2 Chronicles 20:3

2 Chronicles 20:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
• New International Version (NIV)Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Context of 2 Chronicles 20:3

1After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. 2Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. 4So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. 5Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard

2 Chronicles 20:3 word by word

וַיִּרָ֕א וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו לִדְר֣וֹשׁ לַיהוָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָא־צ֖וֹם עַל־כָּל־יְהוּדָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• was alarmedיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• and setנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• his faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• to seekדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• And he proclaimedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
• a fastצוֹםtsôm tsôm · fastH6685
• throughoutעַל‛al · uponH5921
• throughoutכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 20:3

• Genesis 32:7In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels.
• Psalms 56:3When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
• Isaiah 37:3to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
• Jonah 1:16Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to Him.
• Matthew 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
• 2 Chronicles 11:16Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
• 2 Chronicles 19:3However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”
• Judges 20:26Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
• 1 Samuel 7:6When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
• Ezra 8:21And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
• Esther 4:16“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
• Jeremiah 36:9Now in the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a fast before the LORD was proclaimed to all the people of Jerusalem and all who had come there from the cities of Judah.
• Daniel 9:3So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
• Joel 1:14Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
• Joel 2:12“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
• Jonah 3:5And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 20:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Jehoshaphat feared - He found that he could not possibly stand against such a numerous army, and therefore could not expect to be delivered except by the strong arm of God. To get this assistance, it was necessary to seek it; and to get such extraordinary help, they should seek it in an extraordinary way; hence he proclaimed a universal fast, and all the people came up to Jerusalem to seek the Lord.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3General fasts had been previously observed by the Israelites (e. g. Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6); but we do not hear of any fast having been “proclaimed” by authority before this.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-12Jehoshaphat reacted to the news of war with nearby nations by praying in sorrow, following Solomon's prayer ideals (2 Chronicles 6:24–40).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. Jehoshaphat ... proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah--Alarmed by the intelligence and conscious of his total inability to repel this host of invaders, Jehoshaphat felt his only refuge was at the horns of the altar. He resolved to employ the aid of his God, and, in conformity with this resolution, he summoned all his subjects to observe a solemn fast at the sanctuary. It was customary with the Hebrew kings to proclaim fasts in perilous…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Chronicles 20:3

• Battle
• Faithfulness
• Fasting
• Fear of God
• Jehoshaphat
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Jehoshaphat
• Judah
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• Fast
• Sanctuary
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Ben-Ammi
• Chronicles, Books of
• Dead Sea, the

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings