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 fight against Jehoshaphat. 2People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, 4who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him. 5Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
• fearedיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• and setנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• himselfפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• to seekדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and proclaimedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
• a fastצוֹםtsôm tsôm · fastH6685
• throughoutעַל‛al · uponH5921
• all Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 20:3

• Genesis 32:7Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; he divided the people with him into two camps, along with the flocks, herds, and camels.
• Psalms 56:3When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
• Isaiah 37:3They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace. It is as if children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
• Jonah 1:16The men were seized by great fear of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
• Matthew 10:28Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
• 2 Chronicles 11:16Those from every tribe of Israel who had determined in their hearts to seek the Lord their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
• 2 Chronicles 19:3However, some good is found in you, for you have eradicated the Asherah poles from the land and have determined in your heart to seek God.”
• Judges 20:26The whole Israelite army went to Bethel where they wept and sat before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 7:6When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord’s presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
• Ezra 8:21I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions.
• Esther 4:16“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.”
• Jeremiah 36:9In the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people of Jerusalem and all those coming in from Judah’s cities into Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the Lord.
• Daniel 9:3So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
• Joel 1:14Announce a sacred fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land at the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
• Joel 2:12Even now — this is the Lord’s declaration — turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
• Jonah 3:5Then the people of Nineveh 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