Chapter XXIV (continued, part 4)
to them the proof of a premeditated deliverance.
Ver. 1-16. Elisha Prophesies Incredible Plenty in Samaria. 1. Hear ye tlie word of the Ijord—This prediction, though uttered first to the assembled elders, was Intimated to the king's messengers, who reported it to Jehoram (v. 18). To-morrow, ahout tliig time, shall a measure of flne flonr be sold for a shekel, &c.—This may be estimated at a peck of fine flour for 2s. 6d, and two pecks of barley at the same price, at tlie gate of Samaria—Vegetables, cattle, all sorte of country produce, are still sold every morning at the gates of ',owns in the East. a. a lord on whose band the king 1< med—Wlien an Eastern king walks, or stands abroad in the open air, he always supports himself on the arm of the highest courtier present, il the Lord would make windows in heaven—The scoffing infidelity of this remark, which was a sneer against not the prophet only, but the God he served, was justly and signally punished (see v. 20). 3. there were four leprous men—The account of the sudden raising of the siege, and the unexpected supply givep to the famishing inhabitants of Samaria, is introduced by a narrative of the visit and discovery, by these poor creatures, of the extraordinary flight of the Syrians, leprous men at the entering of the gate—Living, perhaps, in some lazar-liouse there. (Leviticus 13. 4-6; Numbers 5. 3.) 6. they rose up in the twilight—i. e., the evening twilight (v. 12). the uttermost part of the camp of Syria
7-15. Hazael Kills His Master, and Succeeds Him. 7. Elisha came to Damascus—Being directed tliither by the Spirit of God, in pursuance of the mission formerly given to his master in Horeb (1 Kings 19.15), to anoint Hazael king of Syria. On the arrival of the prophet being known, Ben-hadad, who was sick, sent to inquire the issue of his disease, and, according to the practice of the heathens in consulting their soothsayers, ordered a liberal present in remuneration of the service. 9. forty camels' burden—The present, consisting of the rarest and most valuable produce of the land, would be liberal and magnificent. But it must not be supposed it was actually so large as to I'equire forty camels to carry it. The Orientals are fond of display, and would, ostentatiously, lay upon forty beasts what might very easily have been borne by four, thy son Ben-hadad—So called from the established usage of designating the prophet father. This was the same Syrian monarch who had formerly persecuted him (see on ch. 6. 13, 14). 10. Go, say, Thou mayest certainly recover— There was no contradiction in this message. This part was properly the answer to Ben-hadad's inquiry. The second part was intended for Hazael, who, like an artful and almbitious courtier, reported only as much of the prophet's statement as suited his own views
i. e., the extremity nearest the city. 6, 7. the Lord liad made the host of the Syrians to hear tlie noise of chariots—This illusion of the sense of hearing, wliereby the besiegers imagined the tramp of two armies from opposite quarters, was a great miracle whicli God wrought directly for the deliverance of his people. 8-11. tliese lepers . . . did eat and drink—After they had appeased their hunger, and secreted as many valuables as they could carry, their consciences smote them for concealing the discovery, and tliey hastened to publish it in the city. 10. hones tied, asses tied, and the tents as they were The uniform arrangement of encampments in the East is, to place the tents In the centre, while the cattle are pick-
eted all around, as an outer wall of defence ; and hence the lepers describe the cattle as the first objects they saw. 1S4-15. tlie king . . . said unto his servants, I will now how you what the Syrians have done—Similar stratagems have been so often resorted to in the ancient and modern wars of the East, that there is no wonder Jehoram's suspicions were awakened. But the scouts, whom he (Jespatched, soon found unmistakable signs of the panic that had struck the enemy, and led to a most precipitate flight.
(cf. V. 14). 11. he settled his countenance steadfastly upon him, until he wag ashamed i. e., Hazael. The steadfast, penetrating look of the prophet seemed to have convinced lil&Zael that his secret designs were known, and the deep emotions of Elisha were Justified by the horril)le atrocities which, too common in ancient warfare, that successful usurper committed in Israel (ch. 10. 32; 13.
17-20. The Unbelieving Lord Trodden to Death. 17. the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned, &c. — The news spread like lightning through the city, and was followed, as was natural, by a popular rush to the Syrian camp. To keep order at the gate, the king ordered his minister to keep guard ; but the impetuosity of the famishing people could not be resisted. The lord was trodden to death, and Elisha's prophecy in all respects accomplished.
3, 4, 22). 15. took a tliick cloth, <fcc.—A coverlet. In the East, this article of bed furniture Is generally a thick quilt of wool or cotton, so that, with its great weight, when steeped in water, it would be a fit instrument for accomplishing the murderous purpose, without leaving any marks of violence. But it has been supposed by many doubtful that Hazael purposely murdered the king. It is common for Eastern people to sleep with their facet
CHAPTER VIII. Ver. 1-fl. The Shunammite's Land Restored. 1. Then spake Elisha unto the woman— Rather "had
Jehu is Anointed King. 2 KINGS IX, X. Joram Slain, and Jezebd Eaten by Dogs.
covered with a mosquito net: anid, lu some cases of fever, they damp the bed-clothes. Hazael, aware of those chilling remedies being usually resorted to, might have, with an honest intention, spread a refreshing cover over him. The rapid occurrence of the king's death and immediate burial were favourable to his instant elevation to the throne..
—Rather, was keeping, guarding, or besieging it, with the greater part of the military force of Israel, which, owing to his wounds haying compelled the king's retirement from the scene of action, were left in command of Jehu. 16. So Jehu rode in a cliariot, and went to Jezreel— Full of ambitious designs, he immediately proceeded to cross the Jordan, to execute his commission on the house of Ahab. 17. there stood a watchman on the tower of Jezrecl-The Hebrew palaces, besides being situated on hills, had usually towers attached to them, not only for the pleasure of a fine prospect, but as posts of useful observation. The ancient watch-tower of Jezreel must have commanded a view of the whole region eastward, nearly down to the Jordan. Beth-shan stands on a rising ground about six or seven miles distant below it, in a narrow part of the plain ; and when Jehu and his retinue reached that point between Gilboa and Beth-shan, they would be fully descried by the watchman on the tower, a report being made to Joram in his palace below. A messenger on horseback is quickly despatched down into the plain to me€fc the ambiguous host, and question the object of their approach. "Is it peace?" We may safely assume that this messenger would meet Jehu at the distance of three miles or more. On the report made of his being detained, and turned into the rear of the still advancing troops, a second messenger is in like mahner despatched, who would naturally meet Jehu at the distance of a mile or a mile and a half down on the plain. He also being turned into the rear, the watchman now distinctly perceived " the driving to be like the driving of Jehu, the son of Nimshi ; for he driveth furiously." The alarmed monarch, now awakened to a sense of his impending danger, quickly summons his forces to meet the crisis, and, accompanied by Ahaziah, king of Judah, the two sovereigns ascend their chariots to make a feeble resistance to the impetuous onset of Jehu, who quickly from the plain ascends the steep northern sides of the site on which Jezreel stood, and the conflicting parties meet in "the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite," where Joram is quickly despatched by an arrow from the strong arm of Jehu. We were impressed with the obvious accuracy of the sacred historian
16-23. Jehoram's Wicked Reign. 16. Jehorain the son of Jeliosbaphat . . . began to reign— (see on ch:
3. 1). His father resigned the throne to him two years before his death. 18. daughter of Ahab—Athaliah, through
. Whose influence Jehoram introduced the worship of Baal
and many other evils into the kingdom of Judah (see 2 Chronicles 21. 2-20). This apostasy would have led to the total extinction of Kie royal family in that kingdom, had
it not been for the Divine promise to David (2 Samuel 7). A national chastisement, however, was inflicted on Judah by the revolt of Edom, which, being hitherto governed by a tributary ruler (ch. 3. 9 ; 1 Kings 22. 47), erected the standard of Independence (see on 2 Chronicles 21.9).
2i, Ahaziah ScrccEEDS Him. m. Ahaziah^ his son reigned lu Ills stead—(see on 2 Chronicles 22. 1-6).
CHAPTEE IX.
Ver. 1-23. Jehu is Anointed. 1. Ramoth-gilead—
city of great importance to the Hebrew people, east of Jordan, as a fortress of defence against the Syrians. Jehoram had regained it (ch. 8. 29). But the Israelitish army was still encamped there, under the command of Jehu. Bllgha called one of the children of the prophets This errand referred to the last commission given to Eli-
jah in Horeb (1 Kings 19. 16). box of oil—(see 1 Samuel
10. 1). !J. carry him to an Inner chamber—Both to ensure the safety of the messenger, and to prevent all ob-
struction in the execution of the business. 3. I have anointed thee king over Israel—This was only a part of the message; the full announcement of which is given
(v. 7-10). flee and tarry not^For fear of being surprised and overtaken by the spies or servants of the court. 4. So the young man . . . \vent to Ramoth-gilcad—His ready undertaking of this delicate and hazardous mission was an eminentproof of his piety and obedience. The act of anointing being done through a commissioned prophet, was a Divine intimation of his investiture with the sovereign power. But it was sometimes done long prior to the actual possession of the throne (1 Samuel 16. 13), and, in like manner, the commission had, in this Instance, been given also a long time before to Elijah, who, for good reasons, left it in charge to Elisha, and he waited God's time and command for executing it. [Poolb.] 10. in the portion of Jezreel i. e., that had formerly been the vineyard of Naboth. 11. Is all well J Ac—Jeh\j's attendants knew that the stranger belonged to the order of the prophets by his garb, gestures, and form of address; and soldiers like them very readily concluded such persons to be crackbrained, not only from the sordid negligence of their personal appearance, and their open contempt of the world, but from the religious pursuits in which their whole lives were spent, and the grotesque actions which they frequently performed (cf. Jeremiah 29. 26). 13. they Ikastefl, 'and toolK every man his garment— The upper cloak
the loQUlitiea and distances being such as seem naturally to bo required by the incidents related, aff'ording just time for the transactions to have occurred in the order in which they are recorded. [Howe.] 35. cast him in the portion of tlte fleld of IVabotli the Jezreelite, &c.—According to the doom pronounced by Divine authority on Aliab (1 Kings 21. 19), but which on liis repentance was deferred to be executed on his son. 36. the blood of Nabotli, and the blood of sons, saltlt tlieL,ord—Altliough their death is not expressly mentioned, it is plainly Implied in the confiscation of his property (see on 1 Kings
21; 16).
27-,S5. Ahaziah is Slain. 37. Ahaziah—was grandnephew to King Joram, and great-grandson to King Ahab. Ibleain—nearMegiddo, in the tribe of Issachar(Joshuiv>17.
11 ; Judges 1. 27), and Gur was an adjoining hill. 30. Jezebel painted lier face—ii/., her ey<'s, according to a custom universal in the East amongst women, of staining the eyelids with a black powder, made of pulverized antimony, or lead-ore, mixed with oil, and applied with a small brush on the border, so that by this dark ligament on the edge, the largeness as well as the lustre of the eye Itself was thought to bo ini^reased. Her object was, by her royal attire, not to captivate, but to overawe Jehu. 35. foititd no more of her tlian tlie skull, and the palms of licr hands, &c.—The dog has a rooted aversion to prey on the human hands and feet.
which they spread on the ground, as a token of their homage to their distinguished commander (Matthew 21.
7). trtp of the stairs—From the room where the prophet had privately anointed Jehu. That general returned to Join his brother ofllcers in the public apartment, who, Immediately on learning his destined elevation, conducted him to tlje top of the stairs leading to the roof, and which was the most conspicuous place of an Oriental structure that could bo chosen, being at the very top of the gate-building, and fully In view of the people and military in the open ground In front of the building. [KlTTO.] The popularity of Jehu with the army thus favoured the designs of Providence In procuring his Immediate and enthusiastic proclamation as king, and the top of tne stairs was taken as a most convenient substitute
36,37. Jezekkl Eatkn nv DoGS. 36. he said. This ! the wor<l of the Lord—(see on 1 Kings 21. 23). Jehu's statement, however, was not a literal but a paraphrased quotation of Elijah's prophecy.
Ver. 1-17. Jehu Causes Seventy ok Ahab's Chii.drmi TO UK Beiibadeu. 1. Ahab Ixtul seventy sons in Samaria —As it a])peivrs (v. 13) that grandsons are Included, It It
for a throne. 14, 15. Joram had kept Ramoth-gilcad 236
Seventy of Ahab's Children Beheaded. 2 KINGS XI. Jehoash is Made King.
harmony with the Mosaic law, and worthy of a constitutional king of Israel. It was done, however, not from re-
probable tr.at this number comprehended the whole pos-
• terlty of A)iab. Their being all assembled in that capital might arise from their being left there on tlie king's de-
ligious, but purely political motives, because he believed that the existence and interests of tlie Baalites were Inseparably bound up witli the dynasty of Ahab, and because he hoped that by their extermination he would secure the attachment of the far larger and more influential party who worshipped God in Israel. Jehonadab's concurrence must have been given In the belief of his being actuated solely by the highest principles of piety and
parture for Ramoth-gilead, or from their taking refuge in ome of the strongholds of that city on the news of Jehu's
conspiracy. It may be inferred from the tenor of Jehu's
letters that their first intention was to select the fittest of
the royal family and set him up as king, or perhaps this
Challenge of Jehu was designed as a stroke of policy on
his part to elicit their views, and try whether they were
zeal. !iS< Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal—Tlie priests of Baal were clad, probably, in robes of white byssus, while they were engaged in the functions of their oflice, and these were kept under the care of an oflicer, in a particular wardrobe of Baal's tem-
Inclined to be pacific or hostile. The bold character of the mm, and th,e rapid success of his conspiracy, terrified the
civic authorities of Samaria and Jezreel into submission.
5. he that was over the house—The governor or cham-
berlain of the palace, the brlngers-up of the chilcUien —Anciently, and still also in many Eastern countries, the
ple. This treacherous massacre, and tli^ means taken to accomplish it, are paralleled by the slaugliter of tlie Janissaries and other terrible tragedies in the modern history of the East. S9. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam . . . Jehu departed not from after them—Jehu had no intention of carrying his zeal for tlie Lord beyond a certain point, and as he considered it impolitic to encourage his subjects to travel to Jerusalem, he re-established the symbolic worship of the calves.
principal grandees were charged with the support and education of the royal princes. Tliis involved a heavy expense which they were forced to bear, but for which they endeavoured to find some compensation in the advan-
tages of tlielr connection with tlie court. 6. take ye the heads of the men, yonr master's sons—The barbarous
practice of a successful usurper slaughtering all who may have claims to the throne, has been frequently exempli-
fied in the ancient and modern histories of the East. 8. lay ye them in two heaps at tlie entering in of tlie gate, Ac—The exhibition of the heads of enemies is always considered a glorious tropliy. Sometimes a pile of heads is erected at the gate of the palace ; and a head of peculiarly striking appearance selected to grace the summit of tlie pyramid. 9. said to all the people, Ye be righteous, <tc.—A great concourse was assembled to gaze OB this novel and ghastly spectacle. The speech which Jehu addressed to the spectators was artfully framed to Impress their minds with the idea that so wholesale a massacre, done without his order or connivance, was the secret result of the Divine judgments denounced on the
Ver. 1-3. Jehoash Saved from Athaliah's Massacre. 1. AthtQiah-(see on 2 Chronicles 22. 2). She had possessed great influence over her son, who, by her coun-
sels, had ruled in the spirit of the house of Aliab. destroyed all the seed-royal—all connected with the royal family who might have urged a claim to the throne, and who had escaped the murderous hands of Jehu (2 Chronicles 21. 2-4; 22. 1 ; ch. 10. 13, 14). This massacre slie was incited to perpetrate—partly from a determination not to let David's family outlive hers—partly as a measure of self-defence to secure herself against the violence of Jehu, who was bent on destroj'Ing the wliole of Ahab's posterity to which she belonged (ch. 8. 18-26); but chiefly from personal ambition to rule, and a desire to establish the worship of Baal. Such was the sad fruit of the unequal alliance between the son of tlie pious Jehoshaphat and a daugliter of the idolatrous and wicked house of Ahab. /3. Jehosheba—or Jehoshabeath (2 Chronicles 22. 11). daughter of King Joram—not by Athaliah , but by a secondary wife, stole him from among the king's sons wlilch were slain—either from among the corpses, he being considered dead, or out of tlie palace nursery, hid him in the bed-chamber-For the use of the priests, which was in some part of the temple (u. 3), and of which Jehoiada and his wife had the sole charge. What is called, however, the bed-chamber in the East is not the kind of apartment that we understand by the name, but a small closet, into which are flung during the day the mattresses and other bedding materials spread on the floors or divans of the sitting-rooms by day. Such a lumber-room was well suited to be a convenient place for the recovery of his wounds, and a hiding-place for the royal infant and his nurse.
house of Ahab; and the effect of it was to prepare the public mind for hearing, without horror, of a similar revolting tragedy which was soon after perpetrated, viz., the extinction of all the influential friends and supporters
of the dynasty of Ahab, Including thoseof theroyal h<)use of Judah. 13. We are the "brethren of Ahaslah i.e., not full, but step-brothers, sons of Jehoram by various concubines. Ignorant of the revolution that had taken
place, they were travelling to Samaria on a visit to their royal relatives of Israel, when they were seized and put to death, from the apprehension that they might probably Btlmnlate and strengthen the party that still remained folthful in their allegiance to Ahab's dynasty, children of the qnecn—t. e., of the queen-mother, or regent, Jeze-
bel. 15-18, Jehonadab the son of Recliab—(see 1 Chronicles 2. 55). A person who, from his piety and sindple primitive manner of life (Jeremiah 35.), was highly esteemed, and possessed great influence in the country. Jeha saw In a moment the advantage that his cause would
gftrti from the friendship and countenance of this venerable man In the eyes of the people, and accordingly paid him the distinguished attention of inviting him to a seat In his chariot, give me thine hand—Not simply to aid him In getting up, but for a far more significant and important purpose—the giving, or rather Joining hands, being the recognized mode of striking a league or covenant, as well as of testifying fealty to a new sovereign; accordingly, It Is said, " he (.^brfonadab) gave him (Jehu) his hand."
4-12. He is Made King. 4. In the seventh year—viz., of the reign of Athaliah, and the rescue of Jehoash. Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers, &c.—He could scarcely have obtained such a general convocation except at the time, or on pretext, of a public and solemn festival. Having revealed to them the secret of the young king's preservation, and entered into a covenant with tliem for the o\»>rthrow of tlie tyrant, he then arranged with them the plei. and time of carrying their plot Into execution (see ou 2 Chronicles 22.10-12; 23). The conduct of Jehoiaa», wno acted the leading and clilef part in tills conspiracy, admits of an easy and full Justification; for, while Athaliah was a usurper, and belonged to a race devoted by Divine denunciation to destruotloii, even his own wife had a better and stronger cliilrr to the throne; the sovereignty of Judah had been divinely appropriated
18-29. He Destroys the Worshippers of Baal. 19. call unto me all the prophets of Baal—The votaries of Baal are here classified under the several titles of prophets, priests, and servants, or worshippers generally. They might be easily convened Into one spacious temple, as their number had been greatly diminished both by the Influential ministrations of Elijah and Elisha, and also from the late King Joram's neglect and discontinuance of the worship. Jehu's appointment of a solemn sacrifice In honour of Kaal, and a summons to all his worshippers to
Join In its celebration, was a deep-laid plot, which hehad WBOlved upon for their extinction • a measure in perfect
to the family of David, and therefore the young prince on whom it was proposed to confer the crown, possessed an
Jchoash orders the Repair of the Temple. 2 KINGS XII, XIII. Jekoahaz's Wicked Reign over Israel.
moneys destined for the general use of the priests, in the hope that tlie people would be more liberal in their contributions when it was known that their offerings would be devoted to tlie special purpose of making the necessary repairs; and that the duty of attending to tliis work was no longer to devolve on the priests, but to be undertaken by the king. 11-13. they gave the money, being told. Into tlie hands of them that did the work—Tlie king sent his secretary along with an agent of the high priest (2 Chronicles 24. 11) to count the money in tlie cliest from time to time, and deliver the amount to the overseers of the building, who paid the workmen and purchased all necessary materials. The custom of putting sums of certain amount in bags, which are labelled and sealed by a proper officer. Is a common way of using the currency in Turkey and other Eastern countries. 13-16. Howbeit there were not made bowls, &c.—When the repairs of tiie temple had been completed, the surplus was appropriated to the purchase of the temple furniture. Tlie integrity of the overseers of tlie work being undoubted, no account was exacted of the way in which they applied tlie money given to them, while other moneys levied at the temple were left to the disposal of the priests as the law directed (Leviticus 5. 16; Numbers
inherent right to It, of which a usurper could not deprive him. Moreover, Jeholada was most probably the high priest, whose official duty it w-as to watch over the due execution of God's laws, and wlio in his present movement, was encouraged and aided by tlie countenance and support of the clilef authorities, botli civil and
ecclesiastical, in the country. In addition to all these considerations, he seems to have been directed by an impulse of the Divine Spirit, through the counsels and exhortations of the prophets of the time.
13-16. Athaliah Slain. 13. Athallah heard tHe noise of tlie guard and of tlie people—The profound secresy with wliich the conspiracy had been conducted rendered the unusual acclamations of the vast assembled crowd the more startling, and roused the suspicions of the tyrant, she came Into tlxe temple of the I^ord—i. e., the courts, which she was permitted to enter by Jehoiada's directions (v. 8) in order that she might be secured. 14. the king stood by a pillar—or on a platform, erected for that purpose (2 Chronicles 6. 13). 15. without the rangeg —i. e., fences, that the sacred place might not be stained witli human blood.
17. Jehoiada Restorks God's Worship. 17. a covenant between the L>ord and the king and the people The covenant with the Lord was a renewal of the national covenant with Israel (Exodus 19. ; 24. ; " to be unto him a people of inheritance," Deuteronomy 4.6; 27.9). Tlie covenant between the king and the people was the consequence of this, »nd by it the king bound himself to rule according to the Divine law, while the people engaged to submit, to give him allegiance as the Lord's anointed. Tlie Immediate fruit of this renewal of the jovenant was the destruction of the temple and the slaugliter of the priests of Baal (see on ch. 10.27); the restoration of the pure worship of God in all its ancient integrity, and the establishment of the young king on the hereditary throne of Judah.
5. 8). 17, 18. Then Hazael fought against Gatli—(Seeon
2 Chronicles 24. 23, 24.)
19-21. He is Slain. SO. his servants arose . . , and slew Joash In the house of MUlo—(See also 2 Chronicles
24.25.) CHAPTER XIII.
Ver. 1-7. Jehoahaz's Wicked Reign over Israel. 1. Jehoaliaz reigned seventeen years—Under his government, wliicli pursued the policy of his predecessors regarding the support of the calf-worship, Israel's apostasy from tlie true God became greater and more confirmed than in the time of his father Jehu. The national chastisement, when it came, was consequently tlie more severe; and the Instruments employed by the Lord In scourging tlie revolted nation were Hazael and his son and general Bcn-hadad, in resisting whose successive invasions the Israelitish army was sadly reduced and weakened. In the extremity of his distress, Jelioahaz besought the Lord, and was heard, not on his own account (Psalm 66.18; Proverbs 1.28; 15.8), but that of the ancient covenant with the patriarchs (v. 2:i). 4. He saw tlie oppression of Israel—t. e., commiserated the fallen condition of his chosen people. The Divine honour and the interests of true religion required that deliverance should be granted them to check the triumph of tlie idolatrous enemy, and put an end to their blasphemous taunts that God had forsaken Israel (Deuteronomy 32 27; Psalm 12. 4). 5. a saviour—This refers neither to some patriotic defender nor some signal victory, but to the deliverance obtained for Israel by the two successors of Jehoaliaz,
Ver. 1-18. Jehoash Reigns Well while Jehoiada Lived. 3. Jehoash did that wliich was right in the sight of the Lord—So far as related to his outward actions and the policy of his government. But it is evident from tlie sequel of his history that the rectitude of his administration was owing more to the salutary influence of liis preserver and tutor, Jehoiada, than to the honest and sincere dictates of his own mind. 3. But the high places were not taken away—Tlie popular fondness for the private and disorderly rites performed In the groves and recesses of hills was so inveterate that even the most powerful monarchs had been unable to accomplish their suppression ; no wonder that In tlie early reign of a young king, and after the gross irregularities that had been allowed during the maladministration of Athaliah, the difficulty of putting an end to the superstitions associated with "the high places" was greatly increased. 4. Jehoash said to the priests, Ac.—There is here given an account of the measures which the young king took for repairing tlie temple by the levying of taxes. I. "The money of every one that passeth theaccouunt," viz., half a shekel, as an offering to the Lord" (Exodus 30. 13). 2. "The money that every man Is set at," i. e., the redemption-price" of every one who had devoted lilmself or any thing belonging to him to the Lord, and the amount of which was estimated according to certain rules (Leviticus
viz., Joash, who regained all the cities which the Syrians had taken from his father {v. 25); and Jeroboam, who restored the former boundaries of Israel (ch. 14. 25). 6. there remained the grove—Aslierah—the idol set up by Ahab (1 Kings 16.3.3), and whleli ought to have been demolislied (Deuteronomy 7.5). 7. made tltem like the dust In threshing—Threshing In the East is performed in the open air upon a level plot of ground, daubed over with a covering to prevent, as much as possible, the earth, sand, or gravel from rising; a great quantity of them all, notwithstanding this precaution, must unavoidably be taken up with the grain; at the same time the straw is shattered to pieces. Hence it is a most significant figure, frequently employed by Orientals to describe a state of national suffering, little short of extermination (Isaiah 21.10; Mlcah 4.12; Jeremiah 51.3.'!). The figure originated In a barbarous war custom, which Hazael literally followed (Amos 1.3,4; of. 2Samuel 8.111; Judges 8. 7).
27.1-8). 3. Free-will or voluntary offerings made to the sanctuary. The first two were paid annually (see on 2 Chronicles 24. 5). 7-10. Wliy repair ye not the I>reache8 of tlic house I—This mode of collection not proving so productive as was expected, tlie dilatoriness at the priests was the chief cause of the failure, and a new arrangement was proposed. A chest waR placed by the high priest at the entrance into tlie temple, into which the money given by the people for the repairs of the temple wan to be put by the Levltes who kept the door. The object of this chest was to make a separation between tbo money to be raised for the building from the other
8-2.5. JoASii SirccKEDS HIM. 8. hU might—Thls Is particularly noticed In order to show that the grievous oppression from foreign enemies, by which the Isrtielltei were ground down, was not owing to the cowardice or
Tke Reigns of Joash and Amaziah. 2 KINGS XIV. Joash Defeats ArmsicA
was confirmed in his hand—It was an act of justice no less than of filial piety to avenge the murder of his father; but it is evident that the two assassins must have possessed considerable weight and influence, as the king was obliged to retain them in his service, and durst not,. for fear of their friends and supporters, institute proceedings against them until his power had been fully consolidated. 6. But the children of the murderers he slew not This moderation, inspired by the Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 24. 16), displays the good character of this prince; fdt the course thus pursued towards the families of tlie regicides was directly contrary to the prevailing customs of antiquity, according to which all connected with the criminals were doomed to unsparing destruction.
Imbecility of their king, but solely to the righteous and
terrible Judgment of God for their foul apostasy. 12, 13. his mlglit, ivKerewlthi he fought against Amaziah—
(See on ch. U. 8-14.) The usual summary of his life and reign occurs rather early, and Is again repeated in the account given of tlie reign of the king of Judah (cli. 14. 15). 14-19. Elivha was falleii sick of his sickness tvhereof he died—Every man's Jeath Is occasioned by some dis-
ease, and so was Elisha's. But in intimating it, there seems a. contrast tacitly made between him and his pro-
|)hetic predecessor, who did not die. Joash the king of Israel came dovm unto him, and wept over his face Visited him where he was lying ill of this mortal sick-
ness, and expressed deep sorrow, not from the personal respect he bore for the prophet, but for the incalculable
7. He Smites Edom. 7. He slew of Kdom In the valley of salt ten thousand—In the reign of Joram the Edomites had revolted (see on ch. 8. 20). But Amaziah, determined to reduce them to their former subjection, formed a hostile expedition against them, in which he
loss his death would occasion to the kingdom, my father, my father I &c.—(See on ch. 2. 12.) These words seem to have been a complimentary phrase applied to •one who was thought an eminent guardian and deliverer of his country; and the particular application of them to Elisha, who, by his counsels and prayer, had obtained many glorious victories for Israel, shows that the king possessed some measure of faith and trust, which, thougl\ weak, was accepted, and called forth the prophet's dying benediction. 15. Take bow and arrows—Hostilities vere usually proclaimed by a herald, sometimes by a king or general making a public and formal discharge of an arrow into the enemy's country. Elisha directed Joash to do this, as a symbolical act, designed to intimate more fully and significantly the victories promised to the king of Israel over the Syrians. His laying his hands upon the king's hands was to represent the power imparted to the bow-shot as coming from the Lord through the medium of the prophet. His shooting the first arrow eastward— to that part of his kingdom which the Syrians had taken, and which was east of Samaria^was a declaration of war against them for the Invasion. His shooting the other arrows into the ground was in token of the number of victories he was to gain; but his stopping at the third betrayed the weakness of his faith ; for, as the discharged arrow signified a victory over the Syrians, it is evident Uiat the more arrows he shot the more victories he would gain; and as he stopped so soon, his conquests would be Incomplete. 20. Elisha died—Enjoying a happier life than Elijah, as he possessed a milder character, and bore a less hard commission—his rough garment was honoured even at tlie court, coming In of the year—i. e., the spring, the
routed their army, and made himself master of their capital, the valley of salt^is that part of the Ghor which comprises the salt and sandy plain to the south of the Dead Sea. Selah — 2t<., Selah — (rock) generally thought to be Petra. Joktheel i. e., given or conquered by God. See the history of this conquest.more fully detailed
(2 Chronicles 25. 6^16).
8-16. JOASH Defeats Him. 8. Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, theson of Jehoaha'f, son of Jehu, king of Israel—This bold and haughty challenge, which was most probably stimulated by a desire of satisfaction for the outrages perpetrated by the discharged auxiliaries of Israel (2 Chronicles 25. 13) on the towns that lay in their way home, as well as by revenge for the massacre of his ancestors by Jehu (ch. 9.) sprang, there is little doubt, from pride and self-confidence, inspired by his victory over the Edomites. 9. Jehoash the king of Israel gent to Amaziah—People in the East very often express their sentiments in a parabolic form, especially when they intend to convey unwelcome truths or a contemptuons sneer. This was the design of the admonitory fable related by Joash in his reply. The thistle, a low shrub, might l?e chosen to represent Amaziah, a petty prince; the cedar, the powerful sovereign of Israel, and the wild beast
that trode down the thistle the overwhelming army with which Israel could desolate Judah. But, perhaps, without making so minute an ajjplication, the parable may be explained generally, as describing in a striking manner the
efl["ects of pride and ambition, towering far beyond their natural sphere, and sure to fall with a sudden and ruinous crash. The moral of the fable is contained in u. 10. 11. But Amaziah would not hear—The sarcastic tenor of this reply incited the king of Judah the more ; for, being in a state of Judicial blindness and infatuation (2 Chronicles
osoal season of beginning campaigns in ancient times. Predatory bands from Moab generally made incursions at that time on the lands of Israel. The bearers of a corpse,' alarmed by the appearance of one of these bands, hastily deposited, as they passed that way, their load in Elisha's sepulchre, which might be easily done by removing the stone at the mouth of the cave. According to the Jewish and Eastern custom, his body, as well as that of the man who was miraculously restored, was not laid In a coffin, but only swathed; so that the bodies could be brought into contact; and the object of the miracle was to stimulate the king's and people of Israel's faith in the still unaccomplished predictions of Elisha respecting the war with the Syrians. Accordingly the historian forthwith records the historical fulfilment of the prediction (v. 22-25), In the defeat of the enemy. In the recovery of the cities that had been taken, and their restoration to the kingdom of Israel.
25. 20), he was Immovably determined on war. But the superior energy of Joash surprised him ere he had completed his military preparations. Pouring a numerous army into the territory of Judah, he encountered Amaziah in a pitched battle, routed his army, took himself prisoner, and having marched to Jerusalem, not only demolished part of the city walls, but plundered the treasures of the palace and temple, and taking hostages to prevent any further molestation from Judah, terminated the war. Without leaving a garrison in Jerusalem, he returned to his capital with all convenient speed, his presence and whole forces being required to repel the troublesome Incursions of the Syrians.
17-20. He is Slain by a Conspiracy. 19. they mada a conspiracy against Ikim in Jerusalem—Ama/.iah'S apostasy (2 Chronicles 25. 27) was followed by a general maladministration, especially the disastrous issue of the war with Israel—the ruinous condition of Jerusalem, the plunder of the temple, and the loss of their children who were taken as hostages—lost him the respect and attachment not of the grandees only, but of his subjects generally, who were In rebellion. The king fied in terror to Lacliiuh, a fi-ontier town of the Philistines, where, however, he was traced and murdered. His friends hm) bin corpse brought without any pomp or ceremony, In a 239
Ver. 1-6. Amaziah's Good Reiqn over Judah. 3-€. Be did that which was right in the sight of tl»e Lord, yet not like David his father—The beginning of his reigu was exc(tllent, for he acted the part of a constitutional king, according to the law of God, yet not with perfect •Incerlty of heart (cf. 2 Chronicles 25. 2), for, as In the case of his father Joaah, the early promise was belled by the devious course he personally followed In later life (see on J Chronicles 20. 14), as well as by the public Irregularities
Q« tolerated In the kingdom. 5. as soon as the kingdom
The Reigns of Azariah, Jeroboam. 2 KIJSGS XV, XVI. Zechariah, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, etc.
of his predecessors. 19. Pul the king of Assyria—This
chariot to Jerusalem, where he was interred among bis royal ancestors.
is the first Assj'rian king after Nlmrod who is mentioned in biblical history. His name has been recently identified witli thatof Phalluka on the monuments of Nineveh, and tliat of Menahem discovered also, came against the land—Elsewhere it is said "Ephraim (Israel) goes to the Assyrian." The two statements may be reconciled thus: "Pul, of his own motion, induced, perhaps, by tlie expedition of Menahem against Thapsacus, advanced against the kingdom of Israel; then Menahem sent him 1000 talents in order not only to divert him from his plans of conquest, but at the same time to purchase his friendship and aid for tlie establishment of his own precarious sovereignty, so that Menahem did not properly Invite the Assyrian into the land, but only changed tlie enemy when marching against the country, by tliis tribute, into a confederate for the security of his usurped dominion; which the prophet Hosea, less concerned about the historical fact than the disposition betrayed therein, might very well censure as a going of Ephraim to the Assyrians (Hosea 5. 13 ; 7. 1 ; 8. 9), and a cov^ant-making with Asshur (ch.l2. 1). [Keil.] a thousand talents of silver—Equal to
21, '22. Azariah Succeeds Him. 31. all. the people of Jndah took Aiarlali—Or Uzziah (ch. 15. 30 ; 2 Chronicles
26. 1). The popular opposition had been personally directed against Amaziah as the author of their calamities, but it was not extended to his family or heir. 'i'i. He built Elatli—fortified that seaport. It liad revolted with the rest of Edom, but was now recovered by Uzziah, his
father, who did not complete the conquest of Edopa, having left him tliat work to do.
23-29. Jeroboam's Wicked Reign over Israel.' 33. Jeroboam, tUe son of Joasb, the king of Israel—This was Jeroboam II. who, on regaining tlie lost territory, raised the kingdom to great political power (v. 25), but adhered to the favourite religious policy of tlie Israelltish sovereigns {v. 24); and, while God granted him so great a measure of national prosperity and eminence, the reason
Is expressly stated (v. 26, 27) to be that the purposes of the Divine covenant forbade as yet the overthrow of the kingdom of theten tribes (see on ch. 13. 23).
£362,200. This tribute, which Menahem raised by a tax on the grandees of Israel, bribed Pul to return to his own country (see on 1 Chronicles 5. 26).
Ver. 1-4. AzARiAH's Reign over Judah. 1. In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam—It is thought that tlie throne of Judah continued vacant eleven or twelve years, between the death of Amaziah and the inauguration of his son Azariah, who, being an infant four years old when his father was murdered, a regency was appointed duri ng his minority. Azariah began to reign —The character of his reign is described by the brief formula employed by the inspired historian, in recording the religious policy of the later kings. But his reign Was a very active as well as eventful one, and is fully related (2 Chronicles 26). Elated by the possession of great power, and presumptuously arrogating to himself, as the heathen kings, the functions both of the real and sacerdotal offices, he was punished with leprosy, which, as the offence was capital (Numbers 8. 7), was equivalent to death; for this disease excluded him from all society; and while Jotliam, his son, as his viceroy, administered the aft'airs of tlie kingdom—being about fifteen years of age (cf. V. Wi}—he had to dwell in a place apart by himself (see on ch. 7. 3). After a long reign he died, and was buried. in the royal burying-fleld, though not in the royal cemetery of " the city of David" (2 Chronicles 20. 33).
22-24. Pekahiah's. 33. Pekahiah . . . son of Menahem began to reign—On comparing the date given with Azariah's reign, it seems that several months had intervened between the death of Menahem and •the accession of Pekaliiah, probably owing to a contest about the throne. 35. \vlth Argob and Arleh, <Sc.—JIaiiy commentators view these as the captain's accomplices. But
it is more probable that they were influential friends of the king, who were murdered along with him.
27-31. Pekah'S. 39. In the days of Peknh, king of Israel, came TIglath-plleser—This monarch, who succeeded Pul on the throne of Assyria, is tlie only one of
all the kings who does not give his genealogy, and is therefore supposed to have been an usurper. His annals have been discovered in the Nimroud mound—describing this expedition into Syria. The places taken are here mentioned as they occurred and were conquered in the progress of an invasion. 30. Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy . . , and slew him— He did not, however, obtain possession of the kingdom till about nine or tea years after the perpetration of this crime. [Hales.]
32-.3S. JoTHAM's Reign over Jud.\h. In tlie twentieth year of Jotham—Jotham's reign having lasted only sixteen years, the meaning Is, that the reign of Hoshea began in tile twentieth after the beginning of Jotham's reign the sacred historian, having not yet introduced the name of Ahaz, reckoned the date by Jotham, whom ho had already mentioned (see on 2 Cnironicles 27. 8). 33. Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign —I. c, alone—for he had ruled as his father's viceroy. 35. the higher gate of the house of the Lord—Not the temple itself, but one of its courts—probably that whichled into the palace (2 Clironlcles 2:1. 20). 37. the Lord began to send against Judah, Kezin the king of Syria, &c.—This Is tlie first intimation of the hostile feelings of
8-lG. Zechariah's Reign over I.sraei,. 8. In the tlilrty and eighth year of Azariah king of .Tudah did Zecharinh the son ofJeroboam reign over Israel—Tliere was an interregnum from some unlcnown cause between
tlie reign of Jeroboam and the accession of his son, wliich lasted, according to some, for ten or twelve years, according to others, tor twenty-two years, or more. This prince pursued the religious policy of the calf-worship, and'hls reign was short, being abruptly terminated by the hand of violence. In his fate was fulfilled the prophecy addressed to Jehu (ch. 10.30; also Hosea 1.4), that his family would pogsess the throne of Israel for four generations; and accordingly Jehoahaz, Joash, Jehoram, and Zechariah were his successors — but there his dynasty terminated ; and perhaps it was the public knowledge of this prediction that prompted the murderous design of Shallum. 13-17. Shailnm . . . reigned a full month—Heing opposed and slain by Menahem, who, according to Josephus, was commander of the forces, wliich, on the report of the king's murder, were besieging Tlrzali, a town twelve miles east of Samaria, and formerly a seat of the kings of Israel. Raising the siege, ho marched directly against the usurper, slew him, and reigned In Ills stead. 16. Menahem smote TIphsah—Thapsacus, on the Euphrates, the border city of Solomon's kingdom (1 Kings 4.
tlie kings of Israel and Syria, to Judah, whicii led tliem to form an alliance and make Joint preparations for war, which, however, was not actually waged till the relga of Ahaz.
Ver. 1-16. AnAz'8 Wickkd JJeion over Judah. Ahaz did not that which was right In the sight of the liord—The character of this king's reign, the voluptuousness and religious degeneracy of all cla.sses oT the people, are graphically portrayed In the writings of Isaiah, who prophesied at that period. Tlie great Increase of worldly wealth and luxury in the reigns of Azariah and Jotham had Introduced a host of corruptions, which, during his reign, and by the Influence of Ahaz, bore fruit In the Idolatrous practices of every kind which prevailed In all parts of the kingdom (see on 2 Chronicles 28. 21),
24). Tlie inhabitants refusing to open their gates to him, Menahem took it by storm, and having spoiled it, committed the most barbarous excesses, without regard either to age or sex.
17-21. Menahem'S. 17. reified ten years In Samaria —His government was conducted on the religious policy
Etoikea^s Wicked Reign. 2 KINGS XVII. Samaria Taken, and Israel Carried Captive.
3, walked In tUe way of the kings of Israel—this is descriptive of the early part of his reign, wlien, lilie the kin^s of Israel, he patronized the symbolic worship of God by images, but he gradually went farther into gross Idolatry (2 Clironlcles 28. 2). made lits son to pass tnrougli the fire—(ch. 23. 10). The hands of the idol Moloch being red-hot, the children were i)assed through between tliem, which was considered a form of lustration ; but there is reason to believe that, In certain circumstances, the children were burnt to death (Psalm 106. 37). This was strongly prohibited in the law (Leviticus 18. 21;
zealous patrons of idolatry, and many of whom liad been also infamous for personal crimes, tlie wliole nation had become so completely demoralized, tliat tiie risjlittous judgment of an angry Providence imiDcnded over it. 3. Against him came up Shalmaneser—or Slialman (Ilosea
10. 14), tlie same as the Sargon of Isaiah. Very recently the name of this Assyrian king has been traced on the Ninevite monuments, as concerned in an expedition against a king of Samaria, whose name, thougli mutilated. Colonel Rawlinson reads as Hoshea.- 4. found con^ spiracy in Hoshea—after having paid tribute for several years, Hoshea, determined on throwing off the Assyrian yoke, withheld the stipulated tribute; and Shalmaneser, incensed at tliis rebellion, proclaimed war against Israel. This was in the sixtli year of Hoshea's reign, he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt—the Sabaco of the classic historians, a famous Etliiopian wlio, for fifty years, occupied the Egyptian throne, and through wliose aid Hoshea hoped to resist the threatened attack of the Assyrian conqueror. But Shalmaneser, marching against him, scoured the whole country of Israel, besieged the capital Samaria, and carried the piincipal inliabitanta into captivity in his own land, having taken tlie king himself, and imprisoned him for Jife. This ancient policy of transplanting a conquered people into a foreign land, was founded on the idea that, among a mixed multitude, differing in language and religion, they would be kept in better subjection, and have less opportunity of combining together to recover their independence, carried Israel away i. e., the remaining tribes (see on ch. 15. 29). and placed them, Ac—This passage Gesenius renders tlius, omitting the particle by, .which is printed in italics to show it is not in the original: "and placed them in Halah, and on the Chabor, a river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." Halah, the same as Calah (Genesis 10. 11, 12), in the region of the Laycus or Zab river, about a day's journey from .the ruins of Nineveh. Chabor is a river, and it is remarkable that there is a river rising in the central highlands of Assyria which retains this name Khabour unchanged to the present day. Gozan (pasture) or Zozan, are tlie highlands of Assyria, which afford pasturage. The region in which the Chabor and the Zab rise, and through which they flow, is peculiarly of this character. The Nestorlans repair to it with their numerous flocks, spending the summer on the banks or in the highlands of the Chabor or the Zab. Considering the high authority we possess for regarding Gozan and Zozan as one name, there can be no doubt that this is tlie Gozani referred to in this passage, cities of the Modes—"villages," according to the Syriac and Vulgate versions, or "mountains," according to the Septuagint. Tlie Medish inhabitants of Gozan, having revolted, had hoen destroyed i by the kings of Assyria, and nothing was more natural', than that they should wish to place in it an industrious people, like the captive Israelites, while it was well suited
20. 2-5; Deuteronomy 18. 10), although there is no evidencethat it was practised in Israel till the time of Ahaz. 5. Then Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remallah, king of Israel, came up to war against Jcru- •alem—Notwithstanding their great efforts and military preparations, they failed to take it, and, being disappointed, raised the siege and returned home (cf. Isaiah 7.
1). 6. Rezin recovered Elath—which Azariali had got Into his possession (ch. 14. 22). The Syrians came to BUath, and dwelt there unto this day—The Septuagint version has "the Edomites," which tlie most judicious commentators and travellers [Robinson] prefer. 7-9. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser—In spite of the assurance given him by Isaiah by two signs, the one immediate, the other remote (Isaiah 7. li ; 8. 4), that the confederate kings would not prevail against him, Ahaz sought aid from the Assyrian monarcli, to purchase which he sent the treasures of the palace and temple. Tiglathpileser marched against Damascus, slew Rezin the king, and carried the people of Damascus into captivity to Kir, which is thought to have been the city Karine (now Kerend), in Media. 10-16. Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser—This was a visit of respect, and perhaps of gratitude. During his stay in tliat heathen city, Ahaz ,7 an altar with which he was greatly captivated. Fartl"; writh a sketch of it was transmitted to Jerusalem, vLh orders to Urijah the priest to get one constructed according to the Damascus model, and let this new altar supersede the old one in the temple. Urijah, with culpable complaisance, acted according to his instructions {y. IG). The sin in this affair consisted in meddling with, and improving according to human taste and fancy, the altars of the temple, the patterns of which had been furnished by Divine authority (Exodus 25. 40 ; 26. 30;
27. 1 ; 1 Chronicles 28. 19). Urijah was one of the witnesses taken by Isaiah to bear his prediction against Syria and Israel (Isaiah 8. 2).
17-19. He Spoils THE Temple. 17. cut off the borders of the bases, <fec.—It is thought that he did this to employ the elaborate sculpture in adorning his palace. 18. the covert for the Sabbath—the portico through which the priests entered the temple on the Sabbath, the king's entry without—a private external entrance for the king into the temple. The change made by Ahaz consisted in removing both of these into the temple from fear of the king of Assyria, that. In case of a siege, he might secure the entrance of the temple from him.
i to their pastoral life. [Grant's Nestorians.]
5-41. Samaria Taken, and Israel for their Sins Carried Captive. 7. For so it was tliat the chll>- dren of Israel had sinned—There is here given a very full and Impressive vindication of the Divine procedure in punishing his highly privileged, but rebellious and' apostate people. No wonder that amid so gross a perversion of the worship of the true God, and the national propensity to do reverence to idols, the Divine patience was exhausted; and that the God whom they had forsaken permitted them to go into captivity, that they might learn the difference between His service and that of their despotic conquerors. 24. the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, &c.—This was nc»t Shalmaneser, but Esar-haddon (Ezekiel 4. 2). The places vacated by the captive Israelites he ordered to lie occupied by several colonies of his own subjects from Bab.ylon, and other provinces, from Cuthah— The Chaldee form of Cush or Snsiana, now Khusistan. Ava—Suppixsed to be Ahivaz, situated on the river Karuns, which falls into the head of the Persian Gulf. Hamath—On the Orontes. Sepharvaim — Slphara, a city on the Euphrates above Babylon, placed them to dwell In the cities of Sa-
CHAPTEB XVII.
Ver. i-j. HosHEA's Wicked Reign. 1. In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, began Hoshea to reign riie statement in ch. 15. 30 may be reconciled with the present passage in the following manner: Hoshea conspired against Pekah in the twentieth year of the latter, which was the eighteenth of Jotham's reign. It was two years before Hoshea was acknowledged king of Israel,
i. €., in the fourth of Ahaz, and twentieth of Jothara. In the twelfth year of Ahaz his reign began to be tranquil and prosperous. [Calmet.] a. he did evil, but not as the kings of Israel—Unlike his predecessors from the time of Jeroboam, he neither established the rites of Baal, nor compelled the people to adhere to the symbolic worship of the calves. But. although. In these respects, Hoshea acted as became a constitutional king of Israel; yet, through the influence of the nineteen princes who had swayed the sceptre before him, all of whom had been
The Mixed Worship of the Samaritans. 2 KINGS XVm. Sezekiah D^troys Idolatry.
ntaiis, &c.—It must not be supposed that the Israelites were universally removed to a man. A remnant was
warm climates of the south, where the human frame Is matured sooner than in our northern regions. But the . case admits of solution in a difl'erent way. It was customary for the later kings of Israel to assume their son and heir into partnership in the government during their lives ; and as Hezekiah began to reign in the third year of Hoshea (v.l), and Hoshea in the twelfth year of Ahaz (ch. 17. 1), it is evident that Hezekiah began to reign in the fourteenth year of Ahaz his fother, and so reigned two or three years before his father's deatli. So that, at the beginning of his reign in conjunction with his father, he might be only twenty-two or three, and Ahaz a few years older than the common calculatiim maltes him. Or the case may be solved thus: As the ancient writers, in the computation of time, take notice of the year they mention, whether finished or newly begun, so Ahaz might be near twenty-one years old at the beginning of his reign, and near seventeen years older at his death; while, on the other hand, Hezekiah, wiien he began to reign, might be just entering into his twenty-fifth year, and so.Ahaz would be near fourteen years old when his sou Hezekiah was born—no uncommon age for a young man to become a father in southern latitudes. [Patrick.]
left, chiefly, however, of the poor and lower classes, with whom these foreign colonists mingled ; so that the prevailing character of society about Samaria was heathen, not Israelite; for the Assyrian colonists became masters
. of the land, and, forming partial intermarriages with the
remnant Jews, the inhabitants became a mongrel race, no longer a people of Ephraim (Isaiah 7. 6), who, imperfectly Instructed in the creed of the Jews, acquired also a mongrel doctrine. Being too few to replenish the land, lions, by which the land had been infested (Judges 14. 5 ; 1 Samnell7. 34; 1 Kings 13.24; 20.36; Song 4.8), multiplied and committed frequent ravages upon them. Recognizing in these attacks a judgment from the God of the land, whom they had not worshipped, they petitioned the Assyrian court to send them some Jewish priests who might instruct them in the right way of serving Htm. The king, in compliance with their request, sent them one of the exiled priests of Israel, who established his headquarters at Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear the Lord. It is not said that he took a copy of the Pentateuch with him, out of which he might teach them. Oral teaching was much better fitted for the superstitious people than instruction out of a written book. He could teach them more efl'ectually by word of mouth. Believing that he would adopt the best and simplest method for them. It
4-37. He Destroys Idolatry. *. He removed the liigli places and brake tbe Images, i&c.—The methods adopted by this good king for extirpating idolatry, and accomplishing a thorough reformation in religion, are fully detailed (2 Chronicles 20. 3 ; 31. 19). But they are here indicated very briefly, and in a sort of passing allusion, brake ill pieces the brazen serpent—The preservation of this remarkable relic of antiquity (Numbers 21. 5-10), might, like the pot of jnanna and Aaron's rod, have remained an interesting and instructive monument of the Divine goodness and mercy to the Israelites in the wilderness ; and it must have required the exercise of no small courage and resolution to destroy it. But in the progress of degeneracy it had become an object of idolatrous worship; and as the interests of true religion rendered its demolition necessary, Hezekiah, by taking thU bold step, consulted both the glory of God and the good of his country, unto those days the children of Israel did bum Incense to It^—It is not to be supposed that this superstitious reverence had been paid to it ever since the time of Moses, for such idolatry would not have been tolerated either by David or l)y Solomon in the early part of his reign, by Asa or Jehoshaphat had they been aware of such a folly. But the probability is, that the introduction of this superstition does not date earlier than the time when the family of Ahab, by their alliance with the throne of Judah, exercised a pernicious influence In paving the way for all kinds of idolatry. It is possible, however, as some think, that Its origin may have arisen out of a misapprehension of Moses' language (Numbers 21. 8). Serpent-worship, liow revolting soever it may appear, was an extensively dilfused form of Idolatry, and It would obtain an easier reception in Israel that many of the neighbouring nations, such as the P'gyptians and Phoenicians, adored Idol gods in the form of serpents aa the emblems of health and immortality. 5. he. trusted In the Iiord God of Israel—Without invoking the aid or purchasing the succour of foreign auxiliaries like Asa
is unlikely that he took the written law with him, and so gave origin to the Samaritan copy of the Pentateuch. [Davidson's Criticism.] Besides, it is evident from his being one of the exiled priests, and from his settlement at Beth -el, that he was not a Levite, but one of the calf-worshipping priests, and, consequently, that his instructions would be neitlier sound nor etRcient. 39. Howbeit every nation made god^ of tlieir own—These Assyrian colonists, however, though instructed in the worship, and acknowledging the being of the God of Israel, did not suppose him to be the only God. Like other heathens, they combined his worship with th.at of their own gods, and as they formed a promiscuous society from dilJerent nations or provinces, a variety of idols was acknowledged ajnong them. 30. Snccotli-benotU— £. e., the "tents or booths of the daughters," similar to those in which the Babylonian damsels celebrated impure rites (Amos 2.8). Bfergal—The Jewish writers say this idol was in the form of a cock, and it is certain that a cock is often associated with a priest on the Assyrian monuments. [Layard.] But modern critics, looking to the astrological character of Assyrian idolatry, generally consider Nergal as the planet Mars, the god of war. The name of this idol formed part of the appellation of two of the king uf Babylon's princes (Jeremiah 39.3). Asliiina— An idol under the form of an entirely bald he-goat. 31. Nlbhaz—Under that of a dog—that Egyptian form of animal-worship having prevailed in ancient Syria, as is evident from the image of a large dog at the mouth of the Nahr-el-Kelb or Dogriver. Tartak—According to the rabbis, was in the form of an ass, but others understand it as a planet of ill-omen, probably Saturn. Adrammelecli—Supposed by some to be the same as Molech, and in Assyrian mythology to stand for the snu. It was worshipped In the form of a mule—others maintain in that of a peacock. AnamineIccli—Worsliipped In the form of a hare, others say In that of a goat. 34. Unto this day—The time of the BabylonIan exile, when this book was composed. Their religion was a strange medley or compound of the service of God and the .service of idols. Such was the first settlement of the people, afterwards called Samaritans, who were sent from Assyria to colonize the land, when the kingdom of
(1 Kings 15. 18, 19) and Aliaz ((^h. 16. 17; Isaiah 7). so that after him was none like lilm among all the kings of Judah—Of course David and Solomon are excepted, they having had the sovereignty of the whole country. In the petty kingdom of Judah, Joslah alone had a similar testimony borne to him (ch. 2.'J. '25). Hut even ho was surpassetl by Hezekiah, who set about a national reformation at the beginning of his reign, which Joslah did not. The pious character and the excellent course of Hezekiah was prompted, amongst other secondary influonees, by a sense of the calamities his father's wicked career had brought on the country, as well as by the counsels of Isaiah. T. he rebelled ngninst the king of Assj ria—t, e., the yearly tribute his father ha<l stipulated to pay, he, with Imprudent haste, withdrew. Pursuing the policy of a truly theocratic sovereign, ho was, through tlio Divine blessing which rested on his government, rulsed lo a
Israel, after having continued 356 years, was overthrown,
Ver. l-."?. Hbzekiah's Good Reign. Hezekiah . . . be{;an to retgn. Twenty and Ave years old—According to this statement (cf. cli. 16. 2), he must have been born when his father Ahaz was no more than eleven years old. Vateniltv at an age so early is not unprecedented in the 242
SennackeriJ) Besieges Jerusalem. 2 KINGS XIX. His Blasphemous Letter to Hezekiah,
the city walls. Eliaklm—Lately promoted to be master of the royal household. (Isaiah 22. 20.) Sliebna—Rt inoved
position of great public and national strength. Shalman-
eser had withdrawn from Palestine, being engaged in a war with Tyre, or probably was dead; and assuming, consequently, that full independent sovereignty which God had settled on the house of David, he botli shook off the Assyrian yoke, and, by an energetic movement against the Philistines, recovered from that people the territory
for his pride and presumption (Isaiah 22. 15) from that
office, though still royal secretary. JToali . . . tlie recorder
—i. €., the keeper of the chronicles, an important office ia Eastern countries. 19. Rab-shakeh said—The insolent tone he assumed appears surprising. But tliis boasting, both as to matter and manner, his highly coloured picture of his master's powers and resources, and the impossibility of Hezekiah making any effective resistance, heightened by all the arguments and figures which an Oriental imagination could suggest, has been paralleled in all, except tae blasphemy, by other messages of defiance sent on similar occasions in the history of the East. 27. that tl»ey may eat, &c.—This was designed to show the dread-
xhich they had taken from his father Ahaz. (2 Chronicles
S8. 18.) 13. Sennacherib—The son and successor of Shalmaneser. all the fenced cities ofJndah—Not absolutely the whole of them ; for, besides the capital, some strong
fortresses held out against the invader (v. 17; ch. 19. 8). The following account of Sennacherib's Invasion of Ju'dah and the remarkable destruction of his' army, is repeated almost verbatim in 2 Chronicles 33. ; and Isaiah 36., 37. The expedition seems to have been directed against Egypt, the conquest of which was long a leading object of arahition with the Assyrian monarchs; but the invasion of Judah necessarily preceded, that country being the key to Egypt, the highway through which the conquerors from Upper Asia had to pass, and having at this time formed a league of mutual defence with Egypt (v. 24). Moreover, it was now laid completely open by the transplantation of Israel to Assyria. Overrunning Palestine, Sennacherib
ful extremities to which, in the threatened siege, the people of Jerusalem would be reduced.
Ver. 1-5. Hezekiah in Deep Affliction. 1. wlicn King Hezeldah heard It, he rent Ills clotlies, &c.—The rending of his clothes was a mode of expressing horror at the daring blasphemy—the assumption of sackclotli a sign of his mental distress—his entrance into the temple to pray, the refuge of a pious man in affliction, and the forwarding an account of the Assyrian's speech to Isaiah was to obtain the propliet's counsel and comfort. The expression in whicli the message was conveyed described, by a strong figure, the desperate condition of the kingdom, together with their own inability to help themselves; and it intimated also a hope, that the blasphemous defiance of Jehovah's power by the impious Assyrian might lead to some direct interposition for the vindication of his honour and supremacy to all heathen
laid siege to the fortress of Lachish, which lay seven Roman miles from Eleutheropolis, and therefore southwest of Jerusalem on the way to Egypt. [Robinson.] Amongst the interesting illustrations of sacred history furnished by the recent Assyrian excavations, is a series of bas-reliefs, representing the siege of a town; which the Inscription on the sculpture shows to be Lachish, and the figure of a king, whose name is given, on the same inBcription, as Sennacherib. The legend, sculptured over the head of the king, ran thus: "Sennacherib, the mighty
king, king of the country of Assyria, sitting on the throne of judgment before the city of Lachish (Lakhisha), I give permission for its slaughter." [Nineveh and Babylon.] This minute confirmation of the truth of the Bible narra-
god!3. 4. the living God—Is a most significant expression taken in connection with the senseless deities that Rabshakeh boasted were unable to resist his master's victorious arms.
tive is given not only by the name Lachish, which is contained in the inscription, but from the physiognomy of the captives brought before the king, which is unmistakably Jewish. 14. he sent to Lachish, saying, . . , that which thoii puttest on me will I bear—Disappointed In his expectations of aid from Egypt, and feeling himself unable to resist so mighty a conqueror who was menacing Jerusalem Itself, Hezekiah made his submission. The payment of 300 talents of silver, and 30 talents o£ gold—£.351,000—brought a temporary respite; but, in raising the Imposed tribute, he was obliged not only to drain aU the treasures of the palace and the temple, but even to strip the doors and pillars of the sacred edifice of the gold that adorned them.
6, 7. CoMFOKTED BY ISAlAH. 6. Isaiali said ... Be not afraid—The prophet's answer was most cheering, as
It held out the prospect of a speedy deliverance from the invader. The blast, the rumour, the fall by the sword, contained a brief prediction that was soon fulfilled in all the three particulars—viz., the alarm that hastened his retreat, the destruction that overtook his army, and tno violeut death that suddenly ended his career.
8-13. Sennacherib Sends a Blasphemous Letter to Hezekiah. 8. Rab-sliakeh . . . found the king of Assyria warring against I/lbnali—whetlier Lacliish had fallen or not, is not said. But Sennacherib had transferred his battering-rams against the apparently neighbouring fortress of Libnah (Joshua 10. 29; cf. 31; 15.42), where the chief cup-bearer reported the execution of his mission. 9. when he heard say of Tirliakali, Belkold, he is come out to fight against thee, &o,—This was the " rumour" to which Isaiah referred. Tirhakah reigned m Upper Egypt, while So or Saljaco ruled in Lower Egypt. He was a powerful monarch, another Sesostris, and both he and Sabaco have left many monuments of their greatness. The name and figure of Tirhakah receiving warcaptives, are still seen in the Egyptian ternpR of Sledinet Abou. This was the expected succour which was sneered at (ch. 16. 21) by Rab-shakeh as "a bruised reed." Rage against Hezekiah for allying himself with Egypt, or the hope of being better able to meet this attack from the south, induced him, after hearing the rumour of Tirhakah's advance, to send a menacing letter to Hezekiah, iu order that he might force the king of Judali to an immediate surrender of his capital. This letter, couched in the .same vaunting and imperious style as tl'o speech of Rab-shakeh, exceeded it in blasphemy, and contained a larger enumeration of conquered places, with the view of terrifying Hezekiah, and showing him the utter hopelessness of all attempts at resistance.