2 Chronicles 28:13

And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD [already], ye intend to add [more] to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and [there is] fierce wrath against Israel.

And said {H559} unto them, Ye shall not bring in {H935} the captives {H7633} hither: for whereas we have offended {H819} against the LORD {H3068} already, ye intend {H559} to add {H3254} more to our sins {H2403} and to our trespass {H819}: for our trespass {H819} is great {H7227}, and there is fierce {H2740} wrath {H639} against Israel {H3478}.

saying to them, "Don't bring the captives here, because you intend to do something that will bring guilt on us against ADONAI. It will only add to our sins and guilt, for our guilt is great, and there is fierce anger against Isra'el."

“You must not bring the captives here,” they said, “for you are proposing to bring guilt upon us from the LORD and to add to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is great, and fierce anger is upon Israel.”

and said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for ye purpose that which will bring upon us a trespass against Jehovah, to add unto our sins and to our trespass; for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 28:13 (KJV) delivers a powerful warning from the prophet Oded to the victorious army of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) after they had taken many captives from Judah (the Southern Kingdom).

Context

During the tumultuous reign of King Ahaz of Judah, his kingdom faced a formidable alliance between Pekah, king of Israel, and Rezin, king of Syria. In a devastating war, Israel defeated Judah, taking a vast number of captives—women, sons, and daughters—and much spoil (2 Chronicles 28:5-8). As the Israelite army returned to Samaria with their captives, the prophet Oded, along with several prominent leaders of Ephraim, met them. Oded rebuked them fiercely, reminding them that their victory was permitted by the LORD not because of Israel's righteousness, but because of Judah's sins (2 Chronicles 28:9-12). This verse, 2 Chronicles 28:13, is the culmination of his plea: to not compound their existing sins by enslaving their brethren.

Key Themes

  • Divine Displeasure and Wrath: The verse highlights the gravity of Israel's existing transgressions against the LORD. Oded warns that bringing in the captives would only "add more to our sins and to our trespass," intensifying the "fierce wrath against Israel." This underscores God's active involvement in the affairs of nations and His judgment against sin.
  • Compassion and Brotherhood: Despite the political division between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, Oded emphasizes their shared identity as God's people. His call to release the captives is a powerful appeal for compassion and recognition of their familial bond, reflecting a principle of mercy even towards those considered enemies in a human conflict.
  • Consequences of Sin: The prophet makes it clear that sin has cumulative and severe consequences. Israel's past offenses had already invited God's wrath, and adding new injustices would only deepen their predicament. This serves as a stark reminder that actions have spiritual repercussions.
  • Prophetic Voice: Oded exemplifies the role of a true prophet—speaking truth to power, even when unpopular, and calling God's people to repentance and righteousness in the face of their transgressions.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "trespass" to translate the Hebrew word ma'al (מעל), which signifies an act of unfaithfulness, treachery, or sacrilege, often implying a breach of covenant or trust with God. It's a strong term indicating a profound offense. The phrase "fierce wrath" translates charon aph (חרון אף), literally "burning nose" or "burning anger," a common biblical idiom for intense divine displeasure, emphasizing the severity of God's righteous indignation against sin.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Acknowledge Our Sins: Like Israel, we must recognize our own shortcomings and transgressions against God and others, understanding their gravity.
  • Practice Compassion: Even in times of conflict or disagreement, we are called to show mercy and compassion, especially towards fellow believers, remembering our shared spiritual heritage. Paul encourages us to do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
  • Understand Consequences: Sin is not trivial; it has real, often compounding, consequences, both in our lives and corporately. This should motivate us to pursue holiness and repentance.
  • Listen to God's Warnings: The story reminds us of the importance of heeding prophetic warnings and biblical principles that guide us away from actions that would incur God's displeasure.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 23:32

    Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

  • Romans 2:5

    But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

  • Numbers 32:14

    And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.

  • Matthew 23:35

    That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

  • Joshua 22:17

    [Is] the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,

  • Joshua 22:18

    But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, [seeing] ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
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