2 Chronicles 28:12 kjv
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
2 Chronicles 28:12 nkjv
Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,
2 Chronicles 28:12 niv
Then some of the leaders in Ephraim?Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai?confronted those who were arriving from the war.
2 Chronicles 28:12 esv
Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war
2 Chronicles 28:12 nlt
Then some of the leaders of Israel ? Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai ? agreed with this and confronted the men returning from battle.
2 Chronicles 28 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 25:39-46 | "If one of your people becomes poor and sells himself to you, you shall not make him work as a slave... they are my servants." | Israelites not to be perpetual slaves; they belong to God. |
| Deut 15:12-18 | "If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you... in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you." | Command to release Hebrew slaves after six years and provide for them. |
| Exod 21:16 | "Whoever kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death." | Severe condemnation for enslaving a kinsman. |
| Neh 5:1-12 | "There was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brothers. Some were saying, 'We are mortgaging our fields...'" | Nehemiah confronts Jewish nobles enslaving their brothers due to debt. |
| Isa 58:6-7 | "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke... and to let the oppressed go free...?" | God's call for true justice, including freeing captives. |
| Jer 34:8-11 | "King Zedekiah had made a covenant... to proclaim liberty... But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female servants..." | Judgment on Judah for re-enslaving fellow Israelites, violating a covenant. |
| Zec 7:9-10 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion, everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow...'" | Divine mandate for justice, mercy, and compassion, especially among brothers. |
| Mic 6:8 | "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" | Summary of God's core requirements, emphasizing justice and mercy. |
| Psa 133:1 | "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" | Ideal of brotherly unity and concord, contrasting with current conflict. |
| Rom 12:10 | "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." | New Testament command for mutual brotherly love among believers. |
| Heb 13:1 | "Let brotherly love continue." | Continuation of the principle of loving one another. |
| 1 Pet 2:17 | "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." | Command to love fellow believers (the brotherhood). |
| Pro 17:17 | "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." | A brother's duty to provide support during times of hardship. |
| Gal 6:10 | "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." | Principle of extending good to all, prioritizing fellow believers/kinsmen. |
| Acts 5:29 | "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."" | Principle of courageously prioritizing obedience to God's will over human authority. |
| Eph 5:11 | "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." | Standing against evil and unrighteous actions. |
| Prov 21:3 | "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice." | God values moral conduct above ritual worship alone. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." | God's preference for steadfast love and knowledge of Him over mere ritual. |
| Matt 9:13 | "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." | Jesus reiterates God's desire for mercy as paramount, quoting Hosea. |
| Matt 25:35-40 | "For I was hungry and you gave Me food... inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." | Practical acts of compassion and mercy are seen as serving Christ himself. |
| Jas 1:27 | "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." | Emphasizes practical care for the vulnerable as true religion. |
| Amos 1:6,9 | "For three transgressions of Gaza... because they carried away captive the whole captivity to deliver them up to Edom..." | God condemns the mass enslavement and selling of entire populations. |
| Jonah 4:11 | "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons... and also much livestock?" | God's vast compassion extends even to unrighteous nations, implying a higher standard for Israel. |
2 Chronicles 28 verses
2 Chronicles 28 12 Meaning
2 Chronicles 28:12 introduces four specific leaders from the prominent tribe of Ephraim within the Northern Kingdom of Israel: Azariah, Berechiah, Jehizkiah, and Amasa. These individuals courageously confronted the Israelite army as it returned victorious from battle against the Southern Kingdom of Judah, carrying away a vast multitude of Judahite captives and plunder. Their action was in response to the prophet Oded's powerful rebuke against the unrighteous act of enslaving their fellow Israelites. This verse highlights a rare moment of moral conscience and adherence to God's law within the often-idolatrous Northern Kingdom.
2 Chronicles 28 12 Context
This verse is situated in a particularly dark period for the Kingdom of Judah under the reign of King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28). Ahaz was one of Judah's most wicked kings, forsaking the Lord, sacrificing his children to pagan gods, and adopting detestable practices of the nations around him. Due to Ahaz's deep apostasy, God allowed Judah's enemies to gain strength against them, resulting in multiple invasions. The immediate preceding context (2 Chron 28:5-8) describes a devastating defeat of Judah by King Pekah of Israel, in which 120,000 valiant Judean men were slain in a single day, and 200,000 women, sons, and daughters were taken captive by the Israelite army along with much spoil. The prophet Oded then confronts the triumphant Israelite army (2 Chron 28:9-11), sternly rebuking them for their excessive and vengeful slaughter of their Judean brethren and condemning their intent to enslave them, warning them that such an act would bring God's fierce wrath upon Israel itself. Verse 12 follows Oded's prophecy, detailing the response of these key Ephraimite leaders who rose up in opposition to the returning army's cruel intentions, demonstrating a commitment to righteous action even in the midst of nationalistic animosity.
2 Chronicles 28 12 Word analysis
- And certain of the heads: (וְאֲנָשִׁים רָאשֵׁי - ve'anashim rashei) - "and men, heads of". This phrase indicates that these were not ordinary individuals but leading, influential figures within the tribe of Ephraim. Their position endowed them with authority and leverage to confront the returning army. This implies that the moral conscience was present not only among prophets but also among respected civil leaders.
- of the children of Ephraim: (בְּנֵי אֶפְרָיִם - b'nei Ephraim) - "sons of Ephraim." Ephraim was one of the largest and most influential tribes in the Northern Kingdom, often used synonymously with Israel itself. The fact that these leaders hailed from Ephraim suggests a broad significance to their intervention, representing the moral will of a core part of Israel rather than a marginalized group.
- Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai: The explicit naming of these four individuals emphasizes the historical accuracy and concrete nature of this courageous act. It elevates their moral standing and immortalizes their act of righteousness. It was a conscious, personal choice made by specific leaders, not merely an anonymous, collective decision. Their names may carry prophetic or theological meaning (e.g., Azariah: "The Lord has helped"; Berechiah: "The Lord has blessed"; Jehizkiah: "The Lord strengthens"), hinting at God's hand in their motivation.
- stood up against them: (וַיָּקֻמוּ עַל - vayyaqumu al) - "and they arose against." This strong verb denotes a decisive, active confrontation. It was not a passive observation or a whispered dissent but a bold, public stand. To "stand up against" a victorious army, fresh from battle and full of plunder, required immense moral courage and conviction. It signified active opposition to the army's specific intent regarding the captives.
- that came from the war: (הַבָּאִים מִן הַצָּבָא - habba'im min hatzava) - "those coming from the army/host." This identifies the returning Israelite soldiers as the object of the Ephraimite leaders' confrontation. It underscores the difficulty and bravery of the leaders' position; they were confronting an armed and triumphant military force, not a scattered remnant.
2 Chronicles 28 12 Bonus section
- This specific event serves as a practical demonstration of "obeying God rather than men," particularly for leaders who faced immediate peer pressure and potentially physical danger from a triumphant army.
- The intervention of these leaders from Ephraim highlights that even in the deeply divided Northern Kingdom of Israel, God maintained a righteous witness. This challenges the common perception that the Northern Kingdom was uniformly apostate.
- The passage underscores the strong legal and moral injunctions within Israel against the perpetual enslavement of fellow Israelites, revealing God's unique covenantal care for His people that set them apart from other nations.
- The act of returning the captives (described in the subsequent verses) involved not just freeing them but also providing food, clothing, and transportation, showcasing a profound act of compassion and generosity that reflects God's character. This highlights true repentance and practical mercy.
2 Chronicles 28 12 Commentary
2 Chronicles 28:12 is a powerful testament to the ongoing work of God's Spirit even in an era of national apostasy. Despite King Ahaz's profound wickedness in Judah and the general idolatry within Israel, this verse reveals that God still raised up righteous individuals. These four Ephraimite leaders demonstrated extraordinary moral clarity and courage. They were confronted with an act of gross injustice – their own brethren, even if from a rival kingdom, were being enslaved, a direct violation of Mosaic law and the spirit of brotherly compassion. Heeding the prophet Oded's timely and Spirit-inspired rebuke, these "heads" actively intervened, challenging a victorious army bent on cruelty. Their stand represents a beacon of true leadership that prioritizes God's moral standards above political enmity, military conquest, or the allure of spoils. It shows that even amidst the failures of kings and the widespread deviation from God's ways, there remained a remnant who feared the Lord and upheld His precepts of justice and mercy. This account serves as an example for all generations of the importance of speaking and acting against injustice, particularly when it comes from within one's own community or nation, embodying the truth that obedience to God's heart for the oppressed is more valuable than any outward religious observance or military victory.