2 Chronicles — Chapter 20

PRAEDICAVIT JEJUNIUM UNIVERSO JUDA — Jehoshaphat, terrified by the vast host of Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, turned wholly to the Lord and proclaimed a fast for all Judah. Fasting joined to prayer is the weapon of the weak against the mighty.

Jehoshaphat's prayer: \"CUM IGNOREMUS QUID AGERE DEBEAMUS, HOC SOLUM HABEMUS RESIDUI UT OCULOS NOSTROS DIRIGAMUS AD TE.\" Lapide: \"Note this most holy and useful counsel of Jehoshaphat: when deprived of all human help, divine help is near; for it is proper to God to succour in straits and to restore what is desperate.\" A model for souls in desolation.

OMNIS VERO JUDA STABAT CORAM DOMINO CUM PARVULIS ET UXORIBUS ET LIBERIS SUIS — Lapide: \"Here is evident the antiquity of the Litany or public and common prayer, which in public calamity all gather to make — men, women, children of every age — so that with one voice and one common lamentation they implore God's mercy and almost do violence to God.\" He cites Tertullian: \"This violence is pleasing to God.\"

STATUIT CANTORES DOMINI UT LAUDARENT EUM IN TURMIS SUIS ET ANTECEDERENT EXERCITUM — Jehoshaphat stationed the singers before the army, singing \"Confitemini Domino quoniam in aeternum misericordia ejus.\" The choir of praise led the battle, and the Lord turned the enemy's ambushes upon themselves.

VALLIS BENEDICTIONIS — the Valley of Blessing, named because there they blessed the Lord; the name endures to the present day. Lapide notes the three days spent gathering the spoils of the slain enemy.

QUIA HABUISTI FOEDUS CUM OCHOZIA — Eliezer prophesies that because Jehoshaphat allied with the impious Ochozias king of Israel, God broke their ships. Lapide: \"Note that God often frustrates the plans of pious rulers when they use the help of impious kings or soldiers.\" He cites Jehoshaphat's earlier dangerous alliance with Ahab.