2 Chronicles 32:27
Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles.
Hezekiah
The name "Hezekiah" means "Yahweh strengthens" in Hebrew. Hezekiah was one of the most faithful kings of Judah, known for his religious reforms and trust in God. His reign is marked by a return to the worship of Yahweh and the removal of idolatry. Historically, Hezekiah's leadership during the Assyrian siege and his efforts to fortify Jerusalem are well-documented, reflecting his reliance on divine guidance.

had very great riches and honor
This phrase indicates the material and social prosperity that Hezekiah enjoyed. The Hebrew word for "riches" (עֹשֶׁר, osher) conveys wealth and abundance, while "honor" (כָּבוֹד, kavod) suggests glory and respect. Hezekiah's wealth was a sign of God's blessing, as material prosperity was often seen as a reward for faithfulness in the Old Testament. His honor among the nations also reflects the respect he garnered due to his wise and godly leadership.

and he made treasuries
The act of making treasuries indicates careful stewardship and planning. The Hebrew root for "treasuries" (אוֹצָר, otzar) implies a storehouse or a place of safekeeping. This suggests that Hezekiah was not only blessed with wealth but also wise in managing it. His foresight in creating treasuries reflects a responsible approach to the resources God provided, ensuring that they were preserved and used appropriately.

for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles
This list of treasures highlights the extent of Hezekiah's wealth. Each item mentioned has significant historical and cultural value. Silver and gold were standard measures of wealth, while precious stones and spices were luxury items often associated with trade and diplomacy. Shields symbolize military strength and protection, indicating that Hezekiah's wealth also contributed to the security of his kingdom. The phrase "all kinds of valuable articles" suggests a diverse accumulation of wealth, underscoring the comprehensive nature of God's blessing upon Hezekiah.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hezekiah
The King of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God and his reforms to restore proper worship in the kingdom. He is a central figure in this passage, highlighting his wealth and honor.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Hezekiah reigned. This context is important as it was a time of both spiritual revival and political challenges.

3. Treasuries
These were storage places for the wealth accumulated by Hezekiah, including silver, gold, and other valuable items. They symbolize the material blessings bestowed upon Hezekiah.
Teaching Points
Stewardship of Wealth
Hezekiah's wealth was a blessing from God, and it serves as a reminder that all material possessions are ultimately God's. Believers are called to be good stewards of what they have been given.

The Danger of Pride
While Hezekiah was blessed with riches, his later actions (showing his treasures to Babylon) led to negative consequences. This teaches the importance of humility and the dangers of pride.

Temporal vs. Eternal
The passage highlights the temporal nature of earthly wealth. Believers are encouraged to focus on eternal treasures and invest in what has lasting value.

God's Provision
Hezekiah's riches were a testament to God's provision and faithfulness. This encourages believers to trust in God's ability to provide for their needs.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Hezekiah's accumulation of wealth reflect God's blessings, and what responsibilities come with such blessings?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our focus remains on eternal treasures rather than earthly ones, as taught in Matthew 6:19-21?

3. How can Hezekiah's account serve as a warning against pride and the misuse of God's blessings?

4. What practical steps can we take to be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us?

5. How does the account of Hezekiah's wealth and subsequent actions connect to the broader biblical account of God's faithfulness and human responsibility?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 20:13
This passage parallels the account of Hezekiah's wealth and his showing of treasures to the envoys from Babylon, which later led to a prophecy of Babylonian captivity.

Proverbs 3:9-10
These verses speak about honoring the Lord with wealth, which connects to the idea of stewardship and the use of resources for God's glory.

Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus teaches about storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth, providing a New Testament perspective on wealth and priorities.
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
Articles, Beautiful, Body-covers, Costly, Desirable, Exceeding, Gold, Goodly, Hezekiah, Hezeki'ah, Honor, Honour, Immense, Jewels, Kinds, Manner, Pleasant, Precious, Provided, Riches, Shields, Silver, Sorts, Spices, Stone, Stones, Store-houses, Treasures, Treasuries, Valuable, Valuables, Vessels, Wealth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 32:27

     4333   gold
     4363   silver
     4466   herbs and spices

2 Chronicles 32:27-28

     4456   grain
     4624   cow
     5558   storing

2 Chronicles 32:27-29

     5399   luxury
     5476   property
     5503   rich, the
     5601   village
     5967   thrift
     8701   affluence
     8811   riches, attitudes to

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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