CHAPTER XII _Jehoash reigns well under the instructions of Jehoiada the_ _priest_, 1-3. _He directs the repairing of the temple; the account of what_ _was done_, 4-16. _Hazael takes Gath; and, proceeding to besiege Jerusalem, is_ _prevented by Jehoash, who gives him all the treasures and_ _ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:2. _JEHOASH DID - RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD_] While Jehoiada the priest, who was a pious, holy man, lived, Jehoash walked uprightly; but it appears from 2 Chronicles 24:17-14, that he departed from the worship of the true God after the death of this eminent high priest, lapsed... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:3. _THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT TAKEN AWAY_] Without the total destruction of these there could be no _radical_ reform. The toleration of any species of idolatry in the land, whatever else was done in behalf of true religion, left, and in effect fostered, a seed which springing up, reg... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:4. _ALL THE MONEY OF THE DEDICATED THINGS_] From all this account we find that the temple was in a very ruinous state; the walls were falling down, some had perhaps actually fallen, and there was no person so zealous for the pure worship of God, as to exert himself to shore up the f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:6. _IN THE THREE AND TWENTIETH YEAR_] In what year Jehoash gave the orders for these repairs, we cannot tell; but the account here plainly intimates that they had been long given, and that nothing was done, merely through the inactivity and _negligence of_ _the priests_; see 2 Chron... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:9. _JEHOIADA - TOOK A CHEST_] This chest was at first _set_ _beside the altar_, as is here mentioned; but afterwards, for the convenience of the people, it was set _without the gate_; see 2 Chronicles 24:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:10. _THE KING'S SCRIBE AND THE HIGH PRIEST_] It was necessary to associate with the high priest some _civil authority_ and activity, in order to get the neglected work performed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:13. _HOWBEIT THERE WERE NOT MADE - BOWLS, C._] That is, there were no vessels made for the service of the temple till all the outward repairs were completed but after this was done, _they_ _brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada,_ _whereof were made vessels of go... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:15. _THEY RECKONED NOT WITH THE MEN_] They placed great confidence in them, and were not disappointed, _for they dealt_ _faithfully_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:17. _HAZAEL - FOUGHT AGAINST GATH, AND TOOK IT_] This city, with its satrapy or _lordship_, had been taken from the Philistines by David, (see 2 Samuel 8:1, and 1 Chronicles 18:1); and it had continued in the possession of the kings of Judah till this time. On what pretence Hazael s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:18. _TOOK ALL THE HALLOWED THINGS_] He dearly bought a peace which was of _short duration_, for the next year Hazael returned, and Jehoash, having no more treasures, was obliged to hazard a battle, which he lost, with the principal part of his nobility, so that Judah was totally rui... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:19. _THE REST OF THE ACTS OF JOASH_] We have already seen that this man, so promising in the beginning of his reign, apostatized, became an idolater, encouraged idolatry among his subjects, and put the high priest Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada his benefactor, to death; and now God... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:20. _THE HOUSE OF MILLO_] Was a royal palace, built by David; (see 2 Samuel 5:9); and _Silla_ is supposed to be the name of the _road_ or _causeway_ that led to it. _Millo_ was situated between the old city of Jerusalem, and the city of David.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 12:21. _FOR JOZACHAR_] This person is called _Zabad_ in 2 Chronicles 24:26; and _Shimeath_ his mother is said to be an _Ammonitess_, as _Jehozabad_ is said to be the son, not of _Shomer_, but of _Shimrith_, a Moabitess. _THEY BURIED HIM WITH HIS FATHERS IN THE CITY OF DAVID_] But the... [ Continue Reading ]