Then Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD: Jehoshaphat was alarmed by the news that the enemies of Judah had already taken a part of his kingdom, so he turned to God in prayer. In some languages the verb feared requires an object. So it will be necessary either to use a different verb, or to add an object indicating what the king was afraid of. New Living Translation provides a possible solution by rendering Jehoshaphat feared as “Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news.”

Set himself to seek the LORD is literally “set his face to seek Yahweh.” See the comments on a similar expression at 2 Chr 11.16. In some languages set himself may be rendered “turned his attention” (NASB), “decided” (New Century Version, God’s Word, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “resolved” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, Moffatt). In this context to seek the LORD means “to ask the LORD what to do” (New Century Version).

And proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah: For the idea of a fast, see the comments on 1 Chr 10.12. In this context Judah refers to “the kingdom of Judah” (Bible en français courant). This whole clause may be rendered “He then told the people of Judah to go without eating to show their sorrow” (Contemporary English Version) or “He announced that no one in Judah should eat during this special time of prayer to God” (New Century Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .