And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

2 CHRONICLES 28:8KJV
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2 Chronicles 28:8 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 28:8 mean?

2 Chronicles 28:8 describes how the people of Israel captured 200,000 of their fellow Israelites from Judah—including women, sons, and daughters—and took a large amount of goods as plunder, bringing all of this back to Samaria. This verse highlights a moment when Israelites fought against each other and one group took many captives and possessions from their own kin.

The setting is during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, when Israel (the northern kingdom) attacked Judah (the southern kingdom). The chronicler is recounting how Israel, instead of fighting foreign enemies, turned against their own "brethren" (fellow Israelites), taking a massive number of captives and spoils. This act is presented as a tragic and significant event in the history of both kingdoms.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 28:8

  • "Brethren" (אַחִים, 'achim): This word emphasizes that the captives were not foreigners but fellow Israelites, underlining the internal conflict and the seriousness of turning against one's own people.
  • "Captive" (שָׁבָה, shavah): This term means to take prisoners or carry away captives, often used in the context of war. Here, it stresses the scale and harshness of the defeat suffered by Judah.
  • "Spoil" (שָׁלָל, shalal): This word refers to goods or valuables taken in war. The mention of "much spoil" highlights the material loss Judah suffered in addition to the human cost.
  • "Samaria" (שֹׁמְרוֹן, Shomron): Naming Samaria as the destination shows that the northern kingdom (Israel) was responsible for the attack and that the captives and goods were taken to their capital.

Why 2 Chronicles 28:8 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that the conflict was between Israel and a foreign nation; it was a civil war between Israelites, making the event especially tragic.
  • The emphasis on the number and types of captives (women, sons, and daughters) shows the depth of suffering and the breakdown of unity among God's people.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain the severity of the situation in Judah during Ahaz's reign and sets up the following verses, where prophets and leaders respond to this crisis.

Where else these words appear

“away” Hebrew H962 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 34:27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
  • 2 Kings 7:16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
  • Isaiah 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

“captive” Hebrew H7617 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
  • 1 Kings 8:47 Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
  • 2 Chronicles 28:17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

“spoil” Hebrew H7998 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 49:27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
  • 1 Samuel 30:19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
  • Proverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

“Samaria” Hebrew H8111 · used in 101 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
  • 2 Kings 10:36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.