hakahalH6951 →123 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

11 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Chronicles 15:1Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded.6 works2 Chronicles 24:20Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’”4 worksNumbers 11:25–26Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again.3 worksActs 10:31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.3 worksIsaiah 65:24Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.3 worksActs 10:4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.3 works
The other 5 cross-references, with their words ▾
Isaiah 58:9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,3 worksDaniel 9:20–21While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—3 worksNumbers 24:2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,3 works1 Chronicles 6:39Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand:2 worksJudges 3:10The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Isaiah 65:24

    Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

    it leads to

    • Daniel 10:12

      “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 1 John 5:14–15

      And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

    • Mark 11:24

      Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

    • Isaiah 58:9

      Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and…

    • Psalms 91:15

      When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.

  • Through

    Acts 10:31

    and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.

    it leads to

    • Acts 10:4

      Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

    • Daniel 9:23

      At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision:

  • Through

    2 Chronicles 24:20

    Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments…

    it leads to

    • Numbers 14:41

      But Moses said, “Why are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD? This will not succeed!

About 2 Chronicles

The Ammonite and Moabite Armies Are Destroyed — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
The Ammonite and Moabite Armies Are Destroyed — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
2 Chronicles: the study guide →Read 2 Chronicles 20 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil, The Books of the Chronicles and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Chronicles 20 →