◄ 2 Chronicles 32:29 ►
He made cities for himself, and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance, for God gave him very great wealth.
Study Bible
He made cities for himself
This phrase highlights the administrative and strategic prowess of King Hezekiah. Building cities was a common practice for kings to fortify their kingdoms and ensure economic stability. In the context of ancient Judah, cities served as centers of trade, military defense, and governance. Hezekiah's efforts in city-building reflect his commitment to strengthening his kingdom against potential threats, such as the Assyrian empire. This action also mirrors the practices of other biblical figures like Solomon, who built cities to consolidate his reign (1 Kings 9:17-19).

and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance
The acquisition of livestock signifies wealth and prosperity in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. Herds of sheep and cattle were essential for food, clothing, and religious sacrifices. This abundance indicates a period of economic growth and stability under Hezekiah's rule. The mention of livestock also connects to the patriarchs, such as Abraham and Jacob, who were blessed with large flocks as a sign of God's favor (Genesis 13:2, Genesis 30:43).

for God gave him very great wealth
This phrase attributes Hezekiah's prosperity directly to divine blessing, emphasizing the biblical theme that true success and wealth come from God. It reflects the covenantal relationship between God and the kings of Judah, where obedience to God's commandments often resulted in material blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Hezekiah's wealth can be seen as a fulfillment of God's promises to bless those who follow Him. This divine favor also prefigures the ultimate blessing found in Jesus Christ, who offers spiritual riches to believers (Ephesians 1:3).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hezekiah
The king of Judah during this time, known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to reform the nation spiritually and politically.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Hezekiah reigned. It was a time of both spiritual revival and political challenges.

3. God's Blessing
The verse highlights the divine favor and blessing upon Hezekiah, resulting in great wealth and prosperity.
Teaching Points
Divine Provision
Recognize that all material blessings and wealth come from God. Hezekiah's wealth was a direct result of God's provision.

Stewardship of Resources
Hezekiah's acquisition of cities, flocks, and herds suggests responsible management and stewardship of the resources God provided.

Spiritual Priorities
Despite his wealth, Hezekiah's primary focus was on spiritual reform and faithfulness to God, serving as a model for prioritizing spiritual over material wealth.

Gratitude and Humility
Acknowledge God's role in our successes and remain humble, understanding that prosperity is a gift from God, not solely the result of personal effort.

Legacy of Faithfulness
Hezekiah's account encourages us to leave a legacy of faithfulness and trust in God, impacting future generations.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Hezekiah's wealth reflect God's blessing, and what can we learn about the source of our own prosperity?

2. In what ways can we practice good stewardship with the resources God has entrusted to us, as Hezekiah did?

3. How can we ensure that our spiritual priorities remain intact, even when we experience material success?

4. What steps can we take to cultivate a heart of gratitude and humility in response to God's blessings?

5. How can Hezekiah's legacy of faithfulness inspire us to impact our families and communities for God's glory?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 13:2
This verse describes Abram's wealth, drawing a parallel to Hezekiah's prosperity as a sign of God's blessing.

Deuteronomy 8:18
This passage reminds us that it is God who gives the ability to produce wealth, emphasizing the source of Hezekiah's riches.

Proverbs 10:22
This proverb speaks of the blessing of the Lord bringing wealth without sorrow, aligning with Hezekiah's experience of divine favor.
Sermons
The Trial of RestorationW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 32:24-26, 31
The Greatness of HezekiahT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 32:27-30
Hezekiah's HappinessW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 32:27-30, 32, 33
People
Amoz, David, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Manasseh, Sennacherib
Places
Assyria, Babylon, Gihon, Jerusalem, Lachish, Millo
Topics
Abundance, Acquired, Cities, Flocks, Got, Herds, Likewise, Moreover, Numbers, Possessions, Property, Provided, Riches, Substance, Towns, Villages, Wealth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 32:29

     8780   materialism, and sin

2 Chronicles 32:27-29

     5399   luxury
     5601   village

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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