Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records the conclusion of Hezekiah’s reign, summarizing his material prosperity immediately following the Assyrian crisis. The narrative addresses the historical record of Judah, framing the king’s wealth as a direct result of divine provision.
The words — עָשָׂה ('Asah) translates literally as "he made," and נָתַן (Natan) means "he had given." These verbs anchor the verse’s explicit claim that Hezekiah’s construction projects and livestock accumulation originated from God’s prior action.
The thread — The pattern of divinely granted wealth appears in Genesis 13:2 regarding Abram’s livestock and silver, and in Deuteronomy 8:18 which attributes the power to gain wealth to the LORD. The Chronicler echoes this theological thread by explicitly linking Hezekiah’s abundance to God’s gift rather than human effort.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that material accumulation does not occur independently of divine permission. It demands attribution of Hezekiah’s prosperity to God’s action rather than to the king’s own initiative.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all.
- Genesis 13:2 And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.
- Deuteronomy 8:18 But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.
- 1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.
- 1 Chronicles 27:29 Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon. Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.
- 2 Chronicles 25:9 Amaziah asked the man of God, “What should I do about the hundred talents I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”
- 2 Chronicles 26:10 Since he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns. And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields.
- Job 1:3 and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.
- Job 1:9 Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
- Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed Job’s latter days more than his first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.