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This triumph results from complete dependence on God. In response to a threatened invasion, the king calls a fast and the whole nation seeks the Lord.
Jehoshaphat’s prayer (vv.6-12) is structured like a complaint psalm. He praises God’s power, which nothing in heaven and earth can withstand. Jehoshaphat lauds God’s past assistance during the Conquest. God also made the temple, a place of hope for distressed peoples, a reality. The king expects that the land should enjoy peace. But Judah is besieged. The invaders repay Israel’s kindness at the time of the Exodus with hostility (Nu 20:14-21; Dt 2:1-19; Jdg 11:16-18). Jehoshaphat pleads with God to judge these nations for their betrayal. Judah is helpless to defend itself; God must graciously provide deliverance.
The Lord encourages Jehoshaphat with an oracle of salvation through Jahaziel. Just as in a holy war, the king must be fearless in the face of this challenge. The Lord will provide victory as the nation watches.
The chronicler records the humble response to the oracle and accents the religious nature of the battle (vv.18-28). God overcomes the enemy by means of a worshiping community. Anxious to see salvation, the people rise early on the day of battle. Jehoshaphat admonishes them to trust God for a successful campaign. Praising people lead the army into conflict with a familiar refrain of the Psalter and of Chronicles (1Ch 16:34; 2Ch 5:13). This “fight song” replaces the battle shout recorded in other biblical war texts (Jos 6:5; Jdg 7:20; 1Sa 17:20, 52; 2Ch 13:15). While the people sing, the Lord incites the invaders to destroy each other. The only tasks left for Israel are plunder and praise. They spend three days gleaning the booty. On the fourth day, all the men complete the “battle” by glorifying God. Potential enemies fear God, and Judah enjoys divinely granted rest.