2 chronicles 28:5 - Therefore Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They struck him, and carried away from him a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.

Generated Verse: 2 chronicles 28:5

What does "2 chronicles 28:5" mean?


This verse from 2 Chronicles 28:5 describes the consequences of King Ahaz of Judah's unfaithfulness to God. Let's break down what it means:

"Therefore Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria." This indicates a cause-and-effect relationship. Because Ahaz had turned away from God and engaged in idolatry (as described in the preceding verses), God allowed him to be defeated by the king of Syria (likely Rezin of Damascus). The idea is that God withdrew his protection from Ahaz because of his disobedience.

"They struck him, and carried away from him a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus." This is a description of the consequences of the Syrian victory. The Syrians inflicted losses on Ahaz's army ("struck him") and took a large number of Judeans as prisoners of war back to their capital city, Damascus. This was a significant loss for Judah in terms of manpower and resources.

"He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter." Not only was Ahaz defeated by Syria, but he was also defeated by the king of Israel (Pekah). This likely refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This defeat resulted in a "great slaughter," meaning many Judean soldiers were killed in battle.

In summary:

The verse illustrates the biblical concept of divine retribution. Ahaz's apostasy (abandonment of God) led to military defeats and losses for Judah at the hands of both Syria and Israel. The verse implies that these defeats were not merely military events but were orchestrated or permitted by God as a form of punishment for Ahaz's sins. It's a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobeying God in the narrative of 2 Chronicles.

Context is Important:

To fully understand this verse, it is vital to consider its surrounding context. 2 Chronicles 28 tells the story of Ahaz's reign, which is depicted as particularly wicked. He not only abandoned the worship of Yahweh but also introduced pagan practices and even sacrificed his own children. Therefore, the military defeats described in this verse are presented as a direct result of his actions and God's judgment.

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