And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
2 CHRONICLES 24:20KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 24:20 mean?
2 Chronicles 24:20 describes how the Spirit of God empowered Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, to speak out against the people of Judah for breaking God’s commandments and abandoning the LORD, warning them that because they had forsaken God, He would also forsake them. The verse highlights a direct message from God delivered through Zechariah, calling out the people’s unfaithfulness and explaining the consequences of their actions.
In this scene, Zechariah stands before the people during a time when they have turned away from God’s ways, despite earlier reforms under King Joash. Zechariah, moved by the Spirit of God, confronts the community with a question and a warning: their disobedience has led to their downfall, and their abandonment of God has resulted in God withdrawing His protection. This is a pivotal moment, as it sets the stage for the tragic events that follow in the chapter.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 24:20
- “Spirit” (רוּחַ, ruach): This word means “breath,” “wind,” or “spirit,” and here it refers to God’s empowering presence coming upon Zechariah, giving him the authority and courage to speak.
- “Forsaken” (עָזַב, azav): Used twice in this verse, it means “to abandon” or “leave behind.” The repetition stresses the seriousness of the people’s choice to turn away from God and the resulting consequence of God withdrawing from them.
- “Prosper” (צָלַח, tsalach): This word often means “to succeed” or “to thrive.” Zechariah’s message makes clear that turning from God leads to a lack of success or blessing.
Why 2 Chronicles 24:20 matters
- This verse clarifies that Zechariah’s warning is not just his own opinion but a direct message from God, empowered by the Spirit, which gives weight and urgency to his words.
- The use of “forsaken” for both the people’s action and God’s response shows a mirrored relationship: as the people abandon God, God allows them to experience the consequences of that choice.
- The verse connects to the larger story of King Joash’s reign, showing a turning point where the people’s earlier faithfulness is replaced by disobedience, leading to national trouble and personal tragedy for Zechariah.