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 28:5KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 28:5 mean?
2 Chronicles 28:5 says that the LORD allowed King Ahaz of Judah to be defeated by the king of Syria, who took many people from Judah captive to Damascus, and also by the king of Israel, who killed many in a great slaughter. This verse shows that Judah suffered heavy losses and captivity because of decisions made by its king.
The verse is part of a historical account describing the reign of King Ahaz of Judah. The Chronicler explains that Ahaz’s actions led to military disaster: both Syria and Israel attacked Judah, causing great suffering. The text emphasizes that these events happened because the LORD (H3068) allowed Judah to be handed over to its enemies, highlighting a cause-and-effect relationship between Ahaz’s choices and Judah’s fate.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 28:5
- "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH, H3068): This is the personal name for the God of Israel, stressing that it was specifically Israel’s God who allowed these events, not just fate or chance.
- "delivered" (נָתַן, nathan, H5414): This word means to hand over or give. The verse uses it twice, underlining that Judah’s defeat was not just military weakness but something God actively allowed.
- "hand" (יָד, yad, H3027): In Hebrew, being delivered "into the hand" of someone means being put under their power or control. This phrase shows total defeat and loss of control.
- "captives" (שְׁבִי, shevi, H7633): This word refers to people taken away as prisoners of war, emphasizing the suffering and loss experienced by Judah.
Why 2 Chronicles 28:5 matters
- The verse clarifies that Judah’s defeat was not random but was seen as a direct result of the LORD’s decision, connecting the nation’s fate to its king’s actions.
- By mentioning both Syria and Israel as conquerors, the verse shows that Judah was attacked from multiple sides, highlighting the seriousness of the crisis.
- This verse sets up the rest of the chapter, which details the consequences of Ahaz’s reign and the suffering of the people, making it clear that leadership choices had real, devastating effects on the nation.