Question 1

Why did God allow Judah to be defeated so badly in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Judah’s king Ahaz had turned away from God into idol worship and even child sacrifice. Because of this, God removed his protection and allowed Judah’s enemies to overpower them. The defeat by Syria and then by Israel was not just about military weakness. It showed what happens when a nation and its leader turn their backs on God. The great loss of life and the many captives were a heavy judgment meant to show how serious it is to forsake the God of their fathers.

Question 2

Who is Oded in this passage, and what message did he bring?

Accepted Answer

Oded is a prophet of the Lord who lived in the northern kingdom when Israel’s army was bringing captives from Judah toward Samaria. He went out to meet the army and reminded them that God had given Judah into their hand because he was angry with Judah’s sin, not because Israel was better. Oded rebuked them for their fierce rage and for planning to keep their brothers as slaves. He warned that God’s wrath was now against Israel and told them to send the captives home.

Question 3

Why was it wrong for Israel to keep the people of Judah as bondmen and bondwomen?

Accepted Answer

It was wrong because the captives from Judah were their own brothers from another tribe of God’s people. God’s law did not allow them to treat fellow Israelites as slaves in this way. Oded pointed out that Israel already had many sins and that keeping these captives would add to their guilt and bring more wrath. The leaders understood that they had already offended God and that making slaves of their brothers would be a further step into sin, so they refused to let the captives be brought into Samaria.

Question 4

How did the leaders of Ephraim respond to Oded’s warning?

Accepted Answer

Some leading men of Ephraim listened to Oded’s message and took it seriously. They went out and stood against the returning soldiers and told them they must not bring the captives into Samaria. They admitted that Israel had already sinned against the Lord and that taking the captives as slaves would only increase their trespass. Because of their stand, the armed men left both the captives and the spoil. These leaders then took charge of caring for the people from Judah and sending them safely home.

Question 5

What acts of mercy did Israel show to the captives from Judah?

Accepted Answer

Once the soldiers left the captives and the spoil, the men who were named in the passage stepped in to help. They used the spoil to clothe everyone who was naked, gave them proper clothing and shoes, and provided food and drink. They anointed them, likely to refresh and comfort them after their hard journey. Those who were weak or unable to walk were put on donkeys. Then they led all the captives back to Jericho, called the city of palm trees, and returned to Samaria, leaving their brothers safely with their own people.

Question 6

What does this passage teach about anger and how God sees it?

Accepted Answer

The prophet says Israel had slain Judah “in a rage that reaches up unto heaven.” This shows that God not only sees what people do, but also the spirit in which they do it. Their anger went far beyond carrying out judgment; it turned into cruel fury against their own brothers. God was displeased with that rage and warned that his wrath was now against Israel. The story reminds us that human anger, especially when it leads to cruelty, does not please God, even if there was a just reason for discipline in the first place.

Question 7

What does this story show about God’s mercy in the middle of judgment?

Accepted Answer

Even in the middle of heavy judgment on Judah, God still showed mercy. He sent a prophet to stop further harm and to prevent the people of Judah from being kept as slaves. He also stirred the hearts of leaders in Israel to obey and show kindness. The way the captives were clothed, fed, cared for, and brought safely back to Jericho shows that God can turn a terrible situation toward healing. Judgment is real in this passage, but so is God’s desire for repentance, compassion, and restoration between his people.

Question 8

How can believers today apply the example of the Ephraimite leaders and people?

Accepted Answer

The leaders and people who listened to Oded give a clear example. When they realized they were in the wrong, they did not make excuses. They admitted their sin, stopped adding to it, and acted quickly to set things right. They used their strength to protect the weak, not to exploit them. For believers today, this points to owning our sin honestly, listening when God’s word corrects us, and showing real mercy to those who have been hurt, even if we were on the “winning” side of a situation.

2 Chronicles 28:5

Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

Aram Defeats Judah

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2 Chronicles 28:5

Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

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Aram Defeats Judah

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