2 Chronicles 32:25 Study Bible: But Hezekiah did not render again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.

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◄ 2 Chronicles 32:25 ►

But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Study Bible

But because his heart was proud
Hezekiah's pride is a significant theme in this passage. After experiencing God's miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian army and healing from a terminal illness, Hezekiah's heart became lifted up. Pride is often highlighted in Scripture as a precursor to downfall (Proverbs 16:18). This pride can be seen as a failure to acknowledge God's sovereignty and grace, a common human failing that leads to spiritual and sometimes physical consequences.

Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him
Hezekiah's failure to respond appropriately to God's mercy and blessings is a critical point. The "favor" refers to God's deliverance and healing, which should have led to gratitude and humility. Instead, Hezekiah's actions suggest ingratitude. This mirrors the biblical principle that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). The expectation is that blessings from God should lead to a life of obedience and thankfulness.

Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem
The consequence of Hezekiah's pride was divine wrath, not only affecting him but also extending to the nation of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. This reflects the biblical concept of corporate responsibility, where the leader's actions impact the entire community. The wrath mentioned here can be understood as God's righteous judgment, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. It serves as a warning that sin, especially pride, can have far-reaching effects. This also foreshadows the eventual Babylonian exile, a result of continued disobedience and pride among the leaders and people of Judah.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Hezekiah
The King of Judah who experienced God's deliverance from the Assyrian threat and healing from illness. Despite these blessings, he became proud.

2. Judah and Jerusalem
The southern kingdom and its capital, which were affected by Hezekiah's pride and the subsequent wrath of God.

3. God's Wrath
The divine response to Hezekiah's pride, impacting not only him but also his kingdom.

4. The Favor Shown
Refers to God's deliverance and healing granted to Hezekiah, which he failed to acknowledge with humility and gratitude.

5. Pride
The central issue in this passage, leading to negative consequences for Hezekiah and his people.

Teaching Points

The Danger of Pride
Pride can blind us to our dependence on God and lead to spiritual downfall.

Hezekiah's account warns us to remain humble, especially after experiencing God's blessings.

The Importance of Gratitude
Recognizing and repaying God's favor with gratitude is crucial.

Gratitude keeps our hearts aligned with God's will and prevents pride.

Consequences of Sin
Our actions, especially those rooted in pride, can have far-reaching consequences.

Hezekiah's pride affected not only himself but also his entire kingdom.

God's Mercy and Justice
While God is merciful, He is also just and will discipline those He loves.

Understanding this balance helps us live in a way that honors God.

Repentance and Restoration
Hezekiah's later repentance shows that turning back to God can restore our relationship with Him.

We should be quick to repent when we recognize pride in our hearts.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Hezekiah's pride serve as a warning for us in our personal lives and leadership roles?

2. In what ways can we cultivate a heart of gratitude to prevent pride from taking root?

3. How do the consequences of Hezekiah's actions illustrate the broader impact of our personal sins?

4. What steps can we take to ensure that we are living in humility and acknowledging God's favor in our lives?

5. How can the principles found in James 4:6 and Proverbs 16:18 guide us in our daily walk with God?

Connections to Other Scriptures

2 Kings 20
Provides a parallel account of Hezekiah's illness, recovery, and the visit of the Babylonian envoys, highlighting his pride.

Isaiah 39
Describes the same events, emphasizing the prophetic warning about the future consequences of Hezekiah's actions.

Proverbs 16:18
Warns that pride precedes destruction, illustrating the principle seen in Hezekiah's life.

James 4:6
States that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, reinforcing the need for humility.

Sermons

A Rendering for Mercies		2 Chronicles 32:24-25
A Ruler's Sin	H. Blunt.	2 Chronicles 32:24-25
Hezekiah Deserted	J. C. Gray.	2 Chronicles 32:24-25
Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery	James Wolfendale.	2 Chronicles 32:24-25
Ingratitude to God an Heinous But General Iniquity	S. Davies, M.A.	2 Chronicles 32:24-25
The Trial of Restoration	W. Clarkson	2 Chronicles 32:24-26, 31
Hezekiah's Fall and Repentance	T. Whitelaw	2 Chronicles 32:25, 26

People

Amoz, David, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Manasseh, Sennacherib

Places

Assyria, Babylon, Gihon, Jerusalem, Lachish, Millo

Topics

Benefit, Deed, Didn't, Heart, Hezekiah, Hezeki'ah, Jerusalem, Judah, Kindness, Lifted, Lofty, Lord's, Pride, Proud, Received, Render, Rendered, Respond, Return, Returned, Shown, Wrath

Dictionary of Bible Themes

2 Chronicles 32:25

     1025   God, anger of
     5790   anger, divine
     8804   pride, examples
     8805   pride, results

2 Chronicles 32:24-25

5932 response

2 Chronicles 32:24-26

5333 healing

2 Chronicles 32:25-26

5017 heart, renewal

Library

A Strange Reward for Faithfulness
After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came.'--2 CHRON. XXXII. 1. The Revised Version gives a much more accurate and significant rendering of a part of these words. It reads: 'After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came.' What are 'these things' and 'this faithfulness'? The former are the whole of the events connected with the religious reformation in Judah, which King Hezekiah inaugurated and carried through so brilliantly …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Some Buildings in Acra. Bezeiha. Millo.
Mount Sion did not thrust itself so far eastward as mount Acra: and hence it is, that mount Moriah is said, by Josephus, to be "situate over-against Acra," rather than over-against the Upper City: for, describing Acra thus, which we produced before, "There is another hill, called Acra, which bears the Lower City upon it, steep on both sides": in the next words he subjoins this, "Over-against this was a third hill," speaking of Moriah. The same author thus describes the burning of the Lower City: …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
The Medes and Cimmerians: Lydia--The conquest of Egypt, of Arabia, and of Elam. As we have already seen, Sennacherib reigned for eight years after his triumph; eight years of tranquillity at home, and of peace with all his neighbours abroad. If we examine the contemporary monuments or the documents of a later period, and attempt to glean from them some details concerning the close of his career, we find that there is a complete absence of any record of national movement on the part of either Elam, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

Temporal Advantages.
"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."--1 Tim. vi. 7, 8. Every age has its own special sins and temptations. Impatience with their lot, murmuring, grudging, unthankfulness, discontent, are sins common to men at all times, but I suppose one of those sins which belongs to our age more than to another, is desire of a greater portion of worldly goods than God has given us,--ambition and covetousness …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Gihon, the Same with the Fountain of Siloam.
I. In 1 Kings 1:33,38, that which is, in the Hebrew, "Bring ye Solomon to Gihon: and they brought him to Gihon"; is rendered by the Chaldee, "Bring ye him to Siloam: and they brought him to Siloam." Where Kimchi thus; "Gihon is Siloam, and it is called by a double name. And David commanded, that they should anoint Solomon at Gihon for a good omen, to wit, that, as the waters of the fountain are everlasting, so might his kingdom be." So also the Jerusalem writers; "They do not anoint the king, but …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3
The beginning of the circumference was from 'the sheep-gate.' That, we suppose, was seated on the south part, yet but little removed from that corner, which looks south-east. Within was the pool of Bethesda, famous for healings. Going forward, on the south part, was the tower Meah: and beyond that, "the tower of Hananeel": in the Chaldee paraphrast it is, 'The tower Piccus,' Zechariah 14:10; Piccus, Jeremiah 31:38.--I should suspect that to be, the Hippic tower, were not that placed on the north …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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