XX. INVASION OF THE MOABITES, AMMONITES, AND MAONITES. THEIR MARVELLOUS OVERTHROW — (2 Chronicles 20:1). The chronicler only has preserved an historic account of this great deliverance. But certain of the Psalms have been with much probability supposed to commemorate it. The contents of Psalms 46-4... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THIS ALSO. — Rather, _And it came to pass afterwards, i.e.,_ after the battle of Ramoth-Gilead, and Jehoshaphat’s reformation of law and religion. AND THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, AND WITH THEM OTHER BESIDE THE AMMONITES. — This is an attempt to get a reasonable sense out of a corrup... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THERE CAME SOME THAT TOLD. — _And they_ (_i.e.,_ messengers; Vulg., “nuntii”) _came and told._ COMETH. — _Is come._ THE SEA. — The Dead Sea, east of which lay the territories of Ammon and Moab; while to the south of it, not far from Petra, was Maon. ON THIS SIDE SYRIA. — Heb., _from Aram;_ a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOSHAPHAT. — _And he was afraid_ (scil., at the news). _And Jehoshaphat set his face,_ &c. Literally, _put_ his face — a phrase used in Daniel 9:3 (comp. 2 Kings 12:18), and implying _resolved, determined._ TO SEEK THE LORD. — The Hebrew construction is that of 2 Chronicles 15:13 (_le_ is her... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ASK. — Literally, _to seek_ (_baqqçsh,_ a synonym of _dârash._ 2 Chronicles 20:2) _from Jehovah;_ scil., _help,_ which Authorised Version rightly supplies. EVEN OUT OF ALL THE CITIES OF JUDAH. — Emphasising the fact that the gathering in the Temple represented the whole nation. Syriac and Arabic... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOSHAPHAT STOOD. — Comp. 2 Chronicles 6:12. JUDAH AND JERUSALEM. — So 2 Chronicles 20:27. Jerusalem is thus mentioned side by side with the country, as being by far the most important part of it. (See also the headings of Isaiah 1:2) BEFORE THE NEW COURT. — This name, “the New Court,” only oc... [ Continue Reading ]
ART NOT THOU GOD IN HEAVEN. — So Psalms 115:2. Jehovah, the Worship of Israel, is no limited local or tribal deity, but _God over all._ (Comp. also the first clause of the Lord’s Prayer.) AND RULEST NOT THOU OVER ALL THE KINGDOMS? — Comp. 1 Chronicles 29:12 (David’s prayer), “and Thou reignest (rul... [ Continue Reading ]
ART NOT THOU OUR GOD? — _Didst not Thou, our God, drive out, &c._ (Comp. Joshua 23:5; Joshua 23:9; Deuteronomy 4:38; Deuteronomy 11:23; and for the form of appeal, Isa. Ii. 9, 10. Comp. also Psalms 47:3.) AND GAVEST IT TO THE SEED OF ABRAHAM. — According to the Promise, Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:18... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVE BUILT THEE A SANCTUARY THEREIN. — _And built thee therein a sanctuary for thy name. “_A sanctuary for thy name” is a single expression. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 6:5, “that my name might be there.”) The _name_ of Jehovah designates all that He is to Israel; His revealed character.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WHEN EVIL COMETH UPON US. — A summary of part of Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication (2 Chronicles 6:24). The reference to this prayer implies a confidence that it had been accepted in heaven, as the sign that followed it indicated (2 Chronicles 7:1). Syriac, “_When the sanctuary is amongst us,_ there... [ Continue Reading ]
AND (the children of) MOUNT SEIR. — The Maonites are here so called apparently, and thus identified as an Edomite people. (See on 2 Chronicles 20:1.) WHOM THOU WOULDEST NOT LET ISRAEL INVADE. — See the respective prohibitions (Deuteronomy 2:4; Deuteronomy 2:9; Deuteronomy 2:19.) Comp. also (Numbers... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I SAY, HOW THEY REWARD US. — Literally, _and behold they are requiting us by coming,_ &c. (Comp. Psalms 83:4.) CAST. — Drive _out_ (Genesis 3:24). THY POSSESSION. — The Promised Land is so called nowhere else in the Old Testament. THOU HAST GIVEN US TO INHERIT. — _Made us possess._ (Comp.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU NOT JUDGE THEM? — _Exercise judgment in them, i.e., upon them_ (here only.) LXX., οὐ κρινεῖς ἐν αὐτοῖς. THIS GREAT COMPANY. — _Multitude_ (2 Chronicles 14:11) Syriac, “for there is not in us might to stand before them: bring the sword of Thy judgment against them.” NEITHER KNOW WE. — _An... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD. — _Were standing._ BEFORE THE LORD — _i.e.,_ praying with their king. (Comp. the apparent reference to this assembly in Psalms 48:9. “We thought upon Thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Thy Temple.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN UPON. — Literally, _and Jahaziel... there fell upon him the spirit,_ &c, as in 2 Chronicles 15:1, “The spirit of courage from the Lord.” This Levitical musician is not mentioned elsewhere. His pedigree is traced back for five generations to Mattaniah, which should probably be Nethaniah, a “son... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN YE. — So Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 51:4, &c. BE NOT AFRAID NOR DISMAYED. — Isaiah 51:7; Deuteronomy 1:21; Chron. 22:3; 2 Chronicles 20:17, _infr._ GREAT MULTITUDE — i.e., “great company” (2 Chronicles 20:12) THE BATTLE IS NOT YOUR’S, BUT GOD’S. — Comp. David’s words to Goliath, “The battle is Je... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST THEM. — Or, _unto them._ THEY COME UP BY THE CLIFF OF ZIZ. — _They are about ascending by the ascent of Hazziz. V_ulg., “ascensuri enim sunt per clivum,” &c. THE BROOK. — _The wâdy, ravine, or water-course._ THE WILDERNESS OF JERUEL. — The name is unknown, but comparing 2 Chronicles 20:2;... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL NOT NEED TO FIGHT. — _It is not for you to fight._ (Comp. 1 Chronicles 5:1; 1 Chronicles 15:2.) IN THIS. — _Herein, in this instance._ (Comp. for the phrase, 2 Chronicles 19:2.) SET YOURSELVES (_i.e.,_ “withstand,” 2 Chronicles 20:6). — _Station yourselves, take your stand._ Here the next... [ Continue Reading ]
BOWED HIS HEAD. — The king “bowed, face earthward,” and the people prostrated themselves upon their faces, both “to do worship to Jehovah.” (Comp. Leviticus 9:24; Joshua 5:14; 1 Chronicles 21:16; Exodus 34:8.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LEVITES. — The Levites are the first to rise up, in order to break forth into a hymn of thanksgiving. OF THE CHILDREN OF THE KOHATHITES, AND OF THE CHILDREN OF THE KORHITES. — _Sons of the Kohathites_ specifies the clan, and _sons of the Korhites_ the _house_ of the musicians who rose up on... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT FORTH INTO THE WILDERNESS OF TEKOA. — Part of the wilderness of Jeruel (2 Chronicles 20:16). Tekoa (_Thekua_) is about ten miles south of Jerusalem, and commands a view over the table-land of _el Husâsoh._ JEHOSHAPHAT STOOD. — Or, _came forward._ The king probably stood in the gate at Jerusale... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD CONSULTED WITH. — Or, _advised, given counsel to, warned._ (Comp. 2 Kings 6:8.) Vulg., “deditque consilium populo, et statuit cantores domini.” AND THAT SHOULD PRAISE THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. — Rather, _and men praising, in holy apparel. i.e.,_ Levitical vestments (1 Chronicles 16:29... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY BEGAN. — Literally, _And at the. time when they began with shouting and praise._ (Comp. Deuteronomy 16:9, _to begin with._) They had now reached the neighbourhood of the enemy; and their joyful pæan was the signal for a Divine interposition. (Comp. Joshua 6:16; Joshua 6:20, and Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD UP AGAINST. — ‘_Amad ‘al,_ a late usage. (So 1 Chronicles 21:1.) UTTERLY TO SLAY. — _To exterminate_ (_hacharîm_)_, devote to destruction._ MADE AN END OF. — _Finished with._ (See on 2 Chronicles 20:22, “begin with,” and compare Genesis 44:12.) EVERY ONE HELPED ... ANOTHER. — Literally, _th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN JUDAH CAME. — N_ow Judah had come;_ by the time the slaughter was complete. TOWARD THE WATCH TOWER. — _The look-out of the desert._ A height overlooking the wilderness of Jeruel (2 Chronicles 20:16). The word _mizpeh_ means _watch-tower_ in Isaiah 21:8. THEY LOOKED. — _And they looked._... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN. — Omit. THEY FOUND. — _And found._ AMONG THEM IN ABUNDANCE BOTH RICHES. — Instead of _bâhèm,_ “among them,” the LXX. reads _bĕhçmâh,_ “cattle,” which seems preferable. “And found cattle in abundance and substance” (_rĕkûsh,_ movable goods of all sorts, including flocks and herds; Genesis 12:... [ Continue Reading ]
VALLEY OF BERACHAH — _i.e., blessing._ The place is still called _Wady Beraikut,_ a wide, open valley west of Tekoa, near the road from Hebron to Jerusalem. St. Jerome speaks of a _Caphar Barucha, “_village of blessing,” in the same neighbourhood. FOR THERE... UNTO THIS DAY. — A notice after the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN. — _And._ EVERY MAN. — _All the men_ (collective). IN THE FOREFRONT OF THEM. — _At their head._ LXX., ἡγούμενος αὐτῶν. TO GO AGAIN... WITH JOY. — They returned, as they came, in festal procession. THE LORD HAD MADE THEM TO REJOICE. — See the same phrase, Ezra 6:22; Nehemiah 12:43. (Comp. Ps... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH PSALTERIES. — So Vulg. Rather, _with harps, guitars, and clarions._ (Comp. Psalms 47:5, which may be supposed to commemorate this procession to the Temple.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FEAR OF GOD WAS. — _And a divine dread fell upon all the kingdoms of the countries_ (scil.) around Judah. (See 2 Chronicles 17:10, and Psalms 48:7, “Fear took hold upon them there, and pain as of a woman in travail.”) THE LORD FOUGHT. — Joshua 10:14; Joshua 10:42; Psalms 46:6. That Jehovah h... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THE REALM OF JEHOSHAPHAT. — The same is said of Asa’s kingdom (2 Chronicles 14:5; 2 Chronicles 15:15). (Comp. the similar notices in Judges of the rest which followed upon the overthrow of a national enemy, _e.g.,_ Judges 3:30.)... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCLUDING NOTICES. END OF THE REIGN (2 Chronicles 20:31 -2 Chronicles 21:1). Comp. 1 Kings 22:41. A brief section, which constitutes the whole account of the reign of Jehoshaphat in the older narrative. (31) AND JEHOSHAPHAT REIGNED OVER JUDAH. — Kings adds: “In the fourth year of Ahab king of Is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WALKED IN THE WAY. — Kings: _“All_ the way.” FROM IT. — Here the pronoun is fern., in Kings masc., as in 2 Chronicles 17:3 _supra._ DOING. — So as _to do. _... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR... HEARTS. — _And the people had not yet directed their heart._ This language is the chronicler’s own (see 2 Chronicles 12:14; 2 Chronicles 19:3), and is substituted for the statement, “The people were still wont to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places” (Kings). They had not yet accepte... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE REST OF THE ACTS. — 1 Kings 22:45 : “Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? “The expression _how he warred_ hints at his victory over the three allies. “As to the hist... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THIS. — The chronicler has omitted the notice that “Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel” (1 Kings 22:44), and now he omits two other short verses of the parallel account, viz., 1 Kings 22:46 : “And the remnant of the sodomites, which had remained in the days of his father Asa, h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE JOINED HIMSELF WITH HIM. — Literally, _and he joined him with himself,_ an expression only occurring here. TO MAKE SHIPS TO GO TO TARSHISH. — In 1 Kings 22:48, we read: “Jehoshaphat made _ships_ (_i.e.,_ a fleet) _of Tarshish, to go to Ophir for gold;_ and it went not; for the ships were brok... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN._ — And._ ELIEZER THE SON OF DODAVAH. — A prophet who is otherwise unknown. DODAVAH. — Heb. _Dôdâvâhû._ (Comp. _Hôdavyâhû._ 1 Chronicles 3:24; LXX., Δωδία, as if the Heb. were _Dôdîyâh; V_ulg., “Dodau.” MARESHAH. — See 2 Chronicles 11:8. BECAUSE THOU HAST JOINED THYSELF. — Comp. Jehu the so... [ Continue Reading ]