דברי הימים ב, פרק י״ח, פסוק ל״א

In the heat of battle, the Aramean chariot commanders spot Jehoshaphat and quickly surround him. This dangerous encirclement is the result of a critical case of mistaken identity. Because Jehoshaphat is the only figure on the battlefield wearing royal garments, the enemy commanders naturally assume he is the king of Israel, their primary target [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Realizing he is trapped, Jehoshaphat lets out a desperate cry.

The primary approach among commentators is that this cry is not directed toward God, but is rather a call to his own soldiers for backup. It was common practice for military units to have an agreed-upon name or symbol, such as a lion or the name of their tribe, to rally scattered troops. According to this view, Jehoshaphat shouts his camp's specific battle password so his men will gather around to protect him [רש"י, מצודת דוד]. Conversely, another perspective suggests that his cry is a deeply personal prayer to God. This teaches that even when a sword is resting on a person's neck, and even if disaster was decreed upon him for allying with a wicked king, one must never give up hope for divine mercy [חומת אנך].

Although Jehoshaphat attempts to summon his troops, his ultimate rescue comes directly from God [מצודת דוד]. Ironically, the shout itself is what causes the Arameans to realize their mistake. Upon hearing him, the enemy forces either recognize the distinct battle cry of Judah [רש"י], or they notice that his voice and dialect are entirely different from those of the king of Israel, whom they know well from previous conflicts. This sudden realization causes them to hesitate and hold their attack [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

God then actively diverts the enemy forces, placing the thought in their minds to turn away and leave the king alone [רד"ק, רלב"ג]. The sequence of events reveals a profound shift in divine judgment. The shifting use of God's names throughout the rescue highlights how the attribute of strict judgment is transformed into the attribute of mercy. Because of his desperate cry, Jehoshaphat manages to overturn the harsh decree against him, safely escaping what appeared to be certain death [חומת אנך].