_Six and thirtieth year of his kingdom. That is, of the kingdom of Juda, taking the date of it from the beginning of the reign of Roboam. Ch. --- It was the 16th of Asa. We read that Raasa died in the 26th year of Asa, 3 K. xvi. 8. How then could he fight with him in the 36th? T. --- Rama was on an... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is, Hebrew is indeterminate: "a league," &c. Sept. "Make a league....behold I have sent thee gold and silver. Come and drive away from me Baasa, king," &c. --- That. Prot. "go, break thy league." H. --- Asa induces the king of Damascus to act perfidiously. C. --- Otherwise it is not unlawful... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nephthali. This seem preferable to the Hebrew reading, 3 K. xv. 20. C. --- Prot. "all the store-cities." Sept. "all the environs." H. --- Arabic, "all the arsenals of the cities of Nephthali."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Syria. It seems more natural to read Israel. C. --- But we must remember that Benadad was an ally of Israel; and if he had not been bribed, he would have come to the assistance of Baasa, (H.) and thus both might have fallen a prey to Asa, as the much greater forces of Zara had done. T._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold. Prot. "run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him." Sept. "to shew power in every heart full, or perfect, in his regard." H. --- Asa fell on this occasion through human frailty, but rose again by repentance. ---... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prison. Literally, "in bonds," ( nervum) made of leather thongs or nerves, (H.) or of iron, to confine either the neck or the feet. Isidor. orig. 5. ultra --- Heb. "the house of disturbance." Sept., &c. "prison." Some explain it (C.) of the stocks to enclose the neck. Vatable --- Time, either becau... [ Continue Reading ]
_Most, &c. Heb. "till his disease got upwards," (C.) to the head (T.) and heart, (H.) when the gout generally proves fatal. Cornelius a Lapide --- Sept. "till he was very ill:" (H.) a just punishment for his having confined the prophet in fetters; but of a temporal nature, as he sinned through passi... [ Continue Reading ]
Sepulchre. Heb. "sepulchres," as there were many separate apartments in the same cavern. C. --- Asa had prepared one cell, as David and Solomon had done. M. T. --- Odoriferous ( mertriciis.) Such as harlots delight in, (Proverbs vii. 16,) to entice the sensual. D. --- Heb. zenim, may be derived from... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVI.... [ Continue Reading ]