2 Chronicles 28:8-15 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

The sending back of the captives-an incident of the Israelitish war.

I. THE WARRIORS OF ISRAEL AND THE CAPTIVES OF JUDAH . ( 2 Chronicles 28:8 .)

1 . The number of the captives. Two hundred thousand persons.

2 . The persons of the captives.

3 . The destination of the captives. Samaria, in the Assyrian monuments Sa-mir-i-na , the capital of the northern kingdom, built by Omri ( 1 Kings 16:24 ).

II. THE WARRIORS OF ISRAEL AND THE PROPHET OF JEHOVAH . ( 2 Chronicles 28:9-11 .)

1 . The prophet ' s name. Oded, "Setting up." The name of the father of Azariah who went out to meet Asa ( 2 Chronicles 15:2 ).

2 . The prophet ' s designation. A prophet of Jehovah, not of the false Jehovah worshipped in Samaria under the image of a calf ( Hosea 8:5 , Hosea 8:6 ), but of the true Jehovah, which shows that, apostate as the northern kingdom had become, it was not entirely destitute of true religion-even there Jehovah having at least prophets who witnessed for him, like Hosea ( Hosea 1:1 ) and Oded, if not also adherents who worshipped him.

3 . The prophet ' s courage. He went out to meet the hosts of Israel as they returned from their successful campaign, and warned them of the wickedness of which they had been guilty; as Jehu, the son of Hanani, had met Jehoshaphat returning from Ramoth-Gilead ( 2 Chronicles 19:2 ), and a prophet of Jehovah had confronted Amaziah coming from the slaughter of the Edomites ( 2 Chronicles 25:15 ).

4 . The prophet ' s address.

III. THE WARRIORS OF ISRAEL AND THE PRINCES OF EPHRAIM , (Verses 12-14.)

1 . The names of the princes. Azariah ( 2 Chronicles 15:2 ; 2 Chronicles 22:6 ), the son of Johanan, "Jehovah is gracious;" Berechiah, "Whom Jehovah hath blessed" ( 1 Chronicles 6:39 ), son of Meshillemoth, "Retribution;" Jehizkiah, the same as Hezekiah, "The might of Jehovah," son of Shallum, "Retribution" ( 2 Kings 15:10 ); and Amasa, "Burden," the name of one of Absalom's captains ( 2 Samuel 17:25 ), the son of Hadlai, "Rest." These princes were obviously at the head of the Israelitish congregation (verse 14).

2 . The action of the princes. They joined the Prophet Oded in resisting the introduction by the soldiers of the captives into the city. That people is fortunate whose leaders are courageous to oppose them in evil-doing, and to point out to them the path of duty.

3 . The speech of the princes.

4 . The success of the princes. "The armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation" (verse 14). Happy is that community in which the wise and good counsels of its leaders prevail.

IV. THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL AND THE CAPTIVES OF JUDAH . (Verse 15.)

1 . The kindness of the princes. The above-named (verse 12), with other famous and distinguished leaders, to whom a similar designation was customarily applied ( 1 Chronicles 12:31 ; 1 Chronicles 16:41 ; 2 Chronicles 31:19 ), rose up from their seats of honour in the midst of the assembly, stood forth as the representatives of the people and received at the hands of the soldiers the crowd of captives; out of the spoil, which, as usual, consisted in garments, flocks, and herds, with other articles of value ( 2 Chronicles 15:14 , 2 Chronicles 15:15 ; 2 Chronicles 20:25 ), clothed and shod all amongst them who were naked, giving them to eat and drink ( 2 Kings 6:22 , 2 Kings 6:23 ); anointed with oil such of them as had wounds ( Luke 10:34 ); set the feeble upon asses, of which animals there was a plentiful supply ( 1 Chronicles 27:30 ; Ezra 2:67 )—a lively picture of the pity and compassion which should ever be shown towards the unfortunate, suffering, and miserable, especially by the people of God ( Isaiah 58:6 , Isaiah 58:7 ; Job 30:25 ; Luke 10:37 ; Luke 14:12 ; 1 Timothy 5:10 ; 1 John 3:17 ).

2 . The return of the captives. Thus generously treated by the princes, they were sent back, those able to travel by themselves, those requiring to ride accompanied by conductors, who journeyed with them as far as Jericho, the city of palm trees ( 3:13 ), distant from Jerusalem about five and a half hours walk, situated in the tribe of Benjamin, and belonging to the kingdom of Judah. Arrived thither, they were handed over to their brethren, after which their conductors returned to Samaria.

LESSONS .

1 . The sin of slavery.

2 . The function of prophecy.

3 . The beauty of charity.—W.