THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS, OTHERWISE CALLED THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE KINGS -Year from the Creation, according to the English Bible, 3108. -Year before the birth of Christ, 892. -Year before the vulgar era of Christ's nativity 896. -Year since the Deluge, according to Archbishop Usher and the E... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 1:2. _FELL DOWN THROUGH A LATTICE_] Perhaps either through the flat root of his house, or over or through the balustrades with which the roof was surrounded. _GO, INQUIRE OF BAAL-ZEBUB_] Literally, the _fly-god_, or _master of_ _flies_. The _Septuagint_ has βααλμυιαν, _Baal the fly_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 1:4. _BUT SHALT SURELY DIE._] The true God tells you this; he in whose hands are both life and death, who can kill and make alive. Baal-zebub can do nothing; God has determined that your master shall die.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 1:8. HE WAS _A HAIRY MAN_] That is, he wore a _rough garment_, either made of camels' hair, as his successor John Baptist's was, or he wore a skin _dressed with the hair on_. Some think that the meaning is, he had very _long hair_ and a _long beard_. The ancient prophets all wore rough... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 1:9. _A CAPTAIN OF FIFTY WITH HIS FIFTY._] It is impossible that such a man as Ahaziah, in such circumstances, could have had any _friendly_ designs in sending a _captain and fifty soldiers_ for the prophet; and the manner in which they are treated shows plainly that they went with a _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 1:10. _AND THERE CAME DOWN FIRE_] Some have blamed the prophet for destroying these men, by bringing down fire from heaven upon them. But they do not consider that it was no more possible for _Elijah_ to bring down fire from heaven, than for _them_ to do it. _God alone_ could send the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 1:15. _AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID - GO DOWN WITH HIM_] This is an additional proof that Elijah was then acting under _particular inspirations_: he had neither _will_ nor _design_ of his own. He waited to know the counsel, declare the will, and obey the command, of his God. _AND HE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 1:17. _AND JEHORAM REIGNED IN HIS STEAD_] The _Vulgate,_ _Septuagint_, and _Syriac_ say, _Jehoram HIS BROTHER reigned in his_ _stead, in the second year of Jehoram_. There were two _Jehorams_ who were contemporary: the first, the son of _Ahab_, brother to Ahaziah, and his successor in... [ Continue Reading ]