CHAPTER XXXIV _Josiah reigns_ thirty-one _years; destroys idolatry in Judah, as_ _also in Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and even to Naphtali_, 1-7. _He begins to repair the temple, and collects money for the_ _purpose, and employs workmen_, 8-13. _Hilkiah the priest finds the book of the law in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:2. _HE DECLINED_ NEITHER _TO THE RIGHT HAND, NOR TO THE_ _LEFT__._] He never swerved from God and truth; he never omitted what he knew to be his duty to God and his kingdom; he carried on his reformation with a steady hand; _timidity_ did not prevent him from going _far enough_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:4. _THE ALTARS OF BAALIM_] How often have these been broken down, and how soon set up again! We see that the religion of a land is as the religion of its king. If the _king_ were _idolatrous_, up went the altars, on them were placed the statues, and the smoke of incense ascende... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:5. _HE BURNT THE BONES OF THE PRIESTS_] כומריא _kumeraiya_, the _kemarim_, says the _Targum_. See this word explained, 2 Kings 23:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:6. _THE CITIES OF MANASSEH_] Even those who were under the government of the Israelitish king permitted their idols and places of idolatry to be hewn down and destroyed: after the truth was declared and acknowledged, the _spade_ and the _axe_ were employed to complete the refor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:9. _AND THEY RETURNED TO JERUSALEM._] Instead of וישבו _vaiyashubu_, "they returned," we should read יושבי _yoshebey_, "the inhabitants;" a reading which is supported by many MSS., printed _editions_, and all the _versions_, as well as by _necessity_ and _common sense_. 2 Chron... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:12. _ALL THAT COULD SKILL OF INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC_] Did the musicians play on their several instruments to encourage and enliven the workmen? Is not this a probable case from their mention here? If this were really the case, _instrumental music_ was never better applied in any... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:14. _FOUND A BOOK OF THE LAW_] See on 2 Kings 22:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:22. _HULDAH THE PROPHETESS_] See on 2 Kings 22:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:27. _BECAUSE THINE HEART WAS TENDER_] "Because thy heart was melted, and thou hast humbled thyself in the sight of the WORD of the Lord, מימרא דיי _meymera daya_, when thou didst hear his words, ית פתגמוי _yath pithgamoi_, against this place," c. Here the _Targum_ most evidentl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:28. _GATHERED TO THY GRAVE IN PEACE_] _See particularly Clarke's note on "_2 Kings 22:20_"_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:30. _THE KING WENT_] See on 2 Kings 23:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:31. _MADE A COVENANT_] See on 2 Kings 23:3. And see the notes on that and the preceding chapter, for the circumstances detailed here.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 34:32. _TO STAND TO IT._] It is likely that he caused them all to arise when he read the terms of the covenant, and thus testify their approbation of the covenant itself, and their resolution to observe it faithfully and perseveringly.... [ Continue Reading ]