2 Chronicles 28:15 Meaning: Mercy for Captives
The men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them, gave them sandals, gave them something to eat and to drink, anointed them, carried all the feeble of them on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.
And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
And the men that have been mentioned by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm-trees, unto their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
and the men who have been expressed by name rise and take hold on the captives, and all their naked ones they have clothed from the spoil, yea, they clothe them, and shoe them, and cause them to eat and drink, and anoint them, and lead them on asses, even every feeble one, and bring them in to Jericho, the city of palms, near their brethren, and turn back to Samaria.
And the men that have been expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them on asses, and brought them to Jericho the city of palm-trees, to their brethren. And they returned to Samaria.
Meaning in one sentence
When Israel showed compassion to their captives, they gave us a picture of how God calls us to treat our enemies.
Context
Israel had just routed Judah in battle. The northern army swept through the southern kingdom, killing thousands and taking two hundred thousand women, children, and men as captives. They brought them to Samaria along with piles of plunder. But a prophet named Oded met them at the gate and rebuked them sharply. The Lord was using Israel to punish Judah, he said, but their rage had gone too far. Some leaders among the Ephraimites listened. They stood up against the returning soldiers and insisted the captives be released. So the armed men set down their prisoners and the spoil. The verse you are reading describes what happened next: a group of designated men took charge of the captives and cared for them with extraordinary kindness.
Key Words
Two Hebrew verbs in this verse pull the whole scene into focus. The first is chazaq, the word behind ‘took hold.’ It usually means to strengthen or support. But here the Cambridge Bible notes it carries the sense of taking someone firmly by the hand to help them, not a grab, but a grip meant to steady. These men did not merely release the captives; they reached out and held on to them. The second is sukh, ‘they anointed them.’ Pouring oil on tired, dirty skin was a gesture of refreshment and honor in the ancient world, something a host did for a guest. The prisoners were being treated not as enemy spoils but as weary travelers welcomed home. And the word for ‘feeble’ is kashal, one who stumbles or totters. The men did not rush the weak; they carried them on donkeys. Every detail reveals mercy that is patient and personal.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this verse as a high point in a grim chapter. Many connect it directly to Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan, as Gill does, noting that the Samaritan city of Jericho appears in both accounts. Others, like Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, emphasize that this event shows a faithful remnant even in the northern kingdom, a sign that God’s law was still honored by some. The Cambridge Bible points out that the phrase ‘took hold of the captives’ parallels the Greek of Hebrews 2:16, where Christ takes hold of humanity to save us. These readings differ in emphasis, yet all agree: the mercy shown here is not incidental. It is a deliberate, costly obedience to God’s word through the prophet Oded.
A common misunderstanding
It is easy to read this verse as a story about shockingly nice soldiers, a random act of kindness in the middle of a bloody war. But that misses the point. In fact, the compassion here is a direct response to God’s word. Oded’s prophecy and the leaders’ stand (verse 12) came first. The mercy was not spontaneous; it was obedience. The men did what they did because they heard the Lord and repented. The verse is less about how nice people can be and more about how God’s word can turn a conqueror into a caretaker.
Living This Out
Think about someone you have power over this week. It could be a coworker you have bested in an argument, a family member you are disappointed in, or even a person you feel right to ignore. The men in this verse took the spoils of their victory and used them to dress their prisoners. They fed people who had just lost everything. They put weak strangers on their own donkeys. You may not have plunder to hand out, but you have something: your time, your attention, your willingness to let the other person have the last word. That small surrender of advantage is the shape mercy takes in ordinary life.
Main takeaway: When God’s people listen to His word, mercy replaces vengeance with tangible care for former enemies.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The soldiers were angry at first, but they listened to God. Then they gave the people they had captured some clothes and food and let them ride on donkeys. Jesus wants us to be kind to everyone, even when we are upset.
For ages 9, 12
This is a story about enemies who became helpers. The Israelite army had captured two hundred thousand people from Judah. But when a prophet spoke to them, they changed their minds. They didn't just let the captives go free. They gave them sandals, food, and a ride on donkeys all the way to Jericho. That is real mercy, doing more than what is required, especially for people you feel angry at.
Questions People Ask
Who were the men ‘mentioned by name’ in this verse?
The phrase likely refers to the four leaders named in verse 12: Azariah, Berechiah, Jehizkiah, and Amasa. They were heads of the Ephraimites who spoke out against bringing the captives into Samaria. Some commentators also think the phrase means other designated men chosen specifically for this task of caring for the prisoners.
Why did they bring the captives to Jericho instead of straight to their homes?
Jericho, called ‘the city of palm trees,’ was on the border between the northern and southern kingdoms. The captives were from various parts of Judah, and Jericho was a safe rendezvous point where they could continue to their own towns. It was also a familiar location for both groups, making it a practical place to reunite the prisoners with their families.
What does ‘anointed them’ mean in this context?
Anointing with oil was a common act of hospitality and refreshment in the ancient world. After a long journey or when arriving as a guest, oil was poured on the head and skin to soothe dryness and sunburn. In this case, it was a gesture of care and honor toward people who had been mistreated and were exhausted. It turned strangers into guests.
Is this story connected to the Good Samaritan parable?
Several commentators, including Matthew Henry and John Gill, note the similarity. In both cases, a person from a hostile group shows extraordinary compassion to someone in need. The Good Samaritan uses oil and wine, carries the injured man on his own donkey, and pays for his care. Here, the Ephraimites give clothing, food, and donkeys and travel with the captives to Jericho. The parallel is striking.
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