2 Chronicles 20:4

Verse

So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.

American Standard Version (1901)

And Judah gathered themselves together, to seek help of Jehovah: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah.

Bible in Basic English

And Judah came together to make prayer for help from the Lord; from every town of Judah they came to give worship to the Lord.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And Juda gathered themselves together to pray to the Lord: and all came out of their cities to make supplication to him.

Free Bible Version

So the people of Judah gathered in Jerusalem to pray to the Lord—in fact, they came from all the towns of Judah to commit themselves to him.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Iudah gathered them selues together to aske counsel of the Lord: they came euen out of all the cities of Iudah to inquire of the Lord,

King James (Authorized) Version

And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

Translation for Translators

The people of Judah gathered together to request Yahweh to help them. They came to Jerusalem from every town in Judah to seek help from Yahweh.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Judah gathered together to seek Yahweh; they came to seek Yahweh from all the cities of Judah.

Noah Webster Bible

And Judah assembled, to ask help of the LORD: even from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

World English Bible

Judah gathered themselves together to seek help from Yahweh. They came out of all the cities of Judah to seek Yahweh.

Young's Literal Translation

and Judah is gathered to inquire of Jehovah; also, from all the cities of Judah they have come in to seek Jehovah.

Context

War against Jehoshaphat

³Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.⁴So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.

Sermons

The Lord Stirred Up the Spirit of Cyrus.

F.B. Meyer

Summary

In this verse, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, gathers the people to seek the Lord's help and to fast in response to a great army coming against them. This action demonstrates Jehoshaphat's reliance on God in times of trouble and his leadership in turning to prayer for divine intervention. The king's example of seeking God first in the face of adversity serves as a powerful reminder for believers to prioritize seeking God's guidance and deliverance in all circumstances. It also highlights the importance of unity in seeking God collectively as a community of faith, showing the strength found in coming together in prayer during challenging times.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord,.... To implore his assistance against their enemies, and his protection of them; and they met not in their several cities, but at Jerusalem, as appears by what follows: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord; at the temple, where was the ark, the symbol of his presence.