2 Chronicles 32:5 - Exposition

He strengthened himself ; i.e; as in our several previous instances of the occurrence of the phrase ( 1 Chronicles 11:10 ; 2 Chronicles 12:1 ; 2 Chronicles 25:11 ; 2 Chronicles 26:8 ), he took all possible means to make himself and people and city strong to withstand the invader. All the wall that was broken (see Isaiah 22:9 ). Although we read that the devastation wrought by Joash ( 2 Chronicles 25:23 ) was very largely repaired by Uzziah ( 2 Chronicles 26:9 ) and by Jotham ( 2 Chronicles 27:3 ), it is not explicitly said that the broken four hundred cubits of wall, from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, were made absolutely good again, although in the matter of towers and fortifications much was evidently done. Note also the word "all" here, side by side with the "much" of 2 Chronicles 27:3 . And raised (it) up to the towers . Discard this Authorized Version rendering. The meaning cannot be certainly pronounced upon, hut perhaps it may be intended to say that he heightened the towers. The objection is that the same verb is wanted for the next clause, and that its rendering would need to be there slightly reduced again to a mere statement of raising from the ground ( i.e. building) another wall without. Repaired Millo (see note, 1 Chronicles 11:8 ).