Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 33:12

"And when he was in distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers." — 2 Chronicles 33:12 (ASV)

When he was in affliction. —See this phrase in 2 Chronicles 28:22.

He besought. —Literally, stroked the face, a curious realistic phrase occurring in Exodus 32:11.

The God of his fathers. —Whom he had forsaken for the gods of aliens. Some MSS., and the Syriac, Targum, and Arabic insert “Jehovah” before this phrase.