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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

2 Chronicles 20:3

And Jehoshaphat. — And he was afraid (scil., at the news). And Jehoshaphat set his face, &c. Literally, put his face — a phrase used in Daniel 9:3 (comp. 2 Kings 12:18), and implying resolved, determined.

To seek the Lord. — The Hebrew construction is that of 2 Chronicles 15:13 (le is here a sign of the accusative).

Proclaimed a fast. — An act of national self-humiliation, implying an admission of guilt, and intended to evoke the Divine pity and succour. (Comp. Judges 20:26; Joel 2:12; 1 Samuel 7:6; Ezra 8:21.)

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See also 2 Chronicles 20:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Chronicles 20:3. _JEHOSHAPHAT 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....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    General 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....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 20 JUDAH INVADED, JEHOSHAPHAT'S PRAYER AND DELIVERANCE _ 1. The invasion (2 Chronicles 20:1)_ 2. Jehoshaphat's great prayer (2 Chronicles 20:3) 3. Jehovah's answer through Jahaziel ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Jehoshaphat's victory over the Ammonites and Moabites. This story of a miraculous battle is perhaps a _midrash_ on the war described in 1 Kings 3:4 ff., and has, in so far, some historical basis; but...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    HIMSELF. his face. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    2 Chronicles 20:1-4 (no parallel in Kings). The Invasion of the Moabites and their Allies For a discussion of the historical probabilities of the following account see Introduction, § 8, and G. A. Sm...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _set himself to seek the Lord_ Render, SET HIS FACE TO SEEK UNTO THE LORD. _proclaimed a fast_ A fast involved the assembling of the people; 1 Kings 21:9; 1 Kings 21:12; Jeremiah 36:6;...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 410 PRAYER THE BEST MEANS OF DEFEATING INVASION [Note: Fast-day Sermon, Oct. 19, 1803.] 2 Chronicles 20:2. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    5. THE REIGN OF JEHOSHAPHAT (17-21:3) TEXT 2 Chronicles 17:1. And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2. And he placed forces in all the fortified citie...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND JEHOSHAPHAT FEARED, AND SET HIMSELF TO SEEK THE LORD, AND PROCLAIMED A FAST THROUGHOUT ALL JUDAH._ Jehoshaphat ... proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Alarmed by the intelligence, and consci...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    REIGN OF JEHOSHAPHAT (CONCLUDED) An account of how a host of Moabites and others invaded Judah; how Jehoshaphat prayed to the Lord, and was directed by Jahaziel not to fear; and how the enemy was ove...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    2 CHRONICLES: GOD DESIRES LOYAL PEOPLE The *Kingdom called Judah 2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER S 10 TO 36 _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 20 JEHOSHAPHAT TRUSTS IN THE *LORD – 2 CHRONICLES 20:1-30...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּרָ֕א וַ יִּתֵּ֧ן יְהֹושָׁפָ֛ט אֶת ־פָּנ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    JEHOSHAPHAT-THE DOCTRINE OF NONRESISTANCE 2 Chronicles 17:1; 2 Chronicles 18:1; 2 Chronicles 19:1;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This chapter gives us the story which perhaps reveals most graphically the simplicity and splendor of the faith of Jehoshaphat. His kingdom was threatened with powerful and terrible invasion. In his e...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself (c) to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (c) This declares what the fear of the godly is, which is the prick to stir them to prayer an...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Juda. The whole kingdom was concerned. Sometimes a fast was proclaimed for one city, 3 K. xxi. 9., and Jonas iii. 7. C. --- They were accustomed to fast, not only to subdue the flesh, but also for ot...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Reader! do remark with me, how this pious soldier began his defence: not in mustering his soldiers; not in raising his army; but in humbling himself and his people before the Lord. Do, my Brother, put...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _A GOOD KING AT HIS BEST_ ‘Jehoshaphat … set himself to seek the Lord.’ 2 Chronicles 20:3 I. IN THIS LESSON WE HAVE A SCENE IN WHICH JEHOSHAPHAT IS OBSERVED AT HIS BEST, occupying the throne of Jud...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 17 THROUGH 20. Jehoshaphat, his son succeeds him, and begins his reign by walking faithfully with God. He strengthened his kingdom against Israel, an enemy mo...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND JEHOSHAPHAT FEARED,.... Exceedingly, as the Targum adds, not merely because of the number of his enemies, for he had forces enough to go forth against them, see 2 Chronicles 17:14, but chiefly bec...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Ver. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared … and proclaimed a fast.] When the Turks fast it is a sure sign tha...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Jehoshaphat feared_ Partly from human frailty, and partly from the remembrance of his own guilt, and the wrath of God denounced against him for it, 2 Chronicles 19:2. _And set himself to seek the Lor...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iehoshaphat, in his feare proclaimeth a fast. 5 His prayer. 14 The prophesie of Iahaziel. 20 Iehoshaphat exhorteth the people, and setteth singers to praise the Lord. 22 The great ouerthrow of t...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE THREATENED INVASION...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, he sought no other avenues of help, but steadfastly looked to the Lord, AND PROCLAIMED A FAST THROUGHOUT ALL JUDAH, as a sign of deep mourning...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THREE ENEMIES AITACKING (vv.1-2) The Lord now allowed a further test of the faith of King Jehoshaphat. Armies of Moab and Ammon came against Judah, and others were added in this attack. Moab speaks...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    HIMSELF: _ Heb._ his face...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-13 In all dangers, public or personal, our first business should be to seek help from God. Hence the advantage of days for national fasting and prayer. From the first to the last of our seeking the...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    JEHOSHAPHAT FEARED; partly from human frailty, and partly from the remembrance of his own guilt, and the wrath of God denounced against him for it, 2 CHRONICLES 19:2. SET HIMSELF TO SEEK THE LORD: the...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Chronicles 20:3 Jehoshaphat H3092 feared H3372 (H8799) set H5414 (H8799) himself H6440 seek H1875 (H8800

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    2 Chronicles 20:1. It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jehoshaphat's prayer for deliverance and its answer. Invading armies stricken. CHARACTERS: God, Holy Spirit, Jehoshaphat, Jahaziel, Ahaziah. CONCLUSION: Faith takes God's bonds, knowing the...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Chronicles 20:1. _With them_ other, the LXX, Μιναιοι, mixed people. 2 Chronicles 20:5. _Jehosphaphat stood in the house of the Lord._ This was proceeding in the good and ancient way. He prayed in o...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah._ OBJECTIONS TO FASTING ANSWERED (on the occasion of a public fast):--A fast may be defined to be a voluntary abstinence from food, as a token of our humi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 CHRONICLES—NOTE ON 2 CHRONICLES 20:1 These verses describe a victory over Judah’s enemies in which God acts for his people. Faith in God and obedience to his prophets (v. 2 Chroni

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 CHRONICLES—NOTE ON 2 CHRONICLES 20:3 The FAST expressed the special intensity of the people’s prayer (see Judges 20:26;...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.] Narrative to 2 Chronicles 20:30 entirely additional to Kings. Invasion of Moabites (2 Chronicles 20:1); fast and supplication of king and people (2 Chronicles 20:3); the message of Ja...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION Of this chapter, with its thirty-seven verses, only the six verses (31-36) find any duplicate or parallel in Kings (1 Kings 22:41-11). The chapter is occupied with a statement of the invasi...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in chapter 20, it records how that at this time three nations had gathered together to fight against Judah. The nation of Moab and Ammon, and those of Mount Seir, which would have been the Edomite...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 7:6; 2 Chronicles 11:16; 2 Chronicles 19:3; Daniel 9:3;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    FROM DEFEAT TO VICTORY 2 Chronicles 20:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Today we study chapter 20. However, by way of introduction we want to talk over with you several important features found in chapter 19. W...

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