20:20 Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah 1 and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! 2 Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.” 20:21 He met 3 with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.” 4
20:22 When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked 5 the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir 6 who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
1 tn Heb “O Judah.” The words “you people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See the note on the word “Judah” in v. 15.
2 tn There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text. The Hiphil verb form הַאֲמִינוּ (ha’aminu, “trust”) and the Niphal form תֵאָמֵנוּ (te’amenu, “you will be safe”) come from the same verbal root (אָמַן, ’aman).
3 tn Or “consulted.”
4 tn Or “is eternal.”
5 tn Heb “set ambushers against.” This is probably idiomatic here for launching a surprise attack.
6 tn Heb “the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.”