_Ahaz [was] twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:_ Ver. 1. _Ahaz was twenty years old._] And reigned but sixteen years; and yet when he died, Hezekiah his son was twe... [ Continue Reading ]
For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Ver. 2. _For hs walked in the ways of the kings of Israel._] Yea, he outdid them in wickedness. See on 2 Kings 16:3,4. Sundry holy prophets, as Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, &c., declaimed earnestly against his abomin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel._ Ver. 3. _And burnt his children in the fire._] Some he burnt outright, in honour of Moloch, or Saturn ... [ Continue Reading ]
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. Ver. 4. _He sacrificed also, &c._] See 2 Kings 16:4 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought [them] to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. Ver. 5. _Wherefo... [ Continue Reading ]
For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, [which were] all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. Ver. 6. _For Pekah the son of Remaliah._] Here was _aliud ex alio malum:_ the other evil from other man, but these hammers of... [ Continue Reading ]
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah [that was] next to the king. Ver. 7. _And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim._] _Heros fortis Ephraita,_ a man of extraordinary courage and strength: he must be so, that slew so many g... [ Continue Reading ]
And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. Ver. 8. _Two hundred thousand women, sons and daughters._] These also were sinners against their own souls:... [ Continue Reading ]
But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name [was] Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage [that] reacheth up unto hea... [ Continue Reading ]
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: [but are there] not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? Ver. 10. _But are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord?_] At the loss of Calais, when a proud Fre... [ Continue Reading ]
Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD [is] upon you. Ver. 11. _Now hear me therefore._] Here we have the picture of a good preacher. Oded teacheth, reproveth, exhorteth, turneth himself into all shapes,... [ Continue Reading ]
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war, Ver. 12. _Then certain of the heads._] So mightily did the word of God in... [ Continue Reading ]
And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD [already], ye intend to add [more] to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and [there is] fierce wrath against Israel. Ver. 13. _Ye shall not bring in the captives hither... [ Continue Reading ]
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. Ver. 14. _So the armed men left the captives._] See here what a few may do against a multitude, in a good cause, if they set to work in good earnest. See John 7:45 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the c... [ Continue Reading ]
At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. Ver. 16. _Did Ahaz send unto the king of Assyria._] Heb., Kings; so he is called, because king of kings, a mighty monarch. To him, therefore, Ahaz sendeth for help, at that time when the prophet Isaiah bade him trust only in God... [ Continue Reading ]
For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. Ver. 17. _For again the Edomites._] "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; whenas he that trusteth in the Lord" - which Ahaz would not hear of - "mercy shall compass him round about," Psa 32:10 as it did his good son Hezek... [ Continue Reading ]
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. Ver. 18. _The Philis... [ Continue Reading ]
For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. Ver. 19. _For he made Judah naked._] He stripped them of the sincere service of God - which is the beauty and bulwark of a nation - and might have been called, as our Henr... [ Continue Reading ]
And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. Ver. 20. _And Tilgathpilneser._] See 2 Kings 16:10 . _ And distressed him, but strengthened him not._] This beast observing the hedge to be low, went over it, making Ahaz his tributary: how else is it... [ Continue Reading ]
For Ahaz took away a portion [out] of the house of the LORD, and [out] of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave [it] unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. Ver. 21. _And Ahaz took away a portion._] He hoped hereby to ingratiate with the Assyrian; but the hope of the wicked s... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this [is that] king Ahaz. Ver. 22. _And yet in the time of his distress._] So stubborn was he and stiff necked, he would sooner break than bend. Such refractories also were Pharaoh, Saul, the Scribes and Pharisees, the raili... [ Continue Reading ]
For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. Ver. 23. _Unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him._] So he t... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. Ver. 24. _And Ahaz gathered together._] See 2 Kings 16:8 . _ And shut up the doors of... [ Continue Reading ]
And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. Ver. 25. _And in every several city of Judah._] So zealous are idolaters, and busy in digging descents down to hell, and destroying souls; the pseudo-Catholics,... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Ver. 26. _And all his ways._] See 2 Chronicles 27:7 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, [even] in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 27. _And Ahaz slept with his fathers._] He died a natural death, though he was so detestable a... [ Continue Reading ]