2 Chronicles 6:34

When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You in the direction of this city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name,

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Solomon speaks to the Lord during the temple dedication, outlining a specific scenario for divine intervention. He addresses God as the heavenly dweller while directing attention to Jerusalem and the constructed sanctuary.

The words — The phrase יֵצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה (ye.Tze' la.mil.cha.Mah) literally means "it will go forth for battle." It combines with עַל־אֹיְבָיו (al-'oy.Va/v) to describe the people's directed movement against their adversaries.

The thread — This departure for combat parallels Deuteronomy 20:1 and Numbers 31:2, where Israel mobilizes against named enemies. The prayer framework in 2 Chronicles 20:6 later reinforces God's authority over the kingdoms Israel faces.

Why it lands — The text states that national survival requires turning toward the chosen city and temple when going to war. It demands the reader acknowledge prayer as the necessary response to military mobilization.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 20:6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.
Numbers 31:2 “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”
Deuteronomy 20:1 When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
Joshua 1:2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.
Joshua 8:1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. See, I have delivered into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.
Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
1 Samuel 15:18 and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’
1 Kings 8:13 I have indeed built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.”
1 Kings 8:44 When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name,