2 Chronicles 20:1-4 (no parallel in Kings). The Invasion of the Moabites and their Allies For a discussion of the historical probabilities of the following account see Introduction, § 8, and G. A. Smith, _Hist. Geography_, pp. 272, 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
other _beside the Ammonites_ Render, SOME OF THE MEUNIM (2 Chronicles 26:7; 1 Chronicles 4:41, R.V.). In all three places LXX. has Μειναῖοι (Μιναῖοι). They were an Arabian people whose name seems to be preserved in that of _Ma-în_, a village (south-east of Petra) on the pilgrim route between Damascu... [ Continue Reading ]
_on this side Syria_ R.V. FROM SYRIA (so LXX.). The text is corrupt, and the words are either a gloss on _from beyond the sea_or a corruption of the original reading. _From Edom_is an easy correction. _which_is _En-gedi_ R.V. ( THE SAME IS EN-GEDI). Cp. G. A. Smith, Hist. _Geography_as quoted above... [ Continue Reading ]
_set himself to seek the Lord_ Render, SET HIS FACE TO SEEK UNTO THE LORD. _proclaimed a fast_ A fast involved the assembling of the people; 1 Kings 21:9; 1 Kings 21:12; Jeremiah 36:6; Jeremiah 36:9; Joel 2:15. Special fasts were proclaimed for war, famine, or any other calamity or serious event.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to ask_help] R.V. TO SEEK HELP.... [ Continue Reading ]
_stood_ Rather, ROSE UP. _before the new court_ The Temple of Solomon seems to have differed in respect of its courts from the Second Temple; and it is difficult to tell of what court the Chronicler is thinking in this passage. The Heb. word for "court" here is _ḥâçer_, but in 2 Chronicles 4:9 (see... [ Continue Reading ]
(no parallel in Kings). The Prayer of Jehoshaphat This prayer should be compared with Solomon's (2 Chronicles 6:14 ff.).... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord God_ R.V. O LORD, THE GOD; cp. 2 Chronicles 21:10; 2 Chronicles 21:12. art _not thou God_ cp. Joshua 2:11. _rulest_not _thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen?_ R.V. ART NOT THOU RULER OVER ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE NATIONS? Cp. Psalms 22:28. is there not _power_ R.V. IS POWER. Cp. 2 Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
Art _not thou our God, who didst drive out_ R.V. DIDST NOT THOU, O OUR GOD, DRIVE OUT. Cp. Deuteronomy 9:5. _thy friend_ Cp. Isaiah 41:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_If_, when _evil cometh_ R.V. IF EVIL COME. as _the sword, judgment_ Omit _as_and render with R.V. mg. THE SWORD OF JUDGEMENT (cp. Ezekiel 14:17). _we stand before this house, and in thy presence_ R.V. WE WILL STAND BEFORE THIS HOUSE, AND BEFORE THEE. _then thou wilt hear and help_ R.V. AND THOU... [ Continue Reading ]
_mount Seir_ Here and in 2 Chronicles 20:23 in the enumeration of the allied peoples "Mount Seir" takes the place of the "Meunim" of 2 Chronicles 20:1, yet no doubt the same contingent is meant. Mount Seir was indeed part of the territory of the Edomites, and the Meunim (Minaeans) were Arabians, but... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy possession_ A "possession" means that which one takes possession of by the sword. Canaan is God's "possession" because it was conquered by His arm (Psalms 44:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
_our eyes_are _upon thee_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 14:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_their little ones … and their children_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 31:18, "their little ones … and their sons and their daughters." "Little ones" (Heb. _ṭaph_) seems always to mean _quite small children_.... [ Continue Reading ]
(no parallel in Kings). The Prophecy of Jahaziel 14. _Jahaziel_ Nothing is known of him beyond that which is recorded of him in this chapter. His name is significant ("God giveth visions").... [ Continue Reading ]
_the battle_is _not yours, but God's_ Jahaziel gives a special turn to the general troth, "The battle is the Lord's" (David to Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:47).... [ Continue Reading ]
_the cliff of Ziz_ R.V. THE ASCENT OF ZIZ. The exact positions of this and of the "brook" and of the "wilderness" mentioned in this ver. are unknown, but probably the invaders followed not the direct road from En-gedi to Beth-lehem, but one a little to the left of this. _the brook_ R.V. THE VALLEY... [ Continue Reading ]
_see the salvation_ Cp. Exodus 14:13. will be _with you_ R.V. IS WITH YOU; cp. 2 Chronicles 15:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_fell_ R.V. FELL DOWN.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Korhites_ R.V. THE KORAHITES. The Korahites were a branch of the Kohathites (1 Chronicles 6:22 [7 Heb.], 37, 38 [22, 23 Heb.]); the Chronicler simply defines his first statement; those who stood up to praise were Kohathites by clan, Korahites by family. _a loud voice on high_ R.V. AN EXCEEDING... [ Continue Reading ]
(no parallel in Kings). The Deliverance 20. _Tekoa_ The modern _Teḳu-a_, a ruin on a hill 2790 feet above the sea, about six miles south of Beth-lehem. It was an ancient place; 2Ch 11:6; 1 Chronicles 2:24; 2 Samuel 14:2; Amos 1:1. The "wilderness of Tekoa" means that part of the "wilderness of Juda... [ Continue Reading ]
_consulted_ R.V. TAKEN COUNSEL. _singers unto the Lord, and that should praise_ R.V. THEM THAT SHOULD SING UNTO THE LORD, AND PRAISE. Cp. the preliminaries of the Battle of the Standard fought between the Scots and English in 1138. _the beauty of holiness_ Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:29 (note). _before t... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Lord set ambushments_ R.V. THE LORD SET LIERS IN WAIT. All that is meant by this is that the Lord suggested to Jehoshaphat the plan of setting an ambush; cp. Joshua 8:2 (where it is said that the Lord suggested the same plan to Joshua). Jehoshaphat himself marched with the bulk of his forces, b... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the children of Ammon_ Render, AND THE CHILDREN OF AMMON. The sudden attack of the ambushed Judæans created a panic and a suspicion of treachery among the allies; so at Gideon's surprise of Midian every man turned his sword against his fellow (Judges 7:22). _utterly to slay_ Lit. _to devote_;... [ Continue Reading ]
_toward the watch tower_ R.V. TO THE WATCH-TOWER. This tower may have been one of the castles mentioned in 2 Chronicles 17:12. _unto the multitude_ R.V. UPON THE MULTITUDE. _and none escaped_ R.V. AND THERE WERE NONE THAT ESCAPED.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to take away the spoil_ R.V. TO TAKE THE SPOIL. _they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies_ The Heb. text is faulty. LXX. εὗρον κτήνη πολλὰ καὶ ἀποσκευὴν καὶ σκῦλα, i.e. "they found much cattle and property and spoils." _in gathering_ R.V. IN TAKING.... [ Continue Reading ]
(no parallel in Kings). The Sequel of the Deliverance 26. _valley of Berachah_ A _wâdi Bereikût_south of Tekoa is mentioned by Robinson. It is probable that also the "valley of Jehoshaphat" mentioned by Joel (3. [4. _Heb_.] 2) is to be identified with the scene of Jehoshaphat's deliverance.... [ Continue Reading ]
_with joy_ Rather, WITH REJOICING; cp. 2 Chronicles 20:28. LXX., ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ μεγάλῃ.... [ Continue Reading ]
_was on all_ Rather, CAME UPON ALL; cp. 2 Chronicles 14:14; 2 Chronicles 17:10. _the kingdoms of_those _countries_ R.V. THE KINGDOMS OF THE COUNTRIES (a characteristic phrase with the Chronicler; cp. 2 Chronicles 12:8; 2 Chronicles 17:10 and 1 Chronicles 29:30).... [ Continue Reading ]
_reigned over Judah_ In Kings, _began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel_. The Chronicler will not date the accession of a southern king by the year of an ungodly northern king.... [ Continue Reading ]
(1 Kings 22:41-45). The Summary of Jehoshaphat's Reign There are several variations of text between Kings and Chron. here; and in particular the Chronicler omits the statement that Jehoshaphat made peace with Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_departed not_ R.V. TURNED NOT ASIDE. _in the sight_ R.V. IN THE EYES.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the high places_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 15:17, note. _for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts_ R.V. NEITHER AS YET HAD THE PEOPLE SET THEIR HEARTS; cp. 2 Chronicles 12:14. In Kings it is said particularly that the people sacrificed and burnt incense at the high places.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the book of Jehu_ R.V. IN THE HISTORY OF JEHU. _Jehu_ See 2 Chronicles 19:2 (note). _who is mentioned_ R.V. WHICH IS INSERTED. Chronicles of particular reigns were joined together to form one continuous Chronicle.... [ Continue Reading ]
_who did very wickedly_ R.V. THE SAME DID VERY WICKEDLY.... [ Continue Reading ]
(cp. 1 Kings 22:48-49). The Destruction of Jehoshaphat's Fleet The Chronicler gives an account of this incident quite different from that given in Kings. According to the latter it seems that Jehoshaphat's fleet was wrecked through the inexperience of his mariners, and that he rejected the offer of... [ Continue Reading ]
_ships to go_to _Tarshish_ In Kings, _ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir:_cp. 2 Chronicles 9:21 (1 Kings 10:22), note. In both passages the reading of Kings, "ships (or -navy") _of_Tarshish," i.e. large sea-going ships (cp. Psalms 48:7) is to be preferred, because (1) Ezion-geber was a port for vessel... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mareshah_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 11:8 (note); 2 Chronicles 14:10. _hath broken_ R.V. HATH DESTROYED. The same Heb. word is used 1 Chronicles 13:11 ("had broken forth," R.V.); 2 Chronicles 14:11 ("hath broken forth," R.V. mg.).... [ Continue Reading ]