The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 28:18 Explained

2 Chronicles 28:18

KJV: The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

YLT: And the Philistines have rushed against the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and capture Beth-Shemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho and its villages, and Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages, and dwell there,

Darby: And the Philistines invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the south of Judah, and took Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Socho and its dependent villages, and Timnah and its dependent villages, and Guimzo and its dependent villages; and they dwelt there.

ASV: The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco with the towns thereof, and Timnah with the towns thereof, Gimzo also and the towns thereof: and they dwelt there.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The Philistines  also had invaded  the cities  of the low country,  and of the south  of Judah,  and had taken  Bethshemesh,  and Ajalon,  and Gederoth,  and Shocho  with the villages  thereof, and Timnah  with the villages  thereof, Gimzo  also and the villages  thereof: and they dwelt  there. 

What does 2 Chronicles 28:18 Mean?

Context Summary

2Chronicles 28:12-27 - A Wicked King's Blind Folly
This sending of the captives home, clothed, shod, and anointed was a beautiful act, and anticipates the spirit of Christianity. This is the true way of making and maintaining peace. Magnanimity is, after all, the best solvent of national hatred, and lays the foundations of enduring brotherhood. The Edomites and Philistines smote Judah and weakened it, but they were only the instruments. We are distinctly told that the Lord brought Israel low, 2 Chronicles 28:19. The relief bought from the king of Assyria at so great a sacrifice secured a temporary respite. See 2 Kings 16:7-9. In the end, however, it only added to his distress, 2 Chronicles 28:20. None can help the man who has forfeited the help of God. If He is against us, who can be for us!
The more distressed Ahaz was, the more he trespassed. See Isaiah 1:5-6. With blind infatuation he went step by step farther from God, sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, and offered wanton insult to God's house. The detestation of the people was evidenced in their treatment of his remains. See Proverbs 10:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2Chronicles 28

1  Ahaz, reigning wickedly, is greatly afflicted by the Syrians
6  Judah, being captivated by the Israelites, is sent home by the counsel of Oded
16  Ahaz sending for aid to Assyria, is not helped thereby,
22  In his distress he grows more idolatrous
26  He dying, Hezekiah succeeds him

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 28:18 mean?

And the Philistines had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the Negev of Judah and had taken - in Beth Shemesh and Aijalon Gederoth Sochoh and with its villages Timnah and with its villages Gimzo with its villages and they dwelt there
וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים פָּשְׁט֗וּ בְּעָרֵ֨י הַשְּׁפֵלָ֣ה וְהַנֶּגֶב֮ לִֽיהוּדָה֒ וַֽ֠יִּלְכְּדוּ אֶת־ בֵּֽית־ שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ וְאֶת־ אַיָּל֜וֹן הַגְּדֵר֗וֹת שׂוֹכ֤וֹ וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ תִּמְנָ֣ה וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ גִּמְז֖וֹ בְּנֹתֶ֑יהָ וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם

וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים  And  the  Philistines 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.
פָּשְׁט֗וּ  had  invaded 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: פָּשַׁט  
Sense: to strip, invade, strip off, make a dash, raid, spread out.
בְּעָרֵ֨י  the  cities 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הַשְּׁפֵלָ֣ה  of  the  lowland 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שְׁפֵלָה  
Sense: lowland, valley.
וְהַנֶּגֶב֮  and  of  the  Negev 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶגֶב  
Sense: south-country, Nekeb, south.
לִֽיהוּדָה֒  of  Judah 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וַֽ֠יִּלְכְּדוּ  and  had  taken 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לָכַד  
Sense: to capture, take, seize.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ  Beth  Shemesh 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: a town in southwest Judah.
אַיָּל֜וֹן  Aijalon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַיָּלֹון  
Sense: Levitical city in Dan, 4 miles or 25 km NW of Jerusalem, later ruled by the Amorites, then the Benjamites of Judah, then by the Philistines.
הַגְּדֵר֗וֹת  Gederoth 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גְּדֵרֹות  
Sense: a town in the low country of Judah.
שׂוֹכ֤וֹ  Sochoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֹׂוכֹה 
Sense: a town in the lowlands of Judah.
וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙  and  with  its  villages 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
תִּמְנָ֣ה  Timnah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: תִּמְנָה  
Sense: a town on the northern boundary of Judah later assigned to Dan.
וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ  and  with  its  villages 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
גִּמְז֖וֹ  Gimzo 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גִּמְזׄו  
Sense: a town in Judah south of the road between Jerusalem and Joppa which with its dependant villages was captured by the Philistines in the reign of Ahaz.
בְּנֹתֶ֑יהָ  with  its  villages 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ  and  they  dwelt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.