r

good.

CHAPTER XX.

The Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, invade Judah, 1, 2, Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast, and gathers the people together to seek the Lord, 3, 4. His prayer to God, 5-12 Great and small, male and female, seek the Lord, 13. Jahaziel predicts the downfall of their enemies 14-17. The king, the Levites, and the people, take conrage: praise and magnify God; and go forth to meet their enemies, 18-21. The enemies are confounded, and destroy each other, 22-24. The men of Jixlah take the spoil, praise the Lord, and return with joy to Jerusalem, 25-28 The fear of the Lord falls upon all their enemies round about; and the land has rest, 29, 30. Transactions and character of Jehoshaphat, 31--34. He joins with Ahaziah king of Israel, in building a fleet of ships to go to Tarshish; but they are wrecked at Ezion-geber, 35--37."

that Ango ante

Olymp. 120.

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2

Verse 4. From Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim] Before the separation of the ten tribes, in speaking of the extent of the land it was said, From Dan to Beer-sheba: but, since that event, the kingdom of Judah was bounded on the south by Beer-sheba, and on the north by the mountains of Ephraim. This shows that Jehoshaphat had gone through all his territories to examine every thing himself, to see that judgment and justice were properly administered among the people.

Verse 6. Take heed what ye do] A very solemn and very necessary caution: judges should feel themselves in the place of God, and judge as those who know they shall be judged for their judgments.

Verse 8. And for controversies when they returned to Jerusalem.] Who were they that returned to Jerusalem? Some suppose that it means Jehoshaphat and his courtiers, who returued to Jerusalem after the expedition mentioned ver. 4: but if this were so, or if the text spoke of any person returning to Jerusalem, would not be leyerushalem, to Jerusalem, and not the simple word S Jerushalem, without the preposition, be used? Learned men have supposed, with great plausibility, that the word vaiyashebu, “and they returned," should be written yoshebey, "the inhabitants;" and that the words should be read, And for the controversies of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. That this was the original reading is very probable from its vestiges in the Vulgate, habitatoribus ejus, "its INHABITANTS :' and in the Septuagint, it is found totidem verbis, Kai Kpivelv Tous Karol KOVνTAS EV Iepovoaλnp, And to judge the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

There is a clause in chap. xxxiv. 9. where we have a similar mistake in our version, And they returned to Jerusalem, where the false keri, or marginal note, directs it, in opposition to common sense, and ALL the versions, to be read and they returned, which our translation has unhappily followed.

Verse 10. Between blood and blood] Cases of manslaughter, or accidental murder; or cases of consanguinity, the settlement of inheritance, family claims, &c. Between law and commandment] Whatsoever concerns the moral precepts, rites, and ceremonies, of the law; or whatsoever belongs to civil affairs.

Verse 11. Behold, Amariah] Here was a twofold jurisdiction, ecclesiastical and civil. In the ecclesiastical court, Amariah the high priest was supreme judge; in the civil court, Zebadiah was supreme. To assist both, the Levites were a sort of counsellors.

Without good and wholesome laws, no nation can be prosperous: and vain are the best laws, if they be not judiciously and conscientiously administered. The things of God, and the things of the KING should never be con

dren of Ammon, and with them other Conditam 143. besides the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat a to battle.

2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.

b

3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in

x 1 Chron. 26. 30-y Heb. Take courage and do. - Ch. 15. 2-a 1 Kings 8. 44. b Gen. 14. 7.-c Josh. 15. 62-d Heb. his face-e Ch 19 3-f Ezra 8. 21. Jer. 36. 9. Jonah 3. 5.-g Deut. 4. 39. Josh. 2. 11. 1 Kings 8. 23. Matt. 6.9.- Paa. 47. 2, 8, Dan 4. 17, 25, 32-i 1 Chron. 29. 12. Psa. 62. 11. Matt. 6. 13.

founded in the administration of justice. Amariah the priest, and Zebadiah the ruler, should ever have their distinct places of jurisdiction.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XX.

Verse 1. Children of Ammon, and with them other besides the Ammonites] Here there must be a mistake; for surely the Ammonites are the same as the children of Ammon. Our translators have falsified the text by inserting the words "other besides," which have nothing properly to represent them in the Hebrew. Literally translated, the words are, "And it happened after this, the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them of the Ammonites:" and thus the Vulgate. The Syriac, which the Arabic follows, has felt the difficulty, and translated, Came together with warlike men to fight, &c. The Septuagint have given it another turn, Kat μετ' αυτών εκ των Μιναίων, And with them people of the Minaites; which were a people of Arabia Felix, near the Red sea. The Targum has NON AD Vimmehon min Adomaey, "And with them some of the Edomites." This is very likely to be the true reading, as we find from ver. 10, 22, 23. that they procured men from mount Seir; and these were the Indumeans, or Edomites. We should, in my opinion, read the text thus: The chil dren of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Edomites.

Verse 2. On this side Syria] Instead of DND miaram, from Syria, I would read with one of Kennicott's MSS. (89.) DND miedom, from Edom; which alteration brings it to truth; and does not require the change of half a letter, as it consists in the almost imperceptible difference between resh and daleth. We do not read of any Syrians in this invasion; but we know there were Edomites, or inhabitants of mount Seir.

Hazazon-tamar] "In the wood of palm trees, that is, in En-gedi." Targum. This is the meaning of the word, and it is probable that they lay hid here.

Verse 3. Jehoshaphat feared] He found that he could not possibly stand against such a numerous army, and therefore could not expect to be delivered except by the strong arm of God. To get this assistance, it was necessary to seek it; and to get such extraordinary help, they should seek it in an extraordinary way; hence he proclaimed a universal fast, and all the people came up to Jerusalem to seek the Lord.

Verse 5. Jehoshaphat stood] What an instructive sight was this! The king who proclaimed the fast, was foremost to observe it; and on this occasion the priest of the people, offering in the congregation, without form or any premedi tation, one of the most sensible, pious, correct, [and, as to its composition, one of the most elegant,] prayers, ever offered under the Old Testament dispensation.

thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham m thy friend for ever?

n

8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy • name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom thou P wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

T

to

11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

t

12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do; but "our eyes are upon thee.

13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, 'came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;

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15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 To-morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them: a for the LORD will be with

you.

b

19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, 'Praise the LORD; & for his mercy endureth for ever.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were

smitten.

their enemies.

i Gen. 17. 7. Exod. 6. 7.--k Heb. thou.-1 Psa. 44. 2-m Isai. 41. 8. James 2. 2. Deut. 2. 4, 9, 19.-r Numb. 20.

n 1 Kings 8. 33, 37. Ch. 6. 23, 29, 30.---0 Ch. 65. 15.

121. 1, 2 & 123. 1, 2 & 141. 8

21. P. 83. 12-t 1 Sam 3. 13.-u Psa. 25. 15. Numb. 11. 25, 26. & 24. 2. Ch. 15. 1. & 24. 20.w Exod. 14. 13, 14. Deut. 1. 29,30. & 31. 6, 8 Ch. 32 7.--x Heb. ascent--y Or, valley.-z Exod. 14. 13, 14.-a Numb. 14. 9. Ch. 15. 2. & 32. 8.

Verse 7. Art not thou our God] thy WORD, driven out." Targum. Verse 8. Therein for thy name] thy WORD." Targum.

"Hast not thou, by

"For the name of Verse 9. For thy name is in this house] "Thy Majesty is in this house." Several of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. with the Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic, add pa nikra, (is invoked;] Thy name is invoked in this house: here thou dwellest, and here thou art worshipped. Verse 11. They rewarded us] Six of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. add ny evil: "Behold, they reward us EVIL. This is also the reading of the Targum. Verse 12. Wilt thou not judge them] That is, Thou wilt inflict deserved punishment upon them.

Verse 15. For the battle is not yours, but God's.] God will not employ you in the discomfiture of this great host; he himself will take the matter in hand, deliver you, and destroy them.

Verse 17. For the LORD will be with you.] "The WORD of the Lord shall be your helper." Targum. Verse 20. Believe in the LORD your God] "Believe in the WORD of the Lord your God, and believe in his law, and believe in his prophets; and ye shall prosper." Here the WORD and the Revelation are most pointedly distinguished; the Word being used personally.

Verse 22. The LORD set ambushments.] "The WORD of the Lord placed snares among the children of Ammon and Moab; and the inhabitants of the mountain of Gibla, who came to fight with Judah; and they were broken to pieces:" so the Targum.

29 And the fear of God was on all the king

b Exod. 4. 31-e Isai. 7. 9.- 1 Chron. 16 29.- Feb. praisers -(10s B 34. Psa. 136. 1g 1 Chron. 16, 41. Ch. 5. 13. & 7. 3, 6-h Heb. And in the tome Fund they, &c.-i Heb. in singing and praise-k Julg. 7 22 1 Sam. 14. - Or. Soy smote one anotherm Heb for the destruction-n Heb. there was not an aàcaping.-o That is, blessing-p Heb. head.-r Neh. 12. 13.- Ch. 17. 19

Houbigant translates the place thus: "The Lord æt against the children of Ammon and Moab ambushments of those who came from mount Seir against Judah; and the children of Ammon and Moab were smitten: but they afterward rose up against the inhabitants of mount Ser and utterly destroyed them; who, being destroyed, they rose up one against another, and mutually destroyed each other." This is probably the meaning of these versesCalmet's version is not very different.

Verse 25. Both riches with the dead bodies] For pegarim, dead bodies, begadim, garments, is the reading of eight MSS. in the collections of Kennicutt and De Rossi, and in several ancient editions. None of the versions have dead bodies except the Chaldee. The words might be easily mistaken for each other, as the pe, if a little faint in the under dot, might easily pass for a beth; and we know that theresh, and dateth, are frequentiy interchanged, and mistaken for each other, both in Hebre and Syriac. I believe garments to be the true reading: and, as to the clause, which they stripped off for themselves, it should be understood thus, Which they seized for themselves.

Verse 26. Assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah] "The Valley of Benediction:" and so in the latter clause. Targum.

Verse 27. Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them] He was their leader in all these spiritual, holy, fatiguing, and selfdenying exercises. What a noble and persuasive pattern!

Verse 29. The LORD fought] The WORD of the Lord made war against the enemies of Israel. Targum.

doms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.

A. M. 3090 -3115 B. C. 914 -889

Anno Ante

31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and 1. 0113-113 he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.

33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the * book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

A. M. 3109.

B. C. 896.

35 And after this did JehoshaAnte 1. O1. 120. phat king of Judah join himself with Conditum 143 Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:

36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.

2 And he had brethren, the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the first-born.

4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.

h

B.C. 892-885. Anno ante 1. O1. 116-109.

5 Jehoram was thirty and two A.M.3112-3119. years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.

7 Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever. 8 T In his days the Edomites B. C 889. revolted from under the "dominion Ante I. Ol. 113. of Judah, and made themselves a conditam 136.

CHAPTER XXI.

to

Jehoram succeeds his father Jehoshaphat; and commences his reign with the murder of his brethren, and of several of the princes of Israel, 1-5. He walks in the way of Ahab, whose bad daughter, Athaliah, he had married, 6. God remembers his covenant with David, and does not destroy the nation, 7. The Edomites revolt, 8-10. Jehoram restores the high places in the mountains of Judah, and greatly corrupts the morals of the people, 11. A letter comes to him from Elijah, 12-15. The Philistines and Arabians come up against him; pillage his house, take away his wives, and all his sons, except Jehoahaz, 16, 17. He is smitten with an incurable

disease in his bowels; of which, in two years, he dies miserably, after a profligate reign of eight years, 18-20.

A. M. 3115. B. C. 859.

Anno ante

Jehoshaphat slept with his

Nfathers, and was buried with his Aute Urbem fathers in the city of David. And JeConditan 135. horam his son freigned in his stead.

t Ch. 15. 15. Job 34. 29.--u 1 Kings 22. 41, &c. See Ch. 17. 6. Ch. 12. 14. & 19.3.x Heb. woordsy 1 Kings 16. 1,7.- Heb. was made to ascend-a 1 Kings 22. 48, 49-b At first Jehoshaphat was unwilling, 1 Kings 22. 49-c 1 Kings 22. 48. d Ch. 9. 21.- 1 Kings 22. 50-f Alone-g Jehoram made partner of the kingdom

Verse 33. The high places were not taken away] The idolatry, as we have seen, was universally suppressed; but some of the places where that worship had been performed were not destroyed. Some of them still remained: and these, to such a fickle people, became the means of idolatry in reigns less propitious to truth and religion.

Verse 34. In the book of Jehu] This is totally lost, though it is evident that it was in being when the books of Chronicles were written.

Verse 36. To go to Tarshish] "In the great sea." Targum. By which expression they always meant the Mediterranean sea.

Verse 37. The LORD hath broken, &c.] The WORD of the Lord hath broken. Targum. Concerning Tarshish, Ezion-geber, and Ophir, and the voyage thither, see the notes on 1 Kings x. 22; and at the end of that chapter, and on chap. ix. 26-28. The Tarshish here is called by the Chaldee Torsos in the great sea, some place in the Mediterranean. On this subject the reader has, no doubt, already seen a great variety of opinions.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXI. Verse 2. And he had brethren-the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel.] Jehoshaphat certainly was not king of Israel, but king of Judah. Yishrael, must be a corruption in the text, for a Yehudah; which is the reading of the Syriac, Arabic, Septuagint, and Vulgate: the Chaldee, only, agrees with the Hebrew text. And the reading of the versions is supported by thirtyeight of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. The word Judah should, therefore, be restored to the text.

Verse 3. The kingdom gave he to Jehoram] He made nim copartner with himself in the kingdom about three years before his death; so that he reigned only five years after the death of his father Jehoshaphat. See the notes on 2 Kings viii. 16, &c. and on the same, chap. i. 17.

A. M. 3115.

Ante Urbem

9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.

10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.

11 Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.

there a writing to

him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not

A. M. 3116.
B. C. 888.
Anno ante

Ante Urbem Conditam 135.

with his father, 2 Kings 8. 16.-h In consort, 2 Kings 8. 17, &c.-i Ch. 22. 2.-k Heb. lamp, or candle. 2 Sam. 7. 12, 13, 1 Kings 11. 36. 2 Kings 8. 19. Psa. 132, 11, &c.-m 2 Kings 9. 20, &c.-n Heb. hand-o Lev. 17. 7. & 20. 5. Ver. 13-p Which was writ before his assumption, 2 Kings 2. 1.

where an attempt is made to settle this disturbed chronology.

Verse 4. Slew all his brethren] What a truly diabolic thing is the lust of power! it destroys all the charities of life; and renders those who are under its influence the truest resemblants of the arch fiend. That he might sit the more secure upon his throne, this execrable man imbrues his hands in the blood of his own brothers! There are more instances of this species of cruelty among bad Asiatic kings than among any other class of men. The history of every country abounds in proofs; even that of our own is not the least barren.

Verse 6. He had the daughter of Ahab to wife] This was Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, who was famous for her impieties and cruelty, as was her most profligate mother. It is likely that she was the principal cause of Jehoram's cruelty and profaneness.

Verse 7. To give a light to him] To give him a descendant.

Verse 8. In his days the Edomites revolted] See on 2 Kings viii. 21.

Verse 11. To commit fornication] That is, to serve idols. The Israelites were considered as joined to Jehovah, as a woman is joined to her husband; when she associates with other men, this is adultery; when they served other gods, this was called by the same name; it was adultery against Jehovah. This is frequently the only meaning of the terms adultery and fornication, in the Scriptures.

Verse 12. There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet] From 2 Kings ii. 11. it is evident that Elijah had been translated in the reign of Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram. How then could he send a letter to the son? Some say he sent it from heaven by an angel; others, that, by the spirit of prophecy, he foresaw this defection of Jehoram, and left the letter with Elisha,

2

17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. A.M. 3117-3119. 18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an in1. OL 111-109. curable disease.

B. C. 887-885. Anno aute

19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him like the burning of his fathers.

-3119.

Anno ante

A. M. 3112 20 Thirty and two years old was B. C. 892-885. he when he began to reign, and he 1. OL 116-109. reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city 1. Olymp. 109. of David, but not in the sepulchres of Conditam 132 the kings.

A. M. 3119. B. C. 885. Anno ante

Ante Urbem

q Ver. 11-r Exod. 34. 15. Deut. 31. 16.-8 1 Kings 16. 31-33. 2 Kings 9. 22. Ver. 4. Heb. a great stroke.-v Ver. 18, 19.-w 2 Kings 11. 14, 23-x Heb. carried captive. See Ch. 22. 1.y Ch. 24. 7.-z Or, Ahaziah, Ch. 22. 1. Or, Aza riah, Ch. 22, 6-a His son, Ahaziah Prorez, 2 Kinga 9. 29. soon after.-b Ver. 15. e Ch. 16. 14.

to be sent to him when this defection should take place; others say that Elijah is put here for Elisha; and others, that this Elijah was not the same that was translated, but another prophet of the same name. There are others who think that, as Elijah was still in the body, for he did not die, but was translated, he sent this letter from that secret place in which he was hidden by the Almighty. All the versions have Elijah, and all the MSS. the same reading. Dr. Kennicott contends that Elisha was the writer; for Elijah had been taken up to heaven thirteen years before the time of this writing. Our margin says, the letter was written before his assumption, and refers to 2 Kings ii. 1.

These are all conjectures; and I could add another to their number, but still we should be where we were. I should adopt the conjecture relative to Elisha, were not every Hebrew MS. and all the oriental versions, against it: to which may be added, that the author of this book does not once mention Elisha in any part of his work. It is certainly a possible case that this writing might have been a prediction of Jehoram's impiety and miserable death, delivered in the time of the prophet, and which was now laid before this wicked king for the first time: and by it the prophet, though not among mortals, still continued to speak. I can see no solid reason against this opinion.

Verse 14. Will the LORD smile] "The WORD of the Lord will send a great mortality." Targum.

Verse 15. Until thy bowels fall out] This must have been occasioned by a violent inflammation: by the same death perished Antiochus Epiphanes and Herod Agrippa. Verse 16. The Philistines and-the Arabians] We have no other account of this war. Though it was a predatory war, yet it appears to have been completely ruinous and destructive. What a general curse fell upon this bad king; in his body, soul, substance, vanity, and government! Verse 17. Save Jehoahaz, the youngest] This person had at least three names: Jehoahaz, Ahaziah, chap. xxii. 1. and Azariah, ver. 6.

Verse 18. The LORD smote him] "And after all these things the WORD of the Lord smote his bowels," &c. Targum.

Verse 19. After the end of two years his bowels fell

3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD, like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

A. M. 3122. B. C. 884 Anno ante 1. Olymp. 118

5 T He walked also after their counsel, and i went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth- Comditam UL. gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.

6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel, because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.

7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, by coming to Joram: for, when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

8 And it came to pass, that when Jehu was

d Heb. without desire, Jer. 22. 18.- 2 Kings 8. 24, &c. See Ch. 21. 17. Ver. 5. f Ch. 21. 17.-g See 2 Kings 8. 26-h Ch. 21. 6.-i 2 Kings 8 28, &e-k 2 Kings 15- Heb. wherewith they wounded him-m Otherwise called Abazial, Ve L and Jehoahaz, Ch. 21. 17.--n Heb. treading down-o Judg. 14. 4. 1 Kings 12 15. Ch. 10. 15.-p 2 Kings 9. 21.—q 2 Kings 9. 6, 7.

out] The Targum seems to intimate that he had a constipation and inflammation in his bowels; and that at last his bowels gushed out.

No burning] "His people made no burning of aromatic woods for him as they had done for his forefathers." Targum. See on chap. xvi. 14.

Verse 20. Departed without being desired] He was hated while he lived, and neglected when he died: visibly cursed of God, and necessarily execrated by the people whom he had lived only to corrupt and oppress. No annalist is mentioned as having taken the pains to write any account of his vile life. This summary mention of him consigns him to the execration of posterity, and holds in the view of every prudent governor, the rock on which he split, and wrecked the state.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXII.

Verse 1. Made Ahaziah his youngest son king] All the others had been slain by the Arabians, &c.: see the preceding chapter, verse 17.

Verse 2. Forty and two years old was Ahaziah] See the note on 2 Kings viii. 26. Ahaziah might have been twenty-two years old, according to 2 Kings viii. 26. but he could not have been forty-two, as stated here, without being two years older than his own father! See the note there. The Syriac and Arabic have twenty-two; and the Septuagint, in some copies, twenty. And it is very probable that the Hebrew text read so originally; for, when numbers were expressed by single letters, it was easy to mistake D mem, FORTY, for caph, TWENTY. And if this book was written by a scribe who used the ancient Hebrew letters, now called the Samaritan, the mistake was still more easy and probable; as the difference between caph, and mim, is very small; and can, in many cases, be discerned only by an accustomed eye.

The reading in 2 Kings is right; and any attempt to reconcile this in Chronicles with that is equally futile and absurd. Both readings cannot be true;-is that therefore likely to be genuine that makes the son two years older than the father who begat him! Apage he nuga!

Verse 3. His mother was his counsellor] Athalial the wicked daughter of a wicked parent; and the wicked spouse of an unprincipled king.

Verse 5. Went with Jehoram] See on 2 Kinge viii. 28.

executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.

9 And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu; and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who " sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.

V

10 But when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bed-chamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

A. M. 3120-3126.

B. C. 884-878.

Anno ante 1. OL 108-102

12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Jehoiada the priest, after having taken counsel with the captains, Levites, &c. proclaims Joash, and anoints him king, 1-11. Athaliah, endeavouring to prevent it, is slain, 12-15. He makes the people enter into a covenant that they would serve the Lord, 16. The people break down the temple of Baal, and slay Mattan

18-21

A. M. 3126. B. C. 878.

Anno aute

bis priest, 17.' Jehoiada makes several alterations, and remodels the kingdom, ND in the seventh year Jehoiada ΑΝ strengthened himself, and took the 1 Olymp. 102 Ante Urbem captains of hundreds, Azariah the son Conditam 125. of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.

2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.

4 This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;

5 And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.

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6 But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.

7 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death; but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.

r2 Kings 10. 10, 11.- 2 Kings 10. 13, 14.- 2 Kings 9. 27, at Megiddo, in the kingdom of Samaria-u Ch 17. 4.- 2 Kings 11. 1, &c.-w 2 Kings 11. 2, Jeho heba-a 2 Kings 11. 4, &c.-b 2 Sam. 7. 12 1 Kings 2. 4. & 9. 5. Ch. 6. 16. & 7. 18. & 21. 7.-c Chron. 9. 25-d Heb. thresholds.

Verse 9. He sought Ahaziah] See a different account 2 Kings ix. 27. and the note there, where the accounts are reconciled.

Verse 10. All the seed royal of the house of Judah.] Nothing but the miraculous intervention of the divine providence could have saved the line of David at this time; and preserved the prophecy relative to the Messiah. The whole truth of that prophecy, and the salvation of the world, appeared to be now suspended on the brittle thread of the life of an infant of a year old, see chap. xxiv. 1. to destroy whom was the interest of the reigning power! But God can save by few as well as by many. He had purposed-and vain were the counter-exertions of earth and hell.

Verse 12. Hid in the house of God] "In the house of the sanctuary of God." Targum. Or, as he says on

8 So the Levites, and all Judah, did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.

9 Moreover, Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been King David's, which were in the house of God.

10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.

11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and i gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.

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12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:

13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and I such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason. captains of hundreds that were set over the host, 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.

15 So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering " of the horse-gate, by the king's house, they slew her there.

16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people.

17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had Pdistributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt-offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.

B

19 And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.

20" And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.

21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

el Chron. 23. 28, 29. See 1 Chron 24. & 25-g Heb. shoulder.-h leb, house, i Deut. 17. 18-Heb. Let the king live-11 Chron. 25. 8-m Heb. conspiracy. n Neh. 3. 28o Deut. 13. 9-p 1 Chron. 23. 6, 30, 31. & 24. 1.-r Numb. 28. 2 Heb. by the hands of David, Chr. 25. 2, 6-1 Chr. 26. 1, &c.-u 2 Kings 11. 19.

ver. 11. p pa Bekodesh Kudeshia, "in the holy of holies." To this place Athaliah had no access: therefore Joash lay concealed, he and his affectionate aunt-nurse. See on 2 Kings xi. 1. NOTES ON CHAPTER XXIII. Verse 1. And in the seventh year] See on 2 Kings xi. 4. &c. Verse 9. Spears, and bucklers] See on 2 Kings xi. 10. Verse 11. God save the king] May the king live! See on 2 Kings xi. 13.

Verse 14. And whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword] He who takes her part, or endeavours to prevent the present revolution, let him be immediately slain.

Verse 15. Of the horse-gate] See on 2 Kings xi. 16. Verse 16. Made a covenant between him] The high priest was, on this occasion, the representative of GOD;