2 Chronicles 24 20

2 Chronicles 24:20 kjv

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 24:20 nkjv

Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God: 'Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.' "

2 Chronicles 24:20 niv

Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: 'Why do you disobey the LORD's commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.'?"

2 Chronicles 24:20 esv

Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God, 'Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.'"

2 Chronicles 24:20 nlt

Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: Why do you disobey the LORD's commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the LORD, and now he has abandoned you!"

2 Chronicles 24 verses

2 Chronicles 24 20 Meaning

Then the Spirit of God powerfully empowered Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood publicly before the people and declared God's direct message. He rebuked them for willfully transgressing the LORD's commandments, stating that their disobedience was the reason they could not prosper. Furthermore, Zechariah delivered the stern warning that because they had abandoned the LORD, He, in turn, had abandoned them.

2 Chronicles 24 20 Context

The immediate context of 2 Chronicles 24:20 details the reign of King Joash of Judah. Initially, Joash reigned righteously under the wise guidance of his uncle, Jehoiada the priest, who had saved him from Athaliah and restored the true worship of God. However, after Jehoiada's death (2 Chr 24:15-16), Joash succumbed to the counsel of opportunistic officials who led him and Judah back to idolatry and forsaking the house of the LORD (2 Chr 24:17-19). This verse marks the climactic moment where God, unwilling to completely abandon His people without a warning, sends Zechariah, Jehoiada's own son and Joash's cousin, to confront the king and the nation directly. Historically, this aligns with the repeated Deuteronomic warnings that covenant blessing (prosperity) is contingent upon obedience, while disobedience brings curses (lack of prosperity and divine abandonment). The message from Zechariah functions as a direct polemic against the re-emerging pagan practices and the people's casual dismissal of the LORD's covenant.

2 Chronicles 24 20 Word analysis

• Then the Spirit of God came upon: The Hebrew phrase for "came upon" is frequently used to denote a sudden, empowering divine enablement for a specific task, particularly prophetic utterance or an act of judgment/deliverance. It is רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים (Ruach Elohim - Spirit of God) descending in power. This indicates the message was not Zechariah's personal opinion but a divine oracle, making its rejection a rejection of God Himself.
• Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest: This identity is highly significant. Jehoiada had been Joash's guardian and spiritual mentor. Zechariah was not just any prophet; he was a descendant of the high priestly line and a trusted figure within the religious establishment, as well as being related to the king. His pronouncement carried both prophetic authority and familial weight, making Joash's subsequent action even more heinous.
• who stood above the people: This posture suggests Zechariah spoke from a prominent position, likely a platform or raised area in the temple court, typical for public pronouncements or teachings. It signifies the formal, public, and authoritative nature of his address to the assembled community.
• "Thus says God": This is כֹּה אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים (Koh amar ha'Elohim), the standard formula used by prophets to introduce a direct message from the divine. It removed any ambiguity regarding the source of the message, stressing that it was a commandment and warning directly from the Almighty, not a human commentary.
• "Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD": The verb for "transgress" is עָבַר (avar), meaning to cross over a boundary, to trespass. In a covenantal context, it signifies a willful breaking of God's laws, an act of rebellion. The question "Why?" implies both God's bewilderment at their folly and His strong displeasure with their deliberate disobedience to יהוה (YHWH), the covenant God.
• "so that you cannot prosper?": The word "prosper" is לֹא תַצְלִיחוּ (lo tatzlichu), meaning they could not succeed, find well-being, or flourish. This directly links their spiritual and national fortunes to their covenant obedience, a core Deuteronomic principle. Their suffering was not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their actions.
• "Because you have forsaken the LORD": The Hebrew is עֲזַבְתֶּם אֶת־יהוה (azavtem et-YHWH). "Forsaken" means to abandon, desert, or reject. This goes beyond mere disobedience; it describes a turning away from the very source of their covenant relationship and life, showing a deep-seated spiritual disloyalty.
• "He also has forsaken you": The reciprocal action, וַיַּעֲזֹב אֶתְכֶם (va'ya'azov et'chem), demonstrates a divine principle of justice. God's abandonment is not capricious but a direct, consequential response to Judah's own abandonment of Him. This withdrawal of divine favor, protection, and blessing is a severe covenant curse.

2 Chronicles 24 20 Bonus section

• Prophetic Parallel with Abel: Jesus Himself references Zechariah (son of Barachiah, possibly this Zechariah or a prophet like him, or a collective reference to a lineage of righteous martyrs) in Matthew 23:35 and Luke 11:51 as the last martyr whose blood calls for vengeance, marking the continuum of those persecuted from "Abel to Zechariah." This gives immense New Testament weight to Zechariah's act and subsequent murder, positioning him as a prototype of a righteous martyr.
• Tragedy of Joash: This verse foreshadows the tragic decline of Joash. After being raised and protected by Jehoiada, his complete spiritual reversal and willingness to murder Jehoiada's son in the temple court epitomizes profound ingratitude and spiritual corruption. This illustrates that a good start and strong spiritual foundations do not guarantee faithfulness without continuous personal commitment to God.
• Temple Context: The message delivered within the temple precincts (implied by Zechariah being a priest and speaking "above the people," likely in a public court of the temple) makes the sin and the judgment even more pronounced. The very place intended for communion with God becomes the setting for rebellion and then for the shedding of righteous blood.
• Divine Reciprocity: The principle "Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you" illustrates a fundamental aspect of biblical justice. God does not capriciously withdraw His favor, but responds in kind to human choices, particularly their stance towards Him. It underscores the responsibility of covenant partners and the serious consequences of breaking that covenant.

2 Chronicles 24 20 Commentary

Zechariah's prophetic confrontation of Joash and the people in 2 Chronicles 24:20 highlights the unwavering principle of divine justice rooted in God's covenant with His people. Empowered by the Spirit of God, Zechariah, coming from a respected priestly family directly linked to the king, fearlessly delivered a clear message: Judah's national decline and personal misfortune were not arbitrary, but a direct result of their "transgression" – their deliberate rebellion against the LORD's covenant commandments. The core accusation was "forsaking the LORD," implying a profound spiritual apostasy and a rejection of their relationship with the true God, in favor of idolatry and self-reliance. This act of abandonment led to God's reciprocal action: "He also has forsaken you," meaning He withdrew His protective hand and blessing, leaving them vulnerable to the natural consequences of their rebellion. Zechariah's prophetic act stands as a testament to the prophetic role to confront sin in high places, even at personal peril, reinforcing that true prosperity for individuals and nations flows from sustained obedience and faithfulness to God. Historically, the nation's struggles often mirrored its spiritual health. For instance, the later Babylonian exile served as the ultimate manifestation of God "forsaking" His people due to their prolonged unfaithfulness, as promised through prophets.