2 Chronicles 24 24

2 Chronicles 24:24 kjv

For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.

2 Chronicles 24:24 nkjv

For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.

2 Chronicles 24:24 niv

Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hands a much larger army. Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash.

2 Chronicles 24:24 esv

Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

2 Chronicles 24:24 nlt

Although the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the LORD helped them conquer the much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so judgment was carried out against Joash.

2 Chronicles 24 verses

2 Chronicles 24 24 Meaning

2 Chronicles 24:24 describes God's direct and sovereign judgment upon King Joash and the people of Judah. Despite having a much larger and stronger army, Judah was defeated by a smaller, seemingly inferior Syrian force. This devastating loss was a direct consequence of their collective sin, specifically their abandonment of the LORD, the God who had faithfully sustained their ancestors. The Syrians, in this context, were instruments of divine justice, bringing punishment upon Joash for his apostasy and his leading Judah away from God's covenant.

2 Chronicles 24 24 Context

2 Chronicles 24 records the reign of King Joash of Judah. Initially, his reign began well due to the guidance of the high priest Jehoiada, who had rescued Joash as a child and ensured his rightful ascension to the throne. Under Jehoiada's influence, Joash acted righteously, notably overseeing the repair and restoration of the temple (2 Chron 24:4-14). However, upon Jehoiada's death (2 Chron 24:15-16), Joash quickly abandoned the LORD, swayed by the officials of Judah who reverted to idolatry (2 Chron 24:17-18). When prophets were sent to warn them, they refused to listen. Critically, when Zechariah, Jehoiada's own son and a prophet, publicly rebuked their idolatry, Joash, in a shocking act of ingratitude and injustice, commanded Zechariah's murder within the temple courts (2 Chron 24:20-22). This egregious act against a prophet and the covenant led directly to the divine judgment described in verse 24. The verse, therefore, marks the swift, decisive, and ironic fulfillment of Zechariah's dying curse ("May the LORD see and avenge!"), demonstrating God's immediate response to their deep spiritual decline. The small size of the Syrian army emphasizes that the victory was not due to their strength, but entirely to God's hand in judgment.

2 Chronicles 24 24 Word analysis

• For the army of the Syrians (כִּי־בְּחֵיל אֲרָם kî-bᵉḥêyl 'Aram): The preposition kî (כִּי) here means "for" or "because," introducing the reason for the previous events (the execution of judgment). "Syrians" (אֲרָם, 'Aram) refers to Aram-Damascus, a kingdom often hostile to Israel and Judah. God frequently used foreign nations, even pagan ones, as instruments of His judgment against His own people when they turned away from Him (e.g., Assyria for Israel, Babylon for Judah).
• came with a small company of men (בָּאוּ בְּמִסְפַּר אֲנָשִׁים מְעַט bā'û bᵉmispar 'anāšîm mᵉʻaṭ): Emphasizes the numerical insignificance of the Syrian force. Mispar (מִסְפַּר) means "number," and mᵉʻaṭ (מְעַט) means "little" or "few." This detail is crucial for demonstrating that the victory was not based on conventional military superiority but was an undeniable act of divine intervention and judgment. It subverts human notions of strength, aligning with the biblical theme that victory belongs to God, not to armies. This serves as a polemic against reliance on human military power over divine faithfulness.
• and the LORD delivered (וַֽיהוָה נָתַן waYHWH nātan): This phrase highlights direct divine agency. YHWH (the LORD) is the covenant name of God, indicating His active and personal involvement. Nātan (נָתַן) means "to give" or "to deliver," emphasizing that the outcome was not by chance but by God's intentional act. This signifies God's sovereignty over nations and the outcomes of battles.
• a very great host into their hand (חַיִל רַב מְאֹד בְּיָדָם ḥayil rav mᵉ'ōd bᵉyādām): Refers to Judah's army, which was "a very great host" (ḥayil rav mᵉ'ōd), implying a large and formidable force. "Into their hand" signifies complete control and victory. The contrast with the "small company" underscores the miraculous (or anti-miraculous for Judah) nature of the defeat, driven by God's will.
• because they had forsaken the LORD (כִּי עָזְבוּ אֶת־יְהוָה kî 'āzᵉvû 'eṯ-YHWH): Kî (כִּי) again provides the reason. 'Āzav (עָזְבוּ) means "to abandon," "to leave," or "to forsake." It denotes a deliberate turning away from allegiance and covenant loyalty to God, which happened after Jehoiada's death. This is the explicit theological reason for Judah's defeat. It was not a failure of strategy or a stronger enemy, but a direct consequence of covenant infidelity.
• the God of their fathers (אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתָם 'ĕlōhê 'avōṯām): This emphasizes the long-standing covenant relationship God had established with Israel through their patriarchs. To forsake "the God of their fathers" implies not merely abandoning a deity, but rejecting their heritage, identity, and the very foundation of their nation's existence and prosperity, which was rooted in the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants. This further highlights the severity of their apostasy.
• So they executed judgment on Joash (וּשְׁפָטִים עָשׂוּ בְּיוֹאָשׁ ûšᵉfāṭîm 'āśû bᵉYō'āš): Šᵉfāṭîm (שְׁפָטִים) refers to "judgments" or "sentences." The Syrians, as God's instruments, carried out His righteous decrees. The mention of "Joash" (יוֹאָשׁ) specifically points to him as the primary target of this judgment, as the king who permitted and participated in the widespread apostasy and, notably, commanded the murder of Zechariah, Jehoiada's son. His personal sin as king brought about national disaster.

2 Chronicles 24 24 Bonus section

The narrative of Joash is a significant "rise and fall" account in the Chronicler's history, showcasing a king who started well but ended terribly, illustrating a key theme in Chronicles: that the welfare of Judah's kings and, by extension, the nation, directly correlated with their fidelity to God's covenant. The very explicit link between "forsaking the LORD" and "judgment" underscores the Chronicler's theological message that covenant faithfulness is paramount for national prosperity and peace. The detail of the small Syrian army against the great Judahite army further elevates the divine judgment, making it unmistakable that the defeat was entirely God's doing, not an accidental military loss. This serves as a warning not just against overt idolatry but also against ingratitude towards God, especially given Joash's direct involvement in killing the son of the man who saved him and put him on the throne. This betrayal magnified his sin.

2 Chronicles 24 24 Commentary

2 Chronicles 24:24 serves as a potent reminder of the principle of divine retribution and God's unwavering sovereignty. King Joash's early faithfulness, prompted by Jehoiada, withered away after the high priest's death, leading to a profound national apostasy marked by idol worship and, unforgivably, the murder of God's prophet Zechariah. This verse describes the direct, divinely orchestrated consequence: Judah, despite its numerical and military superiority, fell swiftly to a minimal Syrian force. The chronicler emphasizes the stark contrast in army sizes to highlight that this was no ordinary battle; it was God's deliberate act of judgment. The underlying cause was not military weakness but Judah's willful "forsaking the LORD, the God of their fathers"—a betrayal of their covenant identity and relationship. This passage illustrates that God takes His covenant seriously, and repeated rebellion leads to severe consequences. It reinforces the biblical truth that true national security and prosperity stem not from military might or political astuteness, but from steadfast obedience and faithfulness to the LORD. This also highlights the grave responsibility of leadership, as Joash's sin brought disaster upon his entire kingdom.Practical usage examples:

• Reminds leaders (spiritual, political, family) of their accountability before God and the impact of their choices on those they lead.
• Emphasizes that relying on worldly strength or numbers over divine wisdom and obedience leads to spiritual vulnerability.
• Warns believers against complacency or turning away from God after seasons of faithfulness, highlighting the dangers of apostasy.