2 Chronicles 29 9

2 Chronicles 29:9 kjv

For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

2 Chronicles 29:9 nkjv

For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity.

2 Chronicles 29:9 niv

This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity.

2 Chronicles 29:9 esv

For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

2 Chronicles 29:9 nlt

Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured.

2 Chronicles 29 verses

2 Chronicles 29 9 Meaning

2 Chronicles 29:9 expresses the Levites' humble acknowledgment of their ancestors' profound spiritual infidelity and deliberate rebellion against the Lord. They confessed that their forefathers committed a grave breach of trust (trespass), engaged in outright wickedness in God's sight, deliberately abandoned Him, and actively scorned His presence by turning their backs on His dwelling place, the Temple. This confession serves as a crucial recognition of divine justice and the direct cause of the suffering their generation was experiencing.

2 Chronicles 29 9 Context

This verse is uttered by the Levites to King Hezekiah during his command to cleanse and consecrate the defiled Temple. As Hezekiah ascends to the throne, his first major act is to reopen the house of the Lord, which had been shut by his idolatrous father, King Ahaz (2 Chr 28:24). The immediate context shows the Levites actively engaging in this purification process, recognizing the severity of the past neglect and desecration.

Historically, King Ahaz's reign (2 Chr 28) was marked by unprecedented idolatry, including sacrificing his own sons to Molech, adopting foreign altars, cutting in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and eventually shutting its doors. This period of deep apostasy brought national shame, defeat by foreign powers (Syria, Israel, Philistines, Edom), and a state of great distress for Judah (2 Chr 28:5-20). Verse 8 explicitly states the severe consequences: "our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this." The Levites' confession in verse 9 directly explains why these calamities befell Judah—it was a divine judgment for their pervasive unfaithfulness to the covenant. This acknowledgment of guilt is foundational to Hezekiah's reforms, underscoring that genuine repentance must begin with an honest confession of sin, both corporate and individual. The Chronicler emphasizes that God directly responds to Israel's faithfulness or unfaithfulness.

2 Chronicles 29 9 Word analysis

• For our fathers: This phrase highlights a corporate confession of guilt. While it refers to previous generations, it implies that the consequences of their sin directly affect the present generation, binding them in a shared spiritual destiny and accountability before God. It emphasizes a lineage of unfaithfulness.
• have trespassed (מָעַל - ma'al): This Hebrew term signifies a grave act of unfaithfulness or betrayal, often in relation to covenant obligations, sacred things, or divine trust. It is more severe than simply "sinned." It denotes a breach of faithfulness where trust or loyalty was expected, particularly in sacred contexts. For instance, it is used for Achan's sin of taking devoted things (Josh 7:1) or an individual acting unfaithfully against the Lord (Num 5:6-8).
• and done that which was evil (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הָרַע - vayya'asu hara'a): This is a recurring phrase in historical biblical narratives, describing direct and intentional acts of moral or spiritual wickedness. It indicates an active decision and practice of sin, not merely a passive omission. "In the eyes of the Lord" emphasizes God's sovereign standard and judgment.
• in the eyes of the Lord our God: This phrase signifies that the actions were openly offensive and abhorrent to God, the supreme arbiter of morality and holiness. It underscores divine omniscience and moral accountability. Their sin was not hidden but stood condemned before their holy God.
• and have forsaken Him (וַיַּעַזְבֻהוּ - vayya'azvuhu): The verb 'azav means "to leave," "to abandon," "to desert." This indicates a conscious and complete spiritual abandonment of their covenant relationship with God. It implies a breaking off of loyalty and turning away from Him as their sole God.
• and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord: This describes a literal physical turning away, a deliberate act of disregard and disrespect towards God's holy dwelling place, the Temple. The "habitation of the Lord" refers to the Temple, the physical place of God's manifest presence among His people. Turning faces away from it signifies a willful ignoring and shunning of the very presence of God and the center of Israel's worship. This action implies a rejection of His glory and His requirements for holy worship.
• and turned their backs to Him (וַיִּתְּנוּ עֹרֶף - vayyittnu 'ōreph, literally "gave the nape of the neck"): This is a powerful Hebrew idiom for utter contempt, defiance, and stubborn refusal to obey or even listen. It depicts a posture of complete and disrespectful rejection. Instead of facing God in humility and obedience, they deliberately displayed their backside in an act of profound scorn. This demonstrates a deep-seated spiritual rebellion, where they chose deliberate rejection over covenant fidelity.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "have trespassed, and done that which was evil": This pairing demonstrates both the general covenantal unfaithfulness (trespass) and the specific, overt acts of wickedness (done evil). It portrays a comprehensive failure in their relationship with God, encompassing both betrayal of trust and direct violation of His commands.
• "have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs to Him": This tripartite statement reveals a progression of spiritual rebellion.
  1. Forsaking Him: A fundamental break in relationship, abandoning their divine Husband.
  2. Turned away their faces from the habitation: Active disdain for God's physical presence and the sacred place He chose to dwell among them. They neglected the very institution of worship He ordained.
  3. Turned their backs to Him: The ultimate act of defiant scorn and contempt, refusing even to acknowledge Him or His divine commands. It expresses a complete and intentional severance of the relationship, culminating in active rebellion.

2 Chronicles 29 9 Bonus section

• Polemics against Idolatry: This verse directly counters the common pagan belief that misfortune resulted from neglecting other gods or a lack of proper ritual. Instead, the Levites declare that their suffering came from a grave spiritual breach with Yahweh, the one true God, by engaging in active wickedness and directly despising His presence. It shifts the focus from placating many deities to fidelity to the one covenant-keeping God.
• Chronicler's Theology: The Chronicler places significant emphasis on immediate divine retribution, where covenant obedience brings blessings and disobedience leads to curses and national calamities. This verse perfectly illustrates this theme by directly linking the nation's past sins to its current distress, providing the theological justification for Hezekiah's immediate call for repentance and reform focused on the Temple.
• Intergenerational Impact of Sin: While the verse points to "our fathers," it implicitly teaches that the consequences of corporate sin can ripple through generations, necessitating a collective repentance by the present generation to break the cycle and restore fellowship with God. Hezekiah's generation was called to deal with the legacy of their predecessors' choices.
• Theological Foundation for Revival: This confession forms the theological bedrock for Hezekiah's subsequent revival. It asserts that true national healing and restoration can only begin with a forthright acknowledgment of sin, particularly against God and His holy dwelling place. It demonstrates a path from divine judgment back to divine favor through humility and repentance.

2 Chronicles 29 9 Commentary

2 Chronicles 29:9 stands as a pivotal verse within Hezekiah's purification reforms, offering a profound diagnosis of Judah's plight. It's not a mere general confession, but a specific, multifaceted indictment of their forefathers' profound spiritual declension. The Levites meticulously articulate the four stages of rebellion: a foundational breach of covenant trust (ma'al), followed by open, defiant wickedness. This deliberate sin resulted in the active abandonment of God Himself, further escalating to a disdainful neglect and rejection of His holy Temple—the very place of His manifest presence. Finally, their actions culminated in the ultimate gesture of contempt, literally "turning their backs" on God, signifying obstinate defiance and a refusal to acknowledge His sovereignty or hear His instruction. This confession underscores the Deuteronomistic principle prevalent in Chronicles: obedience brings blessings, while disobedience invariably leads to severe judgment. The calamity described in the preceding verse (sword, captivity, shame) is here clearly attributed not to chance or external power, but to divine justice for the profound and escalating unfaithfulness of God's own people. It establishes confession as the necessary first step towards national restoration.