2 Chronicles 36:15

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:

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}:

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.

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.

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

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 36:15 (KJV)

Second Chronicles 36:15 captures a poignant moment in the history of Judah, just before its devastating exile to Babylon. This verse encapsulates God's persistent and compassionate efforts to avert the impending judgment upon His rebellious people and His holy city. It highlights divine patience amidst human stubbornness, serving as a vital bridge to understanding the severity of the coming destruction.

Historical and Cultural Context

The book of 2 Chronicles concludes with the tragic downfall of the southern kingdom of Judah, culminating in the Babylonian exile. For generations, the kings and people of Judah had largely turned away from the covenant God made with their fathers, engaging in idolatry, injustice, and blatant disregard for the Mosaic Law. Despite this widespread apostasy, God did not immediately abandon them. Instead, He repeatedly sent prophets, His "messengers," to warn them, call them to repentance, and remind them of the consequences of their actions. These warnings, however, were consistently ignored and mocked, as described in the subsequent verse (2 Chronicles 36:16). This verse sets the stage by emphasizing God's earnest desire for their restoration before the final, irreversible judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Unfailing Compassion: The core message of this verse is God's profound "compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place." Even in the face of their persistent sin, God's heart was filled with mercy, desiring their repentance rather than their destruction. This echoes His character throughout Scripture (Psalm 103:8).
  • Divine Initiative and Persistence: The phrase "sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending" underscores God's active and diligent pursuit of His people. He didn't wait for them to seek Him; He initiated communication, sending prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and others early and repeatedly, demonstrating His earnest desire for their return.
  • The Role of Prophetic Warning: God utilized His prophets as His primary means of communication, delivering both warnings of judgment and calls to repentance. This highlights the crucial role of God's Word and His spokesmen in guiding and correcting His people.
  • Impending Judgment as a Last Resort: The verse implies that the coming exile and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple were not God's first choice, but a sorrowful necessity brought about by Judah's refusal to heed His compassionate warnings.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "rising up betimes, and sending" is particularly insightful. "Betimes" means "early, diligently, or earnestly." It conveys the idea of God acting with great care and urgency, not merely sending a message, but doing so with a profound sense of purpose and commitment. 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 isn't a casual sending but a deeply invested, compassionate effort.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • God's Patience Endures: Just as God patiently warned ancient Judah, He extends His grace and patience to us. He provides ample opportunities for repentance and correction through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16), the Holy Spirit, and wise counsel.
  • Heed God's Warnings: The tragic outcome for Judah serves as a sober reminder of the consequences of ignoring divine warnings. We are called to listen attentively to God's voice and respond with obedience and repentance.
  • God's Compassion is Constant: Even when facing the consequences of our actions, we can find comfort in knowing that God's compassion remains. He is always willing to forgive and restore those who genuinely turn to Him (1 John 1:9).
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 7:13 (5 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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;