2 Chronicles 36:15

KJV

And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of their fathers {H1} sent {H7971} to them by {H3027} his messengers {H4397}, rising up betimes {H7925}, and sending {H7971}; because he had compassion {H2550} on his people {H5971}, and on his dwelling place {H4583}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Time after time, and frequently, ADONAI, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers; because he had compassion on his people and on the place where he lived.

Berean Standard Bible

Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place.

American Standard Version

And Jehovah, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 36:15 offers a poignant glimpse into the final moments of Judah's history before the Babylonian exile, revealing the profound compassion and persistent efforts of the LORD God. Despite generations of rebellion and idolatry, God repeatedly sent His messengers—the prophets—to His people, rising early and diligently, driven by His deep love for them and for His sacred dwelling place in Jerusalem. This verse underscores divine patience and the earnest desire of God to avert the impending judgment, setting the stage for the tragic but inevitable consequences of Judah's unyielding defiance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the very end of 2 Chronicles, a book that chronicles the history of the kings of Judah from Solomon's reign to the Babylonian exile. Chapter 36 specifically details the rapid succession of Judah's last four kings—Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah—each of whom "did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" ([2 Chronicles 36:2](/2_chronicles/36-2 "2 Chronicles 36:2 - Jehoahaz's Evil Reign")). Verse 15 serves as a crucial interlude, explaining *why* the exile was necessary by highlighting God's prior, extensive efforts to call His people to repentance. It immediately precedes the stark declaration of Judah's ultimate rejection of God's messengers and the subsequent unleashing of divine wrath ([2 Chronicles 36:16](/2_chronicles/36-16 "2 Chronicles 36:16 - Judah's Rejection and God's Wrath")), which then leads directly into the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the seventy-year exile to Babylon ([2 Chronicles 36:17](/2_chronicles/36-17 "2 Chronicles 36:17 - The Destruction of Jerusalem")). Thus, verse 15 provides the theological justification for the impending catastrophe, emphasizing that judgment was a last resort, not a first choice.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period described in 2 Chronicles 36 is the twilight of the Kingdom of Judah, roughly from 609 BC to 586 BC. This era was marked by intense geopolitical instability, with the fading Assyrian empire, the rising power of Babylon, and the continued influence of Egypt vying for control of the Near East. Judah, a small buffer state, found itself caught between these empires. Culturally, despite the warnings of prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the people of Judah had largely abandoned the covenant obligations of the Mosaic Law. Idolatry, social injustice, and a superficial religiosity had become rampant. The temple, God's "dwelling place," had been defiled by pagan practices ([2 Chronicles 33:1](/2_chronicles/33-1 "2 Chronicles 33:1 - Manasseh's Idolatry")), and the kings, with few exceptions, led the nation further into apostasy. God's "messengers" were the prophets, who often faced persecution and ridicule for delivering unpopular messages of repentance and impending judgment ([Jeremiah 26:8](/jeremiah/26-8 "Jeremiah 26:8 - Jeremiah's Arrest")). The "dwelling place" refers specifically to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people and the center of their worship.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent throughout the Chronicler's work and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights **God's unwavering compassion and patience** ([Exodus 34:6](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6 - The LORD's Compassion")), even in the face of persistent human sin. Despite Judah's profound rebellion, God's heart was moved with mercy, desiring their repentance rather than their destruction. Secondly, it emphasizes **divine initiative and persistence** in seeking reconciliation. God actively "sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending," demonstrating His earnest and diligent pursuit of His people, not waiting for them to seek Him first. Thirdly, the verse underscores the **crucial role of prophetic ministry** as God's primary means of communication, delivering both warnings of judgment and calls to repentance. The rejection of these messengers ([2 Chronicles 36:16](/2_chronicles/36-16 "2 Chronicles 36:16 - Mocking God's Messengers")) ultimately sealed Judah's fate. Finally, it subtly points to the **sovereignty of God in judgment**, implying that the coming exile was not an arbitrary act but a sorrowful, necessary consequence of Judah's unyielding refusal to heed His compassionate warnings, a theme echoed in the book of Lamentations ([Lamentations 1](/lamentations/1 "Lamentations 1 - Jerusalem's Desolation")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Betimes (Hebrew, _hashkim'_):** This adverb literally means "early" or "diligently." In this context, it conveys the idea of God acting with great care, urgency, and persistence. It implies that God was not casual or infrequent in His warnings but consistently and earnestly sought to reach His people, "rising early" as a diligent master or father would to attend to important matters. It emphasizes the repeated, early, and persistent nature of His warnings, indicating that He left no stone unturned in His efforts to bring His people back to Him before the final judgment. This is a deeply invested, compassionate effort, not a casual sending.
* **Compassion (Hebrew, _chemlah'_):** This noun denotes pity, mercy, or compassion. It highlights God's deep emotional concern and tender regard for His people and for His dwelling place. It signifies that God's actions were motivated by love and a desire for their well-being, not by a vindictive spirit. Even in the face of their persistent sin, God's heart was filled with mercy, desiring their repentance rather than their destruction. This term underscores the divine pathos—God's suffering with and for His creation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers":** This phrase establishes the divine initiative. It is the sovereign God, the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ("God of their fathers"), who acts. He communicates not directly in a visible manifestation, but through His chosen human agents, the prophets ("his messengers"). This highlights the established pattern of divine-human interaction in the Old Testament, where prophets served as God's spokesmen, delivering His word to the people.
* **"rising up betimes, and sending":** This is a powerful anthropomorphism, portraying God as one who exerts diligent effort. "Rising up betimes" (early, diligently) emphasizes the urgency, frequency, and earnestness of God's warnings. He did not wait until the last minute or send a single, perfunctory message. Instead, He consistently and repeatedly dispatched His prophets, demonstrating His profound desire for His people's repentance and restoration. It paints a picture of a God who is actively and tirelessly pursuing His beloved, leaving no stone unturned.
* **"because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place":** This clause reveals the profound motivation behind God's persistent warnings: His deep compassion. His mercy extends to "his people," the nation of Judah, whom He had chosen and covenanted with, and to "his dwelling place," the Temple in Jerusalem, which represented His presence among them and was the center of their worship. This compassion underscores that the impending judgment was not arbitrary but grieved the heart of God, who desired to spare them and His sanctuary from destruction. It reveals God's character as merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, even when faced with rebellion.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrase "rising up betimes," attributing human-like actions of diligence and early rising to God, thereby conveying His earnest and persistent effort to communicate with His people. This vivid imagery makes God's compassion tangible and His pursuit active. The use of **metonymy** is present in "his dwelling place," which refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, symbolizing not just a physical structure but also the sacred space of God's presence and the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The repeated "sending" (implied in "rising up betimes, and sending") creates a sense of **repetition and emphasis**, underscoring the relentless nature of God's warnings. Finally, the entire verse functions as a form of **divine pathos**, conveying God's deep sorrow and regret over the necessity of judgment, as His actions are driven by "compassion" for His people, not by a desire for their destruction.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a profound theological statement on the character of God, revealing His enduring patience, boundless compassion, and persistent desire for His people's repentance, even in the face of their chronic rebellion. It demonstrates that divine judgment is never arbitrary or immediate but is always preceded by ample warnings and opportunities for turning back to God. The "rising up betimes, and sending" highlights God's active pursuit of humanity, driven by His covenant faithfulness and His deep love for His creation. This divine patience, however, is not infinite; it eventually gives way to consequences when warnings are consistently ignored, underscoring the seriousness of rejecting God's word and His messengers.

* [Psalm 103:8](/psalm/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - God's Compassion and Steadfast Love")
* [Nehemiah 9:29-30](/nehemiah/9-29 "Nehemiah 9:29-30 - God's Patience with Israel")
* [Jeremiah 7:25-26](/jeremiah/7-25 "Jeremiah 7:25-26 - God's Persistent Sending of Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound compassion of God, so vividly displayed in 2 Chronicles 36:15, serves as a powerful mirror for our own lives. Just as God tirelessly sought to reclaim His people in ancient Judah, He continues to extend His grace and patience to us today. We are constantly met with His invitations to repentance, whether through the convicting power of His Word, the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit, the wise counsel of other believers, or the circumstances of life that call us to re-evaluate our priorities. This verse is a sober reminder that God's warnings are not punitive threats but loving appeals, designed to lead us away from destructive paths and back into His life-giving presence. Our response to these divine overtures determines our trajectory. Do we, like Judah, harden our hearts and mock His messengers, or do we respond with humility and repentance, recognizing the boundless compassion that drives His every warning? Let us not presume upon His patience, but rather embrace the opportunities for spiritual growth and course correction that He so diligently provides.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways is God "rising up betimes" and sending messages to me in my life today?**
* **How have I, perhaps unknowingly, hardened my heart to God's warnings or promptings?**
* **What specific areas of my life need to align more closely with God's will, and what steps can I take toward repentance and obedience?**
* **How does understanding God's compassion in this verse impact my view of His justice and judgment?**

### FAQ
**Why did God send messengers repeatedly if He knew Judah would reject them?**

Answer: God's repeated sending of messengers, even knowing the likely outcome, underscores His character of profound compassion, patience, and justice. It demonstrates that God is not arbitrary in His judgment; rather, He exhausts every possible means to bring His people to repentance before allowing the consequences of their actions to unfold. This persistent effort highlights His desire for reconciliation and His unwillingness to abandon His covenant people without giving them every opportunity to turn back. It also serves to establish the righteousness of His ultimate judgment, proving that Judah's destruction was a direct result of their unyielding rebellion and not a lack of divine warning or mercy. This principle is seen throughout Scripture, where God's patience is extended even to those who will ultimately reject Him ([Romans 9:22](/romans/9-22 "Romans 9:22 - God's Patience with Vessels of Wrath")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Chronicles 36:15, with its portrayal of God's compassionate and persistent sending of messengers to a rebellious people, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament prophets were God's "messengers," rising early and diligently to call Israel to repentance, God's final and supreme "sending" was of His own Son. As the author of Hebrews declares, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God's Final Word in Christ")). Jesus is the ultimate Prophet, the very Word of God incarnate ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), sent not merely to warn, but to embody God's compassion and to accomplish salvation. His entire earthly ministry, from His early rising to pray ([Mark 1:35](/mark/1-35 "Mark 1:35 - Jesus Prays Early Morning")) to His tireless teaching and healing, reflects the divine diligence and earnestness ("rising up betimes") to gather His people. His lament over Jerusalem, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were unwilling!" ([Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem")), echoes the very compassion God felt for His dwelling place and people in 2 Chronicles. Ultimately, Jesus, the Lamb of God, took upon Himself the judgment that Judah's persistent rebellion deserved, offering a new covenant of grace where forgiveness and reconciliation are freely available to all who believe, fulfilling God's deepest desire for compassion and restoration ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 7:13

And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

Jeremiah 35:15

I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending [them], saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.

Jeremiah 25:3

From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that [is] the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

Jeremiah 25:4

And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending [them]; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

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.

2 Chronicles 24:21

And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.

Jeremiah 26:5

To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending [them], but ye have not hearkened;