2 Kings 8:18

_AND HE WALKED IN THE WAY OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL, AS DID THE HOUSE OF AHAB: FOR THE DAUGHTER OF AHAB WAS HIS WIFE: AND HE DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD._ 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). This apostasy would have led to the total extinction of the royal family in that kingdom, had it not been for the divine promise to David, (2 Samuel 7:1.) A national chastisement, however, was inflicted on Judah by the revolt of Edom, which, being hitherto governed by a tributary ruler (2 Kings 3:9; 1 K

16-24 A general idea is given of Jehoram's badness. His father, no doubt, had him taught the true knowledge of the Lord, but did ill to marry him to the daughter of Ahab; no good could come of union with an idolatrous family....

Verse 2 Kings 8:18. _THE DAUGHTER OF AHAB WAS HIS WIFE_] This was the infamous _Athaliah_; and through this marriage Jehoshaphat and Ahab were confederates; and this friendship was continued after Ahab's death....

The passage is parenthetic, resuming the history of the kingdom of Judah from 1 Kings 22:50. 2 Kings 8:16 The opening words are - “In the fifth year of Joram, son of Ahab, king of Israel, and of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah;” but they contradict all the other chronological notices of Jehoshaphat 1 Kings 22:42, 1Ki 22:51; 2 Kings 3:1; 2 Chronicles 20:31, which give him a reign of at least twenty-three years. Hence, some have supposed that the wo

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 8:1 THE SEQUEL OF THE STORY OF THE SHUNAMMITE. THE KILLING OF BENHADAD BY HAZAEL; AND THE WICKED REIGNS OF JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH IN JUDAH. 2 KINGS 8:1 Elisha is still the _protagonistes_ of the historical drama. The writer brings together in the present section two more occasions of a public character in which he was c

AND HE WALKED IN THE WAY OF THE KING'S OF ISRAEL, AS DID THE HOUSE OF AHAB,.... Imitated them in idolatry: FOR THE DAUGHTER OF AHAB WAS HIS WIFE; whose name was Athaliah, 2 Kings 8:26, and by her he was drawn into idolatrous practices; of such bad consequence are marriages with idolaters; it is very much that so good a king as Jehoshaphat his father was should contract such an affinity; he suffered for it in more instances than one: AND HE DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD; was guilty of idolatry, than which nothing was more displeasing to the Lord; for he made high places, and compelled his subjects to commit idolatry, 2 Chronicles 21:11....

ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMMITE. HAZAEL, KING OF SYRIA. This chapter is somewhat varied as to composition. It opens with a short story about Elisha (2 Kings 8:1), of which we may presuppose (_a_) that it is earlier than 5, because Gehazi (2 Kings 8:4) is not a leper; (b) that the king of Israel is an admirer of the prophet, By Elisha's advice the Shunammite lady, whose husband is apparently dead, leaves her home to avoid a famine (_cf_. Ruth 1:1), and her lands were restored when the king ascertained who she was. 2 Kings 8:6 is a second narrative of the prophet. Jehoram must have been king of Israel at the time, as Hazael was contemporary with Jehu. Th

AS. according as. DAUGHTER OF AHAB. Compare 2 Kings 8:26. See App-55. DID EVIL. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:2....

_as did the house of Ahab_ Jehoshaphat's friendship and alliance with Ahab's house brought the ways of Israel into the kingdom of Judah. _the daughter of Ahab_ i.e. Athaliah, who, after the death of Ahaziah (2 Kings 11:1), slew all the seed royal of Judah, with the exception of Joash, Ahaziah's son, whom his aunt Jehosheba rescued....

III. CONTEMPORARY EVENTS IN JUDAH 8:16-29 At this point the author picks up the history of Judah from 1 Kings 22:50 and gives a brief resume of the reigns of (1) Jehoram (2 Kings 8:16-24), and (2) Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:25-29). These men are the fifth and sixth successors of Solomon on the throne of Judah. A. THE REIGN OF JEHORAM OF JUDAH 8:16-24 TRANSLATION (16) Now in the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. (17) He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and eight years he ruled in Jerusalem. (18) And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel according to all which th