2 Kings 15:37

_IN THOSE DAYS THE LORD BEGAN TO SEND AGAINST JUDAH REZIN THE KING OF SYRIA, AND PEKAH THE SON OF REMALIAH._ The Lord began to send against Judah ... This is the first intimation of the hostile feelings of the kings of Israel and Syria to Judah, which led them to form an alliance and make joint preparations for war, which, however, was not actually waged until the reign of Ahaz....

32-38 Jotham showed great respect to the temple. If magistrates cannot do all they would, for the suppressing of vice and profaneness, let them do the more to support and advance piety and virtue....

Verse 2 Kings 15:37. _IN THOSE DAYS THE LORD BEGAN TO SEND_] It was about this time that the Assyrian wars, so ruinous to the Jews, began; but it was in the following reigns that they arrived at their highest pitch of disaster to those unfaithful and unfortunate people. However much we may blame the Jews for their disobedience and obstinacy, yet we cannot help feeling for them under their severe afflictions. Grievously they have sinned, and grievously have they suffered for it. And if they be still objects of God's judgments, there is revelation to believe that they will yet be objects of God's goodness. Many think the signs of the times are favourable to this ingathering; but there is no evidence among the people themselves that the day of their redemption is at hand. They do not humble themselves; they do not seek the Lord....

The recent invasions of Pul and Tiglath-Pileser had effectually alarmed Pekah and Rezin, and had induced them to put aside the traditional jealousies which naturally kept them apart, and to make a league offensive and defensive. Into this league they were anxious that Judaea should enter; but they distrusted the house of David, which had been so long hostile both to Damascus and to Samaria. They consequently formed the design of transferring the Jewish crown to a certain Ben-Tabeal Isaiah 7:6, probably a Jewish noble, perhaps a refugee at one of their courts, whom they could trust to join heartily in their schemes (2 Kings 16:5 note)....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 15:1 REIGNS OF AZARIAH AND JOTHAM OVER JUDAH; AND OF ZACHARIAH, SHALLUM, MENAHEM, PEKAHIAH, AND PEKAH OVER ISRAEL. 2 KINGS 15:1 THE REIGN OF AZARIAH OVER JUDAS. The writer now more and more compresses his narrative. Into a single chapter he crowds the events of seven reigns, covering the space of nearly seventy years. He is consequent

IN THOSE DAYS,.... At the end of the days of Jotham, or after his death, things might be in design, and preparations made before, but nothing of what follows came to pass in his life, but in the times of his son; THE LORD BEGAN TO SEND AGAINST JUDAH REZIN THE KING OF SYRIA, AND PEKAH THE SON OF REMALIAH: to make war with them as a scourge to Ahaz for his sins; of which is in the following chapter....

CHAPTER 15 _ 1. Reign and death of Azariah (Uzziah) (2 Kings 15:1; 2 Chronicles 26)._ 2. Reign and death of Zachariah (2 Kings 15:8) 3. Reign and death of Shallum (2 Kings 15:13) 4. Menahem, King of Israel (2 Kings 15:16) 5. Pul of Assyria and Menahem (2 Kings 15:19; 1 Chronicles 5:26) 6. Death of Menahem ...

LAST KINGS OF ISRAEL. Zechariah, the son of Jeroboam, reigned but six months (2 Kings 15:8), and was killed by Shallum, probably, as LXX (L) reads, in Ibleam, instead of the Heb., which is doubtfully rendered before the people (2 Kings 15:10). After a month 2 Kings 15:8 reign Shallum was killed by Menahem (2 Kings 15:14). 2 KINGS 15:19. PUL, THE KING OF ASSYRIA, has been identified with Tiglath-pileser III (58f., 70f.), who ravaged Northern Israel (2

REZIN. The war which broke out in the reign of Ahaz was already threatening. Compare Isaiah 7:1....

_In those days_ In the days of Jotham the confederacy between Israel and Syria against Judah was formed, though the effects were not felt to the full till the days of Jotham's son Ahaz. In Isaiah 7 we find that Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Israel, had come up against Jerusalem to fight against it, and were minded to set up a king in Judah of their own choosing, who is there spoken of as -the son of Tabeel". At that time for the consolation and encouragement of Ahaz the oracle concerning -Immanuel" was sent to him through Isaiah. _the Lord began to send_ Though He began to send enemies upon Judah, yet the Lord did not, as Isaiah's prophecy shews us, leave His people without hope, but in the midst of their chastisement He was thinking upon mercy, and spake by the mouth of the prophet concerning that greatest mercy, the sending of His Son. _Rezin the king of Syria_ The name of