XIV. THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH IN JUDAH, AND OF JEROBOAM II IN ISRAEL. (1-17) THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 25) (2) JEHOADDAN. — The Hebrew text, which is supported by the LXX., has _Jehoaddin_ (perhaps, “Jehovah is delight;” comp. Isaiah 47:8, and the Divine name _Naaman_).... [ Continue Reading ]
YET NOT LIKE DAVID HIS FATHER. — The chronicler paraphrases this reference to the ideal king of Israel: “_yet not with a perfect heart._”... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT. — The same word was rendered “yet” in the last verse. “Only,” or “save that” would be better.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SOON AS THE KINGDOM WAS CONFIRMED — _i.e._, as soon as he was firmly established on the throne; as soon as he felt his power secure. (Comp. 1 Kings 2:46.) SLEW... — SLAIN. — Literally, _smote... smitten_.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MURDERERS. — Literally, _the smiters_. ACCORDING UNTO THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN... LAW OF MOSES. — A quotation of Deuteronomy 24:16. This reference is from the pen of the Judæan editor. SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH. — So the original passage and the Hebrew margin. Hebrew text, “shall die.” This humane p... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SLEW. — Rather, _he it was that smote_. THE VALLEY OF SALT. — Comp. 2 Samuel 8:13. _El-Ghôr_, the salt plain of the Dead Sea, which Amaziah would traverse in marching against Edom. TEN THOUSAND. — The number slain in one conflict. SELAH. — Heb., the _Sèlac, i.e._, the crag. The Hebrew name of... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN. — After the reduction of Edom. The more extended narrative which follows is plainly taken from a different source than that of the brief extract preceding it. COME, LET US LOOK ONE ANOTHER IN THE FACE. — A challenge to battle, the ground of which might be found in the outrages committed by th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THISTLE. — Or _bramble or briar_. (Comp. Job 31:40; Song of Solomon 2:2.) The LXX. and Vulg. render “thistle;” the Syriac, “blackthorn” (_Prunus silvestris_). GIVE THY DAUGHTER TO MY SON TO WIFE. — Perhaps hinting at Amaziah’s demand for the surrender of Israel (the “daughter” of Jehoash) to Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST INDEED SMITTEN — _i.e._, thou hast _thoroughly_ worsted; gained a _brilliant_ victory over Edom. (The “indeed” qualifies “smitten.”) HATH LIFTED. — Rather, _lifteth_. GLORY OF THIS, AND TARRY AT HOME. — Literally, _be honoured, and abide in thine own house, i.e.,_ be content with the glo... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKED ONE ANOTHER IN THE FACE — _i.e._, encountered one another; joined battle. BETH-SHEMESH. — The modern _Ain-shems,_ north of which is a great plain now called _Wâdy-es-Surâr,_ in which the encounter probably happened. Jehoash proposed to attack Jerusalem from the west, as Hazael also had inten... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THEIR TENTS. — Hebrew text, _to his tent_; so the LXX. and Syriac. Hebrew margin, to _his tents_; so Vulg., and Targum, and Chronicles. The meaning is that the enemy disbanded, as usually after a great defeat. (Comp. 2 Kings 8:21.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AMAZIAH KING OF JUDAH, THE SON OF JEHOASH THE SON OF AHAZIAH. — Comp, 2 Kings 14:8. Thenius thinks the formal specification of Amaziah’s descent indicates that this narrative was derived from “the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.” At all events, it emphasises the importance of the inci... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WERE FOUND. — This expression seems to hint that there was not much treasure to carry off. (Comp. 2 Kings 13:18.) HOSTAGES. — Literally, _the sons of sureties._ Having humbled the pride of Amaziah, Jehoash left him in possession of his throne, taking hostages for his future good behaviour. Sim... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE REST... — Comp. 2 Kings 13:12, where the reign of Jehoash is already summed up, though not altogether in the same phraseology. The compiler probably found 2 Kings 14:15, in their present position in the document from which he derived the entire section, 2 Kings 14:8; a document which was not... [ Continue Reading ]
FIFTEEN YEARS. — He came to the throne in the second year of Jehoash, who reigned sixteen years (2 Kings 13:10), and reigned twenty-nine years (2 Kings 14:2). The different _data are_ thus self-consistent. Jehoash appears to have died very soon after his victory — perhaps in the following year.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW... BUT. — _And... and._ THEY MADE A CONSPIRACY. — The fact that no _individual_ conspirators are mentioned appears to indicate that Amazialı’s death was the result of a general disaffection; and this inference is strengthened by the other details of the record. Thenius supppses that he had ince... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BROUGHT HIM ON HORSES. — Rather, _they carried him upon the horses — i.e._, perhaps in the royal chariot wherein he had fled from Jerusalem. Or, perhaps, the corpse was literally carried on horseback by the regicides. The orderly method of proceeding, the burial of the king in the royal sepulc... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH. — Thenius explains, all the men of war, as in 2 Kings 13:7. TOOK. — The expression seems to imply that Azariah was _not_ the eldest son. As Amaziah was fifty-nine years old at his death he probably had sons older than sixteen. Azariah was therefore chosen as a popular, or p... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BUILT ELATH. — The pronoun is emphatic; _he,_ in contrast with his father. “Built,” either _rebuilt_ or _fortified._ The verse is in close connection with the preceding narrative. Amaziah perhaps had not vigorously prosecuted the conquest of Edom, having been greatly weakened by his defeat in the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF JEROBOAM II. IN SAMARIA (2 Kings 14:23). (23) REIGNED FORTY AND ONE YEARS. — According to the statement of this verse, Jeroboam reigned fourteen years concurrently with Amaziah, who reigned altogether twenty-nine years (2 Kings 14:2); and thirty-seven years concurrently with Azariah ... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RESTORED. — Rather, _He it was who restored the border, i.e._, he wrested out of the hands of the Syrians the territory they had taken from Israel. FROM THE ENTERING OF HAMATH — _i.e._, from the point where the territory of Hamath began. This was the originally determined boundary of Israel on th... [ Continue Reading ]
AFFLICTION. — Better, _oppression._ BITTER. — So the LXX., Syriac, and Vulg. Better, _stubborn_, and _so, inveterate, unyielding, enduring_. (Comp. Deuteronomy 21:18.) Targum, “hard;” Arabic, “strong” or “violent.” FOR THERE WAS... LEFT. — Comp. Note on 1 Kings 14:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
SAID NOT. — By any prophet. BLOT OUT THE NAME. — The figure is taken from blotting out writing. (Comp. Numbers 5:23.) The Hebrews used inks that soon faded, and could easily be wiped off the parchment (Hence the partial obliteration of words and letters which is one of the causes of textual corrupt... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW HE RECOVERED DAMASCUS, AND HAMATH. — Jeroboam II. was probably contemporary with Rammân-nirâri, king of Assyria (B.C. 812-783). This king has recorded his exaction of tribute from Tyre and Sidon, “the land of Omri” (_i.e._, Israel), Edom, and Philistia; and a siege of Damascus, followed by the s... [ Continue Reading ]