13. their little ones ... and their children] Compare xxxi. 18, “their little ones ... and their sons and their daughters.” “Little ones” (Hebrew ṭaph) seems always to mean quite small children.
14–19 (no parallel in Kings).
The Prophecy of Jahaziel.
¹⁴Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;
14. Jahaziel] Nothing is known of him beyond what is recorded in this chapter. His name is significant (“God giveth visions”).
¹⁵and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat: thus saith the Lord unto you, Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
15. the battle is not yours, but God’s] Jahaziel gives a special turn to the general truth, “The battle is the Lord’s” (David to Goliath, 1 Samuel xvii. 47).
¹⁶To-morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the ascent of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
16. the ascent of Ziz] The exact positions of this and of the “valley” and of the “wilderness” mentioned in this verse are uncertain, but probably the invaders followed not the direct road from En-gedi to Beth-lehem, but one a little to the left of this.
the valley] (Hebrew naḥal), strictly “ravine” or “water-course.”
¹⁷Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed: to-morrow go out against them; for the Lord is with you. ¹⁸And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.