2 Chronicles 28 14

2 Chronicles 28:14 kjv

So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

2 Chronicles 28:14 nkjv

So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly.

2 Chronicles 28:14 niv

So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly.

2 Chronicles 28:14 esv

So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly.

2 Chronicles 28:14 nlt

So the warriors released the prisoners and handed over the plunder in the sight of the leaders and all the people.

2 Chronicles 28 verses

2 Chronicles 28 14 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate and obedient action taken by the Israelite soldiers after receiving a divine warning through the prophet Oded and counsel from their own leaders. Having defeated Judah and taken captives and plunder, the armed men responded by publicly returning everything they had taken. It signifies an act of restitution, compassion, and submission to the word of God and ethical leadership, highlighting the recognition of their common brotherhood despite the conflict.

2 Chronicles 28 14 Context

2 Chronicles Chapter 28 vividly details the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah, marking one of its darkest periods. Ahaz plunged Judah into profound idolatry, including sacrificing his own sons to Molech and worshiping pagan deities. As a consequence, the Lord "humbled Judah" (v.5) and delivered them into the hands of the Syrians and later, the Israelites from the Northern Kingdom. In a decisive battle, Pekah, king of Israel, slew 120,000 Judahite valiant men in one day (v.6), capturing 200,000 women, sons, and daughters, along with much spoil (v.8).

It is at this critical juncture that the prophet Oded steps forward (v.9). He confronts the returning Israelite army, condemning their brutal act not only as an atrocity but also as sin against the Lord, reminding them that God's hand against Judah was not an excuse for their excessive cruelty and taking fellow Israelites captive. He warns them that bringing these captives into Samaria would only compound their sin and bring the fierce wrath of God upon themselves. Influenced by Oded’s powerful words and supported by key Ephraimite leaders who also exhorted against incurring further guilt before the Lord (v.12-13), the armed men, rather than defy their spiritual and civic authorities, acted in prompt obedience. Verse 14 is the direct result of this prophetic intervention and responsible leadership, detailing the soldiers' restitution of captives and spoil, thereby averting greater divine judgment upon Israel. This specific act is remarkable for its display of compassion and adherence to ethical considerations in the midst of bitter conflict.

2 Chronicles 28 14 Word analysis

• So (וַיָּשִׁ֧בוּ – vayyashivu): This initial conjunction signifies an immediate and direct consequence or action following the preceding events and counsel. The verb "returned" (from the root שׁוּב – shuv) indicates a reversal of what was taken. It is not merely "gave" but "gave back" or "restored," implying a prior appropriation that is now undone. This active returning is pivotal to the verse's meaning.
• the armed men (הַחֲלֻצִ֤ים – hah-ḥalūṣîm): Literally "the ones stripped" or "ready for battle/girded for war." This term identifies the soldiers or warriors, the very individuals who had engaged in combat, inflicted the defeat, and taken the captives and spoil. Their participation underscores the direct reversal of their actions.
• left / returned (same as "So"): The action is explicitly the giving back or restoring of something.
• the captives (הַשְּׁבִ֤י – haššəḇî): Refers specifically to the people taken as prisoners of war. In this context, they are fellow Israelites from Judah, making their enslavement a significant ethical and theological transgression against the covenant.
• and the spoil (וְהַמַּלְק֑וֹחַ – vəhammalqôaḥ): This denotes the plunder, booty, or goods taken from the defeated Judahites. This included valuable possessions acquired during the war. The returning of both people and material goods emphasizes the completeness of the restitution.
• before (לִפְנֵ֥י – lifnê): Literally "in the face of" or "in the presence of." This highlights the public and transparent nature of the restitution. The act was performed under the gaze and supervision of recognized authorities.
• the princes (הַשָּׂרִ֖ים – haśśārîm): Refers to the governmental and military leaders or officials, specifically the heads of Ephraim mentioned in verse 12 who stood with the prophet Oded. These were the ones who supported and ensured the implementation of the prophet's words. Their authority legitimizes and oversees the return.
• and all the assembly (וְכָל־הַקָּהָֽל – vəḵāl-haqqāhāl): Signifies the entire congregation, community, or gathering of the people. This reinforces the public accountability and widespread acknowledgment of this act of obedience and ethical conduct, making it a collective action endorsed by the whole community.

Words-group analysis

• So the armed men left: This phrase highlights immediate compliance by the direct perpetrators of the taking. It shows that even hardened soldiers could be swayed by divine command delivered through a prophet and affirmed by their leaders, demonstrating a remarkable shift from wartime brutality to repentance.
• the captives and the spoil: Grouping these two categories emphasizes the full scope of what was wrongly taken and now being returned. It represents both human lives (captives) and material wealth (spoil), signifying a total restoration. The decision to return the lucrative spoil particularly highlights a prioritisation of divine law and compassion over personal gain.
• before the princes and all the assembly: This phrase underscores the public and communal nature of this restitution. It wasn't a secret act but a clear demonstration of submission to authority (princes) and recognition by the wider community (assembly), solidifying its legitimacy and significance as a collective act of repentance and obedience.

2 Chronicles 28 14 Bonus section

This incident is unique in biblical history for the Northern Kingdom. Unlike most accounts of inter-Israelite conflict, where the spoils and captives were almost never returned (e.g., in Judges 5), this highlights a rare instance of compassion and moral intervention. The recognition that the Judahites were "brethren" (mentioned in earlier verses of Ch 28) despite their current state of divine judgment, appealed to a deeper covenantal bond that transcended the political and military animosity. This proactive restitution also showcases the vital role of prophets in confronting political and military power when it transgresses divine law and ethical standards, and the capacity of civic leaders to champion such difficult but righteous actions. It implicitly critiques the normal practices of ancient warfare where taking spoils and enslaving the conquered were standard, contrasting it with a higher, divine ethic rooted in shared identity under God.

2 Chronicles 28 14 Commentary

2 Chronicles 28:14 stands as a profound example of immediate repentance and obedience to the divine word, mediated through a prophet and confirmed by faithful leaders. In an era often characterized by ruthlessness in warfare, the act of the Israelite soldiers returning vast numbers of captives and considerable spoil is extraordinary. It speaks to the powerful and swift impact of Oded's prophetic warning against brother-on-brother violence, coupled with the moral courage of the Ephraimite princes who ensured the prophet's message was heeded.

This verse reveals God's consistent concern for justice and compassion, even amidst His judgment against sin. While Judah was indeed being punished for Ahaz's wickedness, God did not condone the excessive cruelty or permanent enslavement of His people, the Judahites, by their northern brethren. The Israelites' obedience averted further wrath upon themselves. It underscores that personal or national gain from unrighteous acts is abhorrent to God and that obedience to His commands is always superior to plunder. This narrative provides a timeless lesson that true righteousness extends to the treatment of even those one might consider "enemies," especially within the broader covenant family, demonstrating compassion, valuing human dignity over material wealth, and showing that even those deeply entangled in sinful actions can still respond to God's truth.