And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
2 CHRONICLES 28:13KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 28:13 mean?
2 Chronicles 28:13 records leaders in Israel telling their returning soldiers not to bring Judean captives into Samaria, because Israel has already sinned against the LORD and bringing in more captives would only increase their guilt and provoke further divine anger. The verse highlights their recognition that their nation’s wrongdoing is already serious and that adding to it would worsen their situation.
In this scene, some leaders confront the soldiers who had captured fellow Israelites from Judah during a time of conflict. They warn that taking in these captives would be piling sin upon sin, using words like “offended” and “trespass” to stress the gravity of their actions. The leaders are deeply aware of the LORD’s (יהוה, Yahweh) anger (“fierce wrath”) against Israel and urge restraint to avoid making things worse.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 28:13
- “Offended” (מַעַל, ma‘al) and “trespass” (מַעַל, ma‘al): Both words are the same in Hebrew and refer to a serious breach of trust or faithfulness, especially in a relationship with God. The repetition emphasizes the depth of Israel’s unfaithfulness.
- “Fierce” (חֵמָה, chemah) and “wrath” (אַף, aph): “Chemah” means burning anger or intense fury, while “aph” literally means “nose” but is used for anger, often picturing flaring nostrils. Together, they stress just how intense God’s anger is at this point.
- “Great” (רַב, rav): This word means “many” or “much,” underlining that the nation’s guilt is not minor but overwhelming.
Why 2 Chronicles 28:13 matters
- This verse clarifies that even in wartime, there were moral boundaries recognized by some leaders in Israel, who saw that mistreating fellow Israelites was a serious offense against God.
- The language of “offended” and “trespass” shows that the issue was not just political or military, but deeply spiritual—a breach in their relationship with God.
- The verse connects to the broader theme of 2 Chronicles 28, where both Israel and Judah face consequences for their unfaithfulness, and it highlights moments when conscience and repentance interrupt cycles of wrongdoing.