King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 15:11 Mean?

2 Chronicles 15:11 in the King James Version says “And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. the same: Heb. in that day”

2 Chronicles 15:11 · KJV

Context

9

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

10

So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

11

And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. the same: Heb. in that day

12

And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

13

That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing National spiritual renewal through decisive reform. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This pattern provides instruction for the post-exilic community on the conditions for God's blessing.

The account demonstrates God's covenant faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. Even in judgment, God preserves a remnant and offers restoration through repentance. The repeated cycle of apostasy, judgment, and restoration reveals both human sinfulness and divine mercy. References to the temple, proper worship, and priestly service emphasize the Chronicler's concern for correct religious observance.

Theologically, these accounts point beyond immediate history to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line. Despite repeated failures, God preserves David's dynasty, anticipating the perfect King who will reign in righteousness. The pattern of judgment for sin and restoration through repentance prefigures the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This passage occurs during the divided monarchy period when Judah existed separately from northern Israel. The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, addressing the restored community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (539 BCE onward). His emphasis on temple worship, proper religious observance, and God's covenant faithfulness speaks directly to the needs of his audience who had just rebuilt the temple and were reestablishing their identity as God's people.

The historical context demonstrates both God's judgment on persistent sin and His readiness to restore those who genuinely repent. The Chronicler omits most northern kingdom material, focusing on Judah and the Davidic line to emphasize God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Lachish, Beersheba, and Jerusalem corroborate the biblical accounts of various kings' reigns and building projects.

Understanding the Chronicler's post-exilic perspective is crucial—he's not merely recording history but applying past lessons to his contemporary audience, showing that the same principles of seeking God, maintaining proper worship, and covenant faithfulness that determined blessing or judgment in the past still apply.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse illustrate the principle of divine retribution (blessing for obedience, judgment for sin)?
  2. What specific applications does this passage have for maintaining spiritual faithfulness in contemporary Christian life?
  3. How does this account point to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line and the coming Messiah?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַיִּזְבְּח֤וּ1 of 13

“And they offered”

H2076

to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)

לַֽיהוָה֙2 of 13

“unto the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בַּיּ֣וֹם3 of 13

“the same time”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַה֔וּא4 of 13
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

מִן5 of 13
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַשָּׁלָ֖ל6 of 13

“of the spoil”

H7998

booty

הֵבִ֑יאוּ7 of 13

“which they had brought”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בָּקָר֙8 of 13

“oxen”

H1241

a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd

שִׁבְעַ֥ת9 of 13

“and seven”

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

מֵא֔וֹת10 of 13

“hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

וְצֹ֖אן11 of 13

“sheep”

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

שִׁבְעַ֥ת12 of 13

“and seven”

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

אֲלָפִֽים׃13 of 13

“thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Chronicles 15:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Chronicles 15:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 14:13-151 Chronicles 26:26-27Numbers 31:502 Chronicles 1:61 Samuel 15:211 Samuel 15:15

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