What does 2 Chronicles 28:21 mean?
"For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not." - 2 Chronicles 28:21
2 Chronicles 28:21 (KJV) states, "For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not."
This verse is part of the Old Testament narrative in which the chronicler recounts the reign of King Ahaz of Judah. Ahaz was a wicked king who did evil in the sight of the Lord, leading the people of Judah astray into idolatry and abandoning the ways of the Lord. The verse in question encapsulates Ahaz's sin of taking treasures from the house of the Lord and the royal palace and giving them to the king of Assyria, Tiglath-Pileser, in an attempt to gain his support against his enemies, the kings of Israel and Aram.
The verse captures the ongoing narrative of the chronicler's retelling of the history of Judah and the consequences of the actions of its kings. The verse highlights the theme of faithlessness and disobedience to God, as Ahaz turns to an ungodly king and a foreign power for assistance instead of trusting in the Lord. This theme is a recurring one in the Old Testament, demonstrating the consequences of forsaking God and seeking help from worldly powers.
Contextually, the verse is positioned within the larger story of King Ahaz's reign and the events that led to the downfall of Judah. The chronicler portrays Ahaz as a king who brought disaster upon his kingdom through his unfaithfulness to God and his reliance on foreign powers for help. The verse serves as a reminder of the consequences of placing trust in worldly powers rather than relying on God's guidance and provision.
Symbolically, the verse represents the spiritual and moral decline of Judah under Ahaz's reign. The taking away of treasures from the house of the Lord and the royal palace symbolizes the desecration of sacred spaces and the prioritization of worldly wealth and power over spiritual and moral values. The act of giving these treasures to the king of Assyria symbolizes the betrayal and submission of Judah to a foreign power, a sign of the nation's spiritual and moral decay.
The verse also serves as a warning against the dangers of putting trust in human strength and earthly alliances instead of seeking God's help and guidance. It illustrates the futility of relying on worldly powers, which ultimately proved to be of no help to Ahaz.
In conclusion, 2 Chronicles 28:21 (KJV) is a significant verse within the larger context of the chronicler's narrative, highlighting the theme of faithlessness and the consequences of forsaking God. It serves as a cautionary tale against the dangers of prioritizing worldly power and wealth over spiritual and moral values, and the futility of seeking help from human strength instead of relying on God. The verse carries symbolic weight, representing the spiritual and moral decline of Judah under Ahaz's reign and the nation's betrayal of its sacred heritage. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's will.
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2 Chronicles 28:21 Artwork
2 Chronicles 28:21 - "For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not."
2 Chronicles 28:21 (KJVA) 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
"For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not." - 2 Chronicles 28:21
2 Chronicles 28:3
2 Chronicles 20:28
1 Chronicles 21:28 - "¶ At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there."
2 Chronicles 28:2 - "For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim."
2 Chronicles 20:21
2 Chronicles 21:9
2 Chronicles 20:28 - "And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 9:28 - "And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands."
1 Chronicles 2:28 - "And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur."
2 Chronicles 28:17 - "For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives."
2 Chronicles 28:14 - "So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation."
2 Chronicles 18:28 - "So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead."
2 Chronicles 28:16 - "¶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him."
2 Chronicles 25:28 - "And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah."
2 Chronicles 28:20 - "And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not."
2 Chronicles 28:22 - "¶ And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz."
2 Chronicles 28:4 - "He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree."
2 Kings 23:28 - "Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Chronicles 32:28 - "Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks."
2 Chronicles 4:21 - "And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;"
2 Chronicles 21:18 - "¶ And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease."
2 Chronicles 29:28 - "And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished."
2 Chronicles 28:7 - "And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king."
2 Chronicles 28:26 - "¶ Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel."
2 Kings 15:21 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
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."
2 Chronicles 23:21 - "And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword."