Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 20:3
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
3. 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; 1Ki 21:9; 1Ki 21:12; Jer 36:6; Jer 36:9; Joe 2:15. Special fasts were proclaimed for war, famine, or any other calamity or serious event.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
General fasts had been previously observed by the Israelites (e. g. Jdg 20:26; 1Sa 7:6); but we do not hear of any fast having been proclaimed by authority before this.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Ch 20:3
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 humiliation before God. Objections–
1. There may be this outward mark of repentance without any real sorrow for sin. Answer–The outward expression then becomes a mockery.
2. A public fast has the appearance of ostentation. Answer–If you alone were to keep the fast, it might aver the appearance of ostentation, but in the case of public fasting, it becomes a duty not only really to fast, but to show openly your compliance with a prescribed service, and gladly to embrace the opportunity of humbling yourselves before God.
3. If we feel repentance in our hearts, God, who sees our hearts, does not require to be informed of it by any external expression. Answer–The same may be said of prayer and also of all the means of grace which God has appointed.
4. Why should fasting in particular be selected as an external mark of humiliation. Answer–
(1) Fasting has always been the public token of humility, and this in heathen nations as well as amongst Jews and Christians.
(2) It was enjoined of God upon the Jews.
(3) It was practised by our Saviour and His disciples; and recommended by them to the world.
(4) It has all the qualities that might reasonably be expected in an external act of humiliation.
(a) It is a duty easily practised.
(b) Requiring no apparatus.
(c) Connected with no expense.
(d) Simple in its own nature.
(e) Equally adapted to all ranks, climates, and places.
(f) It involves an act of self-denial.
(g) It is an act connected with the mortification of those very appetites whence many of the sins for which we thus humble ourselves proceed.
5. Fasting may disorder a person of weak health, and thus indispose him even for the service of the day. Answer–The spirit of the Christian system, insists only on the principle, and leaves the application of it to the case and conscience of the worshipper.
6. A public command to fast is a species of compulsion, and therefore inconsistent with the notion of a voluntary act of humiliation. Answer–All that is done by the command of the Government is, to render that convenient which might otherwise be very inconvenient, and that practicable which might be otherwise impracticable.
7. It is unreasonable to expect the poor to give up a days labour, and to abridge their diet who scarcely ever enjoy a full meal. Answer–It is a voluntary sacrifice: God enjoins no man to make it who is unwilling. No man will really be a loser by serving God. (J. Venn, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 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. 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes 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, 2Ch 19:2.
Set himself to seek the Lord: the phrase notes his settled resolution, seriousness, and earnestness in it, and the preparing and fixing his heart for it.
Proclaimed a fast; partly in token of his humiliation and penitence for his sins, and partly to make himself and his people more fervent in their prayers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3, 4. Jehoshaphat . . . proclaimed afast throughout all JudahAlarmed by the intelligence andconscious of his total inability to repel this host of invaders,Jehoshaphat felt his only refuge was at the horns of the altar. Heresolved to employ the aid of his God, and, in conformity with thisresolution, he summoned all his subjects to observe a solemn fast atthe sanctuary. It was customary with the Hebrew kings to proclaimfasts in perilous circumstances, either in a city, a district, orthroughout the entire kingdom, according to the greatness of theemergency. On this occasion, it was a universal fast, which extendedto infants (2Ch 20:13; seealso Joe 2:15; Joe 2:16;Jon 3:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on 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 2Ch 17:14, but chiefly because the Lord had told him that wrath was upon him from him, 2Ch 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 exercises.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This report filled Jehoshaphat with fear, and he resolved to seek help of the Lord. ??????? = , cf. 2Ki 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; 1Sa 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. , to seek of the Lord, sc. help, is expressed in the last clause by to seek the Lord.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(3) And Jehoshaphat.And he was afraid (scil., at the news). And Jehoshaphat set his face, &c. Literally, put his facea phrase used in Dan. 9:3 (comp. 2Ki. 12:18), and implying resolved, determined.
To seek the Lord.The Hebrew construction is that of 2Ch. 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. Jdg. 20:26; Joe. 2:12-17; 1Sa. 7:6; Ezr. 8:21.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
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 it down for certain, whatever begins with prayer, will find cause to end in praise. Jehoshaphat had his fears for sin and guilt breed fear. But he adopted the best method to overcome them. He sought the Lord. Where shall a sinner go in his distresses, but to the great and gracious Saviour? Observe how all Judah took part with their king. No doubt Jehoshaphat had endeared himself by his gentleness to his subjects, and therefore they were all united, as the heart of one man, to seek the Lord.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 20:3 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 that they are in a bodily fear: they also cast dust upon their heads, and their hands up towards heaven, when they are about to enter battle. a But Jehoshaphat’s fear was not only natural, of the enemy, but reverential, of God; and his fast not a moral but a religious abstinence, that he might thereby amerce the flesh, afflict the soul, and pray with more edge and earnestness.
a Turk. Hist., 157.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
himself = his face.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
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 2Ch 11:16, 2Ch 19:3
proclaimed: Jdg 20:26, 1Sa 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
Reciprocal: Deu 23:9 – General 1Sa 7:7 – afraid 1Ki 22:43 – doing 1Ch 22:19 – set your Neh 9:1 – children Psa 30:11 – turned Isa 58:5 – it such Jer 31:21 – set thine Dan 11:17 – set Amo 5:4 – Seek Jon 3:7 – caused
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A GOOD KING AT HIS BEST
Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord.
2Ch 20:3
I. In this lesson we have a scene in which Jehoshaphat is observed at his best, occupying the throne of Judah as every human king should have occupied itthat is, as the vicegerent of God, Who was at all times the Almighty, invisible King of Israel. The king, in the midst of the vast assembly, standing in the house of the Lord, publicly implored Gods protection and help.
II. Such a prayer as Jehoshaphat made (vv. 612) is well worthy of meditation.Notice how he recognised the sovereignty, omnipotence, faithfulness, and presence of God, and how he confessed the peoples need, their helplessness, their ignorance, and their faith: We have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee.
III. Such praying always brings results.Instantly God answered; and Jahaziel, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord had fallen, addressed the king and the assembled multitude in these words: Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but Gods. They were told that on the morrow they were to go down against their enemies, although they would not be called upon to do any fighting. They were simply to be there to see the salvation of the Lord, and to rejoice in it. At this the people fell on their faces to worship, and the Levites stood up to sing praises to God. Early the next morning the army started out, headed by a band of singers, who sang as they went as though the battle had already been won.
IV. They were walking by faith, and not by sight.God had said victory should be theirs, and they were reckoning it an accomplished fact. What an example for us is this picture! Satans hosts combine against us, but if our heart and life are right with God, so that we can pray the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man, and then count the thing as accomplished, and praise God by faith that the victory is ours, it shall be ours without conflict or loss, and we shall be greatly enriched thereby.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
2Ch 20:3. 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, 2Ch 19:2. And set himself to seek the Lord The phrase denotes his settled resolution, seriousness, and earnestness in it, and the preparing and fixing of his heart for it. And proclaimed a fast Partly in token of his humiliation and penitence for his sins, and partly to render himself and his people more fervent in their prayers.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:3 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 and to depend on the Lord, while it moves the wicked either to seek after worldly means and policies or else to fall into despair.