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 armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. 2Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.) Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help. 5Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord.

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 terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups.
• Psalms 56:3But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
• Isaiah 37:3They told him, “This is what King Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby.
• Jonah 1:16The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
• Matthew 10:28“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
• 2 Chronicles 11:16From all the tribes of Israel, those who sincerely wanted to worship the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
• 2 Chronicles 19:3Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God.”
• Judges 20:26Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the Lord and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 7:6So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)
• Ezra 8:21And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled.
• Esther 4:16“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
• Jeremiah 36:9He did this on a day of sacred fasting held in late autumn, during the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah. People from all over Judah had come to Jerusalem to attend the services at the Temple on that day.
• Daniel 9:3So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.
• Joel 1:14Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to him there.
• Joel 2:12That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
• Jonah 3:5The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

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