2 Chronicles 20:22

 2 Chronicles 20:22

And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

a. NLT: At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And at the time they have begun with singing and praise, Jehovah hath put ambushments against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who are coming in to Judah, and they are smitten, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were [self-] slaughtered; [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: As soon as they began their exuberant song and praise, HASHEM set up ambushers against the c\Children of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir who were attacking Judah, and they were struck down. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “And when they began to sing and to praise…”

a. [And] when [Strong: 6256 `eth ayth from 5703; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.:--+ after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, + evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.]

b. [they] began [Strong: 2490 chalal khaw-lal' a primitive root (Compare 2470); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. (from 2485) to play (the flute):--begin (X men began), defile, X break, defile, X eat (as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof, X take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.]

c. [to] sing [Strong: 7440 rinnah rin-naw' from 7442; properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief):--cry, gladness, joy, proclamation, rejoicing, shouting, sing(-ing), triumph.]

d. [and to] praise [Strong: 8416 thillah teh-hil-law' from 1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn:--praise.]

2. “...the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

a. [the] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

b. set [Strong: 5414 nathan naw-than' a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander, strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.]

c. ambushments [Strong: 693 'arab aw-rab' a primitive root; to lurk:--(lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie in) wait.]

d. against [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

e. [the] children [Strong: 1121 ben bane from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.]

f. [of] Ammon [Strong: 5983 `Ammown am-mone' from 5971; tribal, i.e. inbred; Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country:--Ammon, Ammonites.]

g. Moab [Strong: 4124 Mow'ab mo-awb from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m- and 1; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants:--Moab.]

h. [and] mount [Strong: 2022 har har a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X promotion.]

i. Seir [Strong: 8165 Se`iyr say-eer' formed like 8163; rough; Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its aboriginal occupants, also one in Palestine:--Seir.

j. [which were] come [Strong: 935 bow' bo a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, + besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken (in age), X surely, take (in), way.]

k. [against] Judah [Strong: 3063 Yhuwdah yeh-hoo-daw' from 3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory:--Judah.]

l. [and they were] smitten [Strong: 5062 nagaph naw-gaf' a primitive root; to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease):--beat, dash, hurt, plague, slay, smite (down), strike, stumble, X surely, put to the worse.]

1). In 2 Chronicles 20:21, 22 there are three different Hebrew words used to describe the praise that would be obeyed.

a). In verse 21 the first Hebrew word for praise is halal [1984][Strong: a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously-noisy) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.][to be clamorously foolish about your adoration of God.]

b). Also in verse 21 the second Hebrew word for praise is  yadah [3034] [Strongs: a primitive root; literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands):--cast (out), (make) confess(-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank(-ful, -s, -sgiving).][hold out the hand, to revere or worship (with extended hands,]

c). 2 Chronicles 20:22 And when they began to sing to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

(1) In verse 22 the Hebrew word for praise is tehillah [8416] [Strong:  from 1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn:--praise.] [Gesenius: praise, song or hymn of praise,  praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God), act of general or public praise, praise-song (as title), praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God), renown, fame, glory, of Damascus, God, object of praise, possessor of renown (fig), celebrate]

(2) Also used in verse 22 is the word sing, as “when they began to sing and to praise”. The word for “sing” is [rinnah * 7440] [Strong: properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief):--cry, gladness, joy, proclamation, rejoicing, shouting, sing(-ing), triumph.]

(3) These people were shouting loudly, praise, thanksgiving, throwing their hands into the air in praise and joy.

2). Praise as revealed here can be militaristic, used as an offensive spiritual weapon. A powerful explanation is given after combining the content of a verse in Psalm 8 and Matthew 15.

a). Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

b). Matthew 21:15, 16 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

c). Praise will still the enemy. It stops the devil in his tracks!

3). There are at least two verses in the Word that compliment this truth.

a). Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

(1) inhabitest [3427 * yashab][Gesenius: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.][Strong: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle), (down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.

(2) praises [8416 * tehillah] [Strong:  from 1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn:--praise.] [Gesenius: praise, song or hymn of praise,  praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God), act of general or public praise, praise-song (as title), praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God), renown, fame, glory, of Damascus, God, object of praise, possessor of renown (fig), celebrate]

b). Psalm 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

(1) raise [1984 * halal] Strong: to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously-noisy) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.]

(2) We must remember that this is a Messianic psalm, it prophetically speaks about Christ Jesus. So what we have here is the pre-incarnate Christ speaking prophetically to God, that He, Christ Jesus would praise God in the midst of the congregation. What he is saying is I [Jesus] will in a noisy and apparently foolish manner, rave, celebrate, boast, commend, rage and praise you Father God. This same verse is quoted by the writer of Hebrews and applied to the New Testament church.

c). Hebrews 2:11, 12 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

d). How is this going to play out? Let’s first look at John 15:4, 5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

e). Next look at Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” And Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

f). The bottom line in this: Psalm 22:22 and Hebrews 2:11, 12 will be fulfilled when Jesus praises God through and in us!