King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 30:6 Mean?

2 Chronicles 30:6 in the King James Version says “So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the c... — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. from: Heb. from the hand

2 Chronicles 30:6 · KJV


Context

4

And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. pleased: Heb. was right in the eyes of the king

5

So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.

6

So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. from: Heb. from the hand

7

And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.

8

Now be ye not stiffnecked , as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. be ye: Heb. harden not your necks yield: Heb. give the hand


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Joy of renewed worship despite irregularities. 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 · 29 words
וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֩1 of 29
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

הָֽרָצִ֨ים2 of 29

So the posts

H7323

to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)

בָּֽאִגְּר֜וֹת3 of 29

with the letters

H107

an epistle

מִיַּ֧ד4 of 29

from

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

מַלְכֵ֥י5 of 29

of the king

H4428

a king

וְשָׂרָ֗יו6 of 29

and his princes

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

בְּכָל7 of 29
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל8 of 29

and Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה9 of 29

and Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וּכְמִצְוַ֥ת10 of 29

and according to the commandment

H4687

a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the law)

מַלְכֵ֥י11 of 29

of the king

H4428

a king

לֵאמֹ֑ר12 of 29

saying

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

בְּנֵ֣י13 of 29

Ye children

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל14 of 29

and Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וְיָשֹׁב֙15 of 29

and he will return

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

אֶל16 of 29
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֗ה17 of 29

unto the LORD

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֵי֙18 of 29

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אַבְרָהָם֙19 of 29

of Abraham

H85

abraham, the later name of abram

יִצְחָ֣ק20 of 29

Isaac

H3327

jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham

וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל21 of 29

and Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וְיָשֹׁב֙22 of 29

and he will return

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

אֶל23 of 29
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַפְּלֵיטָ֔ה24 of 29

of you that are escaped

H6413

deliverance; concretely, an escaped portion

הַנִּשְׁאֶ֣רֶת25 of 29

to the remnant

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

לָכֶ֔ם26 of 29
H0
מִכַּ֖ף27 of 29

out of the hand

H3709

the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-

מַלְכֵ֥י28 of 29

of the king

H4428

a king

אַשּֽׁוּר׃29 of 29

of Assyria

H804

ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire


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 30:6 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 30:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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