2 Chronicles 7:22

And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

And it shall be answered {H559}, Because they forsook {H5800} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of their fathers {H1}, which brought them forth {H3318} out of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, and laid hold {H2388} on other {H312} gods {H430}, and worshipped {H7812} them, and served {H5647} them: therefore hath he brought {H935} all this evil {H7451} upon them.

But the answer will be, 'It's because they abandoned ADONAI the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and took hold of other gods, worshipping and serving them; this is why [ADONAI] brought all these calamities on them.'"

And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, He has brought all this disaster upon them.’”

And they shall answer, Because they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 7:22 delivers a solemn explanation for God's judgment upon His people, Israel. It concludes a divine warning given to King Solomon after the dedication of the Temple, detailing the consequences of disobedience and idolatry. This verse serves as a profound theological and historical anchor, explaining why calamity would befall the nation if they turned away from the LORD.

Context

This verse is the culmination of God's conditional promise and warning to Solomon, immediately following the magnificent dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem. In 2 Chronicles 7:12-22, God appears to Solomon at night, affirming His presence in the newly consecrated Temple but also laying out the path of future blessings and curses. While 2 Chronicles 7:14 offers a path to restoration through repentance, verses 19-22 describe the dire consequences of apostasy. Verse 22 specifically answers the implied question of future generations: "Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?" The answer is clear: because they abandoned their covenant with God.

Key Themes

  • Covenant Disobedience: The verse explicitly states that the root cause of judgment is their forsaking of the LORD God of their fathers. This refers to the covenant established at Mount Sinai, where God delivered Israel from slavery and they pledged obedience to His laws (Exodus 19:5-6).
  • Idolatry: The specific sin highlighted is laying "hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them." This is a direct and egregious violation of the First Commandment and a recurring theme throughout Israel's history, leading to their eventual exile.
  • Divine Justice and Consequence: God's action ("therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them") is presented not as arbitrary punishment but as a just consequence for their unfaithfulness. The "evil" here refers to calamity, disaster, or judgment, not moral wickedness.
  • Remembering God's Deliverance: The phrase "which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt" is a powerful reminder of God's foundational act of salvation for Israel. Their forsaking Him despite such a profound deliverance underscores their deep ingratitude and rebellion.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "forsake" (עָזַב - `azav) implies a deliberate abandonment or leaving behind. It's not passive forgetting but an active turning away from a relationship.
  • The progression "laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them" reveals the stages of idolatry:
    • "Laid hold on" (הֶחֱזִיקוּ - hecheziqu): To seize, grasp, suggesting adoption.
    • "Worshipped them" (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ - vayishtachavu): To bow down, showing reverence or adoration.
    • "Served them" (וַיַּעַבְדוּם - vaya'avdum): To labor for, to serve, indicating active submission and devotion.
    This progression shows a complete transfer of allegiance from the LORD to false deities.
  • The word "evil" (רָעָה - ra'ah) in this context refers to disaster, misfortune, or calamity, rather than moral evil. It denotes the devastating consequences of their actions.

Historical Significance

This prophecy found its tragic fulfillment centuries later with the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. The historical books of Kings and Chronicles meticulously document the periods of idolatry and unfaithfulness that led to this national catastrophe. 2 Chronicles 7:22 provides the divine explanation for why such a glorious temple and a chosen people experienced such a profound downfall.

Practical Application

While specific to ancient Israel, the principles in 2 Chronicles 7:22 hold timeless relevance:

  • Consequences of Disobedience: The verse reminds us that actions have consequences, especially in our spiritual walk. Turning away from God and embracing "other gods" (anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives, e.g., money, power, possessions, self, ideologies) inevitably leads to spiritual and often tangible "calamity."
  • The Nature of Idolatry: Modern idolatry may not involve physical statues, but it involves giving ultimate loyalty, trust, or devotion to anything other than the one true God. This verse calls us to examine our hearts and priorities.
  • Remembering God's Faithfulness: Just as God brought Israel out of Egypt, He has performed acts of salvation in our lives, most supremely through Christ's redemption. This should inspire gratitude and faithfulness, not presumption or rebellion.
  • Call to Loyalty: The verse is a stark warning to remain loyal to God alone. Our security and well-being, both individually and collectively, are tied to our faithfulness to Him.
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

  • Daniel 9:12

    And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

  • Ezekiel 36:17

    Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.

  • Ezekiel 36:20

    And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These [are] the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.

  • Judges 2:12

    And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that [were] round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

  • Judges 2:13

    And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

  • Lamentations 4:13

    ¶ For the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,

  • Lamentations 4:15

    They cried unto them, Depart ye; [it is] unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn [there].
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