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

1Now it happened after this that the Moabites and the Ammonites together with other Ammonites came to make war against Jehoshaphat. 2Some came and reported to Jehoshaphat saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram, and are already in Hazazon-Tamar” (that is En-Gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid so he resolved to seek Adonai, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4Judah assembled to seek help from Adonai; indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Adonai. 5Then Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the House of Adonai 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

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 32:7The messengers returned to Jacob saying, “We went to your brother, to Esau, and he’s also coming out to meet you—and 400 men with him.”
• Psalms 56:3My foes trample me all day. For many are fighting me arrogantly.
• Isaiah 37:3Then they said to him: “Thus says Hezekiah: This day is a day of distress, rebuke and contempt. For children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength for giving birth.
• Jonah 1:16Then the men became afraid with an overwhelming fear of Adonai, and they offered a sacrifice to Adonai and made vows.
• Matthew 10:28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
• 2 Chronicles 11:16Those from all the tribes of Israel, who had set their hearts to seek Adonai, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Adonai, the God of their fathers.
• 2 Chronicles 19:3Nevertheless, good things are found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles out of the land and have set your heart to seek God.”
• Judges 20:26Then all Bnei-Yisrael went up, and all the people came to Bethel and wept and sat there before Adonai. They fasted that day until evening and they offered burnt-offerings and fellowship offerings before Adonai.
• 1 Samuel 7:6So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water and poured it out before Adonai. They fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against Adonai.” Then Samuel was judging Bnei-Yisrael at Mizpah.
• Ezra 8:21Then I proclaimed a fast there at the Ahava River so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from Him a straight way for us, our little ones, and all of our possessions.
• Esther 4:16“Go! Gather together all the Jews who are in Shushan and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast in the same way. Afterwards, I will go in to the king, even though it is not according to the law. So if I perish, I perish!”
• Jeremiah 36:9Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of King Josiah of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before Adonai—all the people in Jerusalem and all the people that came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem.
• Daniel 9:3So I set my face to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.
• Joel 1:14Consecrate a fast. Proclaim a solemn assembly. Gather elders and all living in the land to the House of Adonai your God, and cry to Adonai.
• Joel 2:12“Yet even now” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting.”
• Jonah 3:5Then the people of Nineveh believed God and called for a fast and wore sackcloth—from the greatest of them to the least of them.

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