2 Chronicles 29:8

Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

Wherefore the wrath {H7110} of the LORD {H3068} was upon Judah {H3063} and Jerusalem {H3389}, and he hath delivered {H5414} them to trouble {H2189}{H2113}, to astonishment {H8047}, and to hissing {H8322}, as ye see {H7200} with your eyes {H5869}.

"Because of this, ADONAI's anger has settled on Y'hudah and Yerushalayim; and he has made them an object of horror, astonishment and mocking - as you can see with your own eyes.

Therefore, the wrath of the LORD has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, horror, and mockery, as you can see with your own eyes.

Wherefore the wrath of Jehovah was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to be tossed to and fro, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 29:8 delivers a stark warning from King Hezekiah to the Levites and priests, articulating the dire consequences of Judah's spiritual decline under previous kings, especially his father, Ahaz. This verse serves as a crucial foundation for Hezekiah's ambitious reforms and national revival.

Context

This declaration is made at the very beginning of King Hezekiah's reign, in the first month of his first year (2 Chronicles 29:3). Hezekiah immediately recognized the spiritual decay that had plagued Judah, largely due to the widespread idolatry and defilement of the Temple under his father, King Ahaz. The phrase "as ye see with your eyes" underscores that the nation was already experiencing tangible evidence of God's displeasure, likely in the form of military defeats, economic hardship, and national humiliation at the hands of powerful empires like Assyria and Syria. Hezekiah's address is a call to action, urging the religious leaders to acknowledge the nation's sin and initiate the cleansing of the Temple.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment for Disobedience: The verse clearly states that "the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem." This is not arbitrary anger but God's just and righteous response to persistent sin, particularly the breaking of His covenant and the widespread practice of idolatry. It highlights the principle that there are serious consequences for spiritual rebellion.
  • Consequences of Apostasy: The terms "trouble, astonishment, and hissing" vividly describe the painful results of turning away from God. "Trouble" (Hebrew: za'avah) suggests terror or distress; "astonishment" (Hebrew: shammah) implies desolation or horror, making one aghast; and "hissing" (Hebrew: shereqah) denotes mockery and scorn. Judah had become an object of contempt and derision among surrounding nations, fulfilling warnings given in the Law about the curses for covenant unfaithfulness.
  • Call to Repentance and Revival: Hezekiah's words serve as a powerful catalyst for national repentance. By acknowledging the severity of God's judgment and its visible effects, he lays the groundwork for the spiritual cleansing and revival that follows in his reign.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong, evocative language to convey the depth of Judah's suffering. The Hebrew terms for "trouble," "astonishment," and "hissing" are found together in other prophetic warnings of judgment (e.g., Jeremiah 25:9, 18). They collectively paint a picture of a nation reduced to utter devastation and public disgrace, a direct result of their spiritual adultery. The "wrath of the LORD" (Hebrew: 'aph YHWH) emphasizes God's settled, righteous indignation against sin that has gone unaddressed.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that actions have consequences, both for individuals and for nations. God's character as a holy and just judge means that persistent sin, particularly spiritual rebellion and idolatry (which can manifest as worship of anything other than God), will inevitably lead to undesirable outcomes. It calls us to:

  • Self-Examination: Reflect on areas of personal or communal disobedience that might be inviting unwelcome consequences.
  • Repentance: Acknowledge sin and turn back to God, just as Hezekiah urged his people.
  • Spiritual Vigilance: Understand that God's desire is for His people to walk in faithfulness, and His judgments are often a means to call them back to Himself, offering an opportunity for restoration and blessing.

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

  • Jeremiah 25:9

    Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

  • Jeremiah 25:18

    [To wit], Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as [it is] this day;

  • 2 Chronicles 24:18

    And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.

  • Jeremiah 29:18

    And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

  • Jeremiah 19:8

    And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.

  • Deuteronomy 28:25

    The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

  • Jeremiah 18:15

    Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways [from] the ancient paths, to walk in paths, [in] a way not cast up;
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