_A.M. 3108. B.C. 896._ The rebellion of Moab, 2 Kings 1:1. The message of Ahaziah to Baal-zebub, 2 Kings 1:2. God's message to him, 2 Kings 1:3. The destruction of the men sent to seize Elijah, 2 Kings 1:9. He spares the third messenger, and goes to the king, 2 Kings 1:13. Ahaziah's death, 2 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Moab rebelled against Israel_ Paid them no more tribute, but utterly disclaimed their authority over them. Moab had been subdued by David, as Edom was; and, upon the division of his kingdom, the former was adjoined to that of Israel, and the latter to that of Judah, each to that kingdom upon w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ahaziah fell through a lattice in his upper chamber_ Houbigant renders it, _Through the lattice into his upper chamber._ He thinks that as Ahaziah was walking upon the top of the house, the wooden lattice gave way, and he fell through. _Go and inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron _ The word _Baa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is it not because_, &c. There are two negatives in the Hebrew text, which increase the sense, _Is it not because there is no God, none in Israel?_ That is, Do you not plainly declare that you think there is no God, none at all in Israel? That he knows nothing, and can do nothing? which makes you se... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said, Why are ye now turned back?_ Before you have been at Ekron: which he knew by their quick return. To avoid a repetition, we have no account given of the prophet's meeting them, other than what they give of it themselves at their return.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There came a man up to meet us_ Elijah was a man of such a venerable presence, and spake to them with such authority, in the name of the Lord, that they were overawed thereby, and induced to obey him rather than the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They answered, He was a hairy man_ This may either denote his wearing long hair on his head and beard, according to the manner of the ancient Greek philosophers, or it may signify that he was clad with a hairy garment, that is, with a skin that had not been dressed, such as the prophets were wont t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king sent unto him a captain of fifty, with his fifty_ Undoubtedly with a design to apprehend him, and take away his life: for neither the untimely death of Ahab his father, nor his own late dangerous fall, and his sickness in consequence of it, nor the thoughts of death, had made any good impr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elijah said, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down_, &c. This prayer or denunciation of Elijah did not proceed from malice and hatred to his enemies, nor from a desire to secure himself, which he could easily have done some other way; nor to revenge himself, for it was not his own cause he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus hath the king said, Come down quickly_ This man was more insolent than the former, charging the prophet to obey without delay, and not make him stay, nor think to dally with him: in which words, he doubtless spoke the sense of the whole company. Whereas the fate of those that went before them,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him_ Expressing both reverence for his person, and a dread of God's judgments, being struck with the fate of the two other captains and their fifties. There is nothing to be got by contending with God: if we would prevail with him, it must be by sup... [ Continue Reading ]
_He arose and went down with him_ Not fearing the rage of the king, nor that of Jezebel, or all their forces: wherein he gives an eminent example of his faith in God's protection, and obedience to his commands. _And he said_ To his very face: nor durst the king lay hands on him, being daunted with h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoram reigned in his stead_ Namely, his brother, because he had no son. _In the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat_ To avoid confusion, the reader should take notice, that in the course of this history, there is mention made of two Jehorams; one the second son of Ahab, who succeeded Ah... [ Continue Reading ]