And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

2 CHRONICLES 28:15KJV
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2 Chronicles 28:15 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 28:15 mean?

2 Chronicles 28:15 describes how men from the northern kingdom of Israel cared for captives from Judah and returned them to their own people. Rather than keeping the people and goods taken in battle, the men used some of the goods to meet the captives’ immediate needs.

After the leaders refused to bring the captives into Samaria in verse 14, the named men took responsibility for them. The list of actions pictures practical care for people left exposed, hungry, and too weak to travel on foot. Jericho was a place in Judah where the captives could be brought back among their own people.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 28:15

  • “spoil” — שָׁלָל (shalal): This means goods taken in war. The word shows that items seized in the conflict were used to clothe the captives.
  • “anointed” — סוּךְ (sukh): This means to rub or apply oil. Here it appears alongside washing, clothing, and feeding as part of the captives’ physical care.

Why 2 Chronicles 28:15 matters

  • The return followed a warning against keeping fellow Israelites captive. In verses 9–11, the prophet Oded tells the northern army that the people of Judah are their “brethren” and calls for their release.
  • The care was suited to the captives’ condition. Those who could not manage the journey on foot were carried on donkeys, according to the phrase “all the feeble of them.”
  • The men completed the journey before going home. The verse places their return to Samaria after they had brought the captives to Jericho.

Where else these words appear

“trees” Hebrew H5899 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 34:3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
  • Judges 1:16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
  • Judges 3:13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.

“shod” Hebrew H5274 · used in 7 verses

  • Judges 3:23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
  • 2 Samuel 13:17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
  • Song of Solomon 4:12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

“anointed” Hebrew H5480 · used in 8 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
  • 2 Samuel 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
  • Ezekiel 16:9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

“captives” Hebrew H7633 · used in 9 verses

  • Deuteronomy 21:11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
  • 2 Chronicles 28:5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.