³ Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast^(A) for all Judah.

²¹ There, by the Ahava Canal,^(A) I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey^(B) for us and our children, with all our possessions. ²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers^(C) and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone^(D) who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.^(E)” ²³ So we fasted^(F) and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast^(A) for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”^(B)