2 Chronicles 20:3

“And Jehoshaphat feared, etc.] 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 <141714>2 Chronicles 17:14-19), but chiefly because the Lord had told him that wrath was upon him from him, (<141902>2 Chronicles 19:2) and he might fear that this was the time for the execution of it: and set himself to seek the Lord; by prayer and supplication, with all seriousness, fervour, and constancy: and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah; a day of humiliation and mourning for sin before the Lord; when they were ordered to abstain from bodily food and labour, that they might be fit and more at leisure for spiritual…”

“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 circumstances, either in a city, a district, or throughout the entire kingdom, according to the greatness of the emergency. On this occasion, it was a universal fast, which extended to infants (Ch2 20:13; see also Joe 2:15-16; Jon 3:7).”

“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. return to 'Top of Page'”

“20:3-12 Jehoshaphat responded to the news of war with neighboring nations with a prayer of lament, keeping with the ideals of Solomon’s prayer (6:24-40).”

“feared: Gen 32:7-11, Gen 32:24-28; Psa 56:3, Psa 56:4; Isa 37:3-6; Jon 1:16; Mat 10:28 himself: Heb. his face seek the Lord: See note on Ch2 11:16; Ch2 19:3 proclaimed: Jdg 20:26; Sa1 7:6; Ezr 8:21-23; Est 4:16; Jer 36:9; Dan 9:3; Joe 1:14, Joe 2:12-18; Jon 3:5-9 2 Chronicles 20:4”

“This report filled Jehoshaphat with fear, and he resolved to seek help of the Lord. ??????? נתן = שׂוּם , cf. Kg2 12:18; Jer 42:15, to direct the face to anything, i.e., to purpose something, come to a determination. He proclaimed a fast in all Judah, that the people might bow themselves before God, and supplicate His help, as was wont to be done in great misfortunes; cf. Jdg 20:26; Sa1 7:6; Isa 2:15. In consequence of the royal appeal, Judah came together to seek of the Lord, i.e., to pray for help, by fasting and prayer in the temple; and it was not only the inhabitants of Jerusalem who thus assembled, for they came out of all the cities of the kingdom. מיהוה בּקּשׁ, to seek of the Lord,…”