2 Chronicles 28:15
And the men which were expressed by name, rose vp and tooke the captiues, and with the spoile clothed all that were naked among them, and arayed them, and shod them, and gaue them to eate and to drinke, and anointed them, and caried all the feeble of them vpon asses, and brought them to Iericho, the city of palme-trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria. 2 Chronicles 28:15 (KJV)
This verse concludes a larger narrative that records the dire consequences of King Ahaz of Judah’s wickedness and idolatry. The chapter explains how Ahaz’s provocation of the Lord led to Judah’s defeat at the hands of the northern kingdom of Israel and the Arameans. As a result, many Judeans were taken captive, while others were killed or left severely wounded.
Verse 15 highlights the compassionate response of a group of men who are distinguished only as “expressed by name.” Though the text does not specify their individual identities, the passage portrays them as caring agents who rose to aid the captives. They clothed those who were naked, arrayed and shod them, provided food and drink, and even anointed the wounded. Recognizing the particular vulnerability of the feeble, they transported them on donkeys to Jericho, a city famed for its palm trees.
Jericho lay within the territory of the northern kingdom of Israel, a political entity often at odds with Judah. By bringing the captives to Jericho, these men facilitated a reunion of the prisoners with their brethren in Judah, demonstrating a remarkable spirit of generosity that transcended political divisions. Their actions underscore a biblical principle: compassion should be extended even toward those on the opposite side of a conflict.
After completing this mission, the men returned to Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom. Their journey illustrates both practical mercy—providing clothing, sustenance, medical care, and transport—and a deeper theological truth that God’s concern for the vulnerable can be expressed through the faithful actions of ordinary individuals. The passage invites readers to consider how, in the midst of national turmoil, acts of kindness can become a testimony to God’s enduring care for all His people.
