2 Chronicles 20:4
New International Version
The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

New Living Translation
So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help.

English Standard Version
And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

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

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

NASB 1995
So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

NASB 1977
So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Judah gathered together to seek help from Yahweh; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
So [the people of] Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; indeed they came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD [longing for Him with all their heart].

Christian Standard Bible
who gathered to seek the LORD. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
who gathered to seek the LORD. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.

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

Contemporary English Version
They immediately left for Jerusalem to ask for the LORD's help.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD's help. They came from every city in Judah.

Good News Translation
From every city of Judah people hurried to Jerusalem to ask the LORD for guidance,

International Standard Version
and the tribe of Judah assembled together to seek the LORD. People came from all of the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

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

NET Bible
The people of Judah assembled to ask for the LORD's help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the LORD's help.

New Heart English Bible
Judah gathered themselves together, to seek help from the LORD. They came out of all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Judah is gathered to inquire of YHWH; also, from all the cities of Judah they have come to seek YHWH.

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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Judah will gather together to seek from Jehovah; also from all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Juda gathered themselves together to pray to the Lord: and all came out of their cities to make supplication to him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Judah gathered together to pray to the Lord. Moreover, everyone from their cities came to beseech him.

New American Bible
Then Judah gathered to seek the LORD’s help; from every one of the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And all the inhabitants of Judah gathered themselves together, even from far off cities, and they came to beseech the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And all the house of Yehuda assembled and came also from the distant cities, and they came to inquire of LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Judah gathered themselves together, to seek help of the LORD; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Juda gathered themselves together to seek after the Lord: even from all the cities of Juda they came to seek the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehoshaphat Invaded by Moab
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.

Cross References
Joel 1:14
Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.

Joel 2:15-17
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly. / Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. / Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.

Esther 4:16
“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

Nehemiah 9:1-3
On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads. / Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. / While they stood in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and they spent another quarter of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God.

Jonah 3:5-9
And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. / When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. / Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. ...

Matthew 18:19-20
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. / For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”

Acts 1:14
With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 4:24-31
When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them. / You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’ ...

Ezra 8:21-23
And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. / For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.” / So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.

1 Samuel 7:5-6
Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” / When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

Jeremiah 36:9
Now in the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a fast before the LORD was proclaimed to all the people of Jerusalem and all who had come there from the cities of Judah.

Daniel 9:3
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Acts 13:2-3
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” / And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

2 Kings 19:14-19
So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. / And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. / Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God. ...


Treasury of Scripture

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.

ask help of the Lord

Psalm 24:5,6
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation…

Psalm 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 60:10-12
Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies? …

the cities

2 Chronicles 19:5
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

Psalm 69:35
For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

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Assembled Cities Gathered Help Indeed Inquire Judah Prayer Seek Themselves Together Worship
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Assembled Cities Gathered Help Indeed Inquire Judah Prayer Seek Themselves Together Worship
2 Chronicles 20
1. Jehoshaphat, invaded by Moab, proclaims a fast
5. His prayer
14. The prophecy of Jahaziel
20. Jehoshaphat exhorts the people, and sets singers to praise the Lord
22. The great overthrow of his enemies
26. The people, having blessed God at Berachah, return in triumph
31. Jehoshaphat's reign
35. His convoy of ships, according to the prophecy of Eliezer, unhappily perishes.














So the people of Judah
The phrase "the people of Judah" refers to the inhabitants of the southern kingdom of Israel, known as Judah. Historically, Judah was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after one of Jacob's sons. The tribe of Judah held a significant position, as it was from this lineage that King David and ultimately Jesus Christ descended. The gathering of the people signifies a collective unity and a shared identity rooted in their covenant relationship with God. This unity is crucial, especially in times of crisis, as it reflects a communal acknowledgment of their dependence on God.

gathered
The Hebrew root for "gathered" is "קָבַץ" (qavats), which means to assemble or collect. This gathering was not merely a physical assembly but a spiritual convergence with a purpose. In the context of ancient Israel, such gatherings were often called for religious festivals, national emergencies, or significant communal decisions. The act of gathering underscores the importance of community in seeking divine intervention and guidance, emphasizing that faith is not just an individual journey but a collective experience.

to seek the LORD
The phrase "to seek the LORD" is central to the verse, highlighting the purpose of the gathering. The Hebrew word for "seek" is "דָּרַשׁ" (darash), which implies a diligent search or inquiry. This seeking is not passive but an active pursuit of God's presence, will, and intervention. In the biblical context, seeking the LORD often involved prayer, fasting, and repentance, demonstrating a heartfelt desire for divine guidance and favor. It reflects a recognition of God's sovereignty and a humble submission to His authority.

and indeed, they came
The word "indeed" emphasizes the certainty and earnestness of the people's actions. It suggests that their coming was not out of obligation but a genuine response to the call to seek God. The phrase "they came" indicates movement and action, signifying a deliberate choice to turn towards God. This movement towards God is a recurring theme in Scripture, symbolizing repentance, faith, and the pursuit of righteousness.

from every city in Judah
This phrase underscores the widespread nature of the gathering, indicating that the call to seek the LORD resonated throughout the entire kingdom. The mention of "every city" highlights the inclusivity of the call, suggesting that no one was exempt from the need to seek God. It reflects a national acknowledgment of dependence on God, transcending local or individual concerns. Historically, this unity would have been significant, as it demonstrated a collective turning to God in times of national distress.

to seek Him
The repetition of the phrase "to seek" reinforces the central theme of the verse. The focus is on seeking "Him," emphasizing a personal relationship with God. This seeking is not just for His intervention but for His presence and guidance. It reflects a deep spiritual longing and a recognition that true security and peace come from God alone. In the broader biblical narrative, seeking God is often associated with blessings, protection, and divine favor, encouraging believers to continually pursue a closer relationship with Him.

(4) To ask.--Literally, to seek (baqq?sh, a synonym of d?rash. 2Chronicles 20:2) from Jehovah; scil., help, which Authorised Version rightly supplies.

Even out of all the cities of Judah.--Emphasising the fact that the gathering in the Temple represented the whole nation. Syriac and Arabic, "and even from the distant cities."

Verse 4. - This verse expresses the response of all the kingdom to the proclamation of Jehoshaphat.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So [the people of] Judah
יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

gathered
וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ (way·yiq·qā·ḇə·ṣū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6908: To gather, collect

to seek
לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (lə·ḇaq·qêš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

the LORD,
מֵֽיְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and indeed,
גַּ֚ם (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

they came
בָּ֖אוּ (bā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

from all
מִכָּל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the cities
עָרֵ֣י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of Judah
יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

to seek
לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (lə·ḇaq·qêš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

Him.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 20:4 Judah gathered themselves together to seek help (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 20:3
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