according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher. 26 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for P there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. 27 And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? A. M. 3220. Ante 1. O1. 8 Arch. Athen. perpet. 14. 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead. CHAPTER XV. Azariah begins to reign over Judah, and acts well, but does not remove the high Judah; he reigns well; dies after a reign of sirteen years, and is succeeded by his Ante I. O1. 34. An. Thespici, perpet 15 Arch. Athen. u Nthe twenty and seventh year of m Jonah 1. 1. Matt 12 39, 40, called Jonas.-n Josh. 19. 13-0 Chap. 13. 4. p Deut. 32. 36-q Chap. 13. 5- 2 Sam. 8. 6. 1 Kings 11. 24. 2 Chron. 8. 3. After an interregnum of 11 years, Ch. 15. 8-t This is the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam's partnership in the kingdom with his father, who made him consort at his dom as ample as it was when the ten tribes separated, under Jeroboam the first. Verse 26. The LORD saw the affliction of Israel] It appears that, about this time, Israel had been greatly reduced; and great calamities had fallen upon all, indiscriminately; even the diseased and captives in the dungeon had the hand of God heavy upon them, and there was no helper; and then God sent Jonah to encourage them, and to assure them of better days. He was the first of the prophets, after Samuel, whose writings are preserved: yet the prophecy delivered on this occasion is not extant; for what is now in the prophecies of Jonah relates wholly to Nineveh. Verse 28. How he warred, and-recovered Damascus] We learn from 1 Chron. xviii. 3-11. that David had conquered all Syria, and put garrisons in Damascus and other places, and laid all the Syrians under tribute: but this yoke they had not only shaken off, but they had conquered a considerable portion of the Israelitish territory, and added it to Syria. These latter Jeroboam now recovered; and thus the places which anciently belonged to Judah by David's conquest, and were repossessed by Syria, he now conquered, and added to Israel. going to the Syrian wars. It is the sixteenth year of Jeroboam's monarchy-u Ch. 14. 21. 2 Chron. 26. 1, 3, 4-v Called Uzziah, Ver. 13, 30, &c. & 2 Chron. 28. 1 w Ver. 35. Ch. 12. 3. & 14. 4.-x 2 Chron. 26. 19-21-y Lev. 13. 46-z 2 Chron. 26. 23-a There having been an interregnum for 11 years-b As prophesied, Amos 7. 9. in the parallel place in Chronicles: and, 4. Because it is not Agapias, Azariah, but Očias, Oziah, (Uzziah) in St. Matthew's genealogy." There are insuperable difficulties in the chronology of this place. The marginal note says, "This is the twentyseventh year of Jeroboam's partnership in the kingdom with his father, who made him consort at his going to the Syrian wars. It is the sixteenth year of Jeroboam's monarchy." Dr. Lightfoot endeavours to reconcile this place with chap. xiv. 16, 17, thus: "At the death of Amaziah his son and heir, Uzziah was but four years old, for he was but sixteen in Jeroboam's twenty-seventh year; therefore, the throne must have been empty eleven years, and the government administered by protectors while Uzziah was in his minority." Learned men are not agreed concerning the mode of reconciling these differences: there is probably some mistake in the numbers. I must say to all the contending chronologers : Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites. When such men disagree, I can't decide. Chren. xxvi. 5. that he sought the Lord in the days of Verse 3. He did that which was right] It is said, 2 Verse 29. Jeroboam slept with his fathers] He died Zechariah the prophet; and God made him to prosper: he a natural death; and was regularly succeeded by his son fought against the Philistines; broke down the walls of Zachariah, who reigning badly, was, after six months, Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod; he prevailed over the Ara. slain by Shallum, who succeeded him, and reigned but one bians and Mehunims; the Ammonites paid him tribute; month, being slain by Menahem, who succeeded him, and his dominion extended abroad, even to the entering in and reigned ten years over Israel. Amos, the prophet, of Egypt; that he built towers in Jerusalem, at the cornerlived in the reign of Jeroboam; and was accused by Ama-gate, valley-gate, and turning of the wall; he built towers ziah, one of the idolatrous priests of Beth-el, of having also in the desert, and digged many wells: that he had a predicted the death of Jeroboam by the sword; but this was very strong and well regulated military force, which he a slander; what he did predict, and which came afterward provided with a well stocked arsenal: and constructed to pass, may be seen, Amos vii. 10-17. The interregnum many military engines to shoot arrows and project great referred to in the margin, cannot be accounted for in a stones; and that his fame was universally spread abroad. satisfactory manner. NOTES ON CHAPTER XV. Verse 1. In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam] Dr. Kennicott complains louldly here, because of "the corruption in the name of this king of Judah, who is expressed by four different names in this chapter: Ozriah, Oziah, Ozrihu, and Ozihu. Our oldest Hebrew MS. relieves us here, by reading truly in verses 1, 6, 7, Uzziah, where the printed text is differently corrupted. This reading is called true-1. Because it is supported by the Syriac and Arabic versions in these three verses. 2. Because the printed text itself has it so in ver. 32. and 34, of this very chapter. 3. Because it is so expressed Verse 5. The LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper] The reason of this plague is well told in the above quoted chapter, ver. 16. His heart being elated, he went into the temple to burn incense upon the altar, assuming to himself the functions of the high priest; that Azariah, the priest, with fourscore others, went in after him, to prevent him; and that while they were remonstrating against his conduct, the Lord struck him with the leprosy, which immediately appeared on his forehead; that they thrust him out as an unclean person; and that he himself hurried to get out, feeling that the Lord had smitten him; that he was obliged to dwell in a house by himself, being leprous, to the day of his death: and that during this time the affairs of the kingdom were administered by his son 12 This was the word of the LORD Ante 1. 01. 108. which he spake unto Jehu, saying, An. Diogeneti, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. came to pass. Arch. perpet. 8. And so it A. M. 3232. B. C. 772. An. Eschyli, Arch. Athen. perpet. 6. e 13 Shallum the son of Jabesh Olymp. 111. began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of d d Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. 14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. 15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold they are written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. 16 T Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up. A. M. 322 -3243. 17 In the nine and thirtieth year B. C. 77-761. of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Sa Ante Urbem Conditam, 19-8. maria. e Ch. 10. 30-d Matt. 1. 9, called Osias, and Ver. 1. Azariah-e Heb, a month of days.- 1 Kings 14. 17.-g 1 Kings 4. 24-h Ch. 18. 12.-i 1 Chron. 5. 26. Isai. 9. 1. Hos. 8. 9.-k Ch. 14. 5.-1 Heb. caused to come forth.-m Isai. 7. 1.- 1 Chr. Jotham. A poet, ridiculing the conduct of those, who, without a call from God and his church, thrust themselves into the priest's office, expresses himself thus: This is very severe; but applies to every man, who through pride, presumption, or the desire of gain, enters into the priest's office, though he have the utmost authority that the highest ecclesiastical officer can confer. Verse 10. Smote him before the people] In some public assembly; he probably became very unpopular. Verse 12. This was the word of the LORD-unto Jehu] God had promised to Jehu that his sons should sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation: and so it came to pass, for Jehoahaz, Joash, Jeroboam, and Zachariah, succeeded Jehu, to whom this promise was made. But because he executed the divine purpose with an uncommanded cruelty, therefore God cut his family short, according to his word by Hosea, I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu; and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel, i. 4. Verse 13. He reigned a full month] Menahem is sup B. C 76L 22 And Menahem slept with his AM 2213. fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned Olymp. IV. 4 in his stead. An Eschyll, Arch. Atheu. perpet. 17. 23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. A, M. 313 -3245 24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed BC-758 not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. Ante Urbem Conditam, 86 A. M. 3245. B. C. 75 An Eachy, Areb Athen perpet. 19. 25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against Olymp V2 him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his 28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. B. C. 740 An. Esumedis, decen. 3 29 In the days of Pekah king of 4 M4 Israel "came Tiglath-pileser king of Op X 1. Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel- Arch Athea beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. A. M. 355. B. C. 739. An. Esmedia Arch. Athen decen. 4. 30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the O. X 2 son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. AM25 -3265 B. C. 758 -739 -x2 Olymp. V. 2 5. 26. Isai. 9. 1.0 1 Kings 15. 20.-p After an anarchy for some years, Ch. 17. 1. Hos. 10. 3, 7, 15.-q In the fourth year of Ahaz, in the twentieth year after Jotham had begun to reign: Ush. posed to have been one of Zachariah's generals: hearing of the death of his master, when he was with the troops at Tirzah, he hastened to Samaria, and slew the murderer, and had himself proclaimed in his stead: but as the people of Tiphsah did not open their gates to him, he took the place by assault; and, as the text tells us, practised the most cruel barbarities, even ripping up the women that were with child! Verse 19. Pul the king of Assyria] This is the first time we hear of Assyria since the days of Nimrod, its founder, Gen. x. 21. Dean Prideaux supposes that this Pul was father of the famous Sardanapalus, the son himself being called Sardan; to which, as was frequent in those times, the father's name, Pul, was added, making Sardanpul; of which the Greeks and Latins made Sardanapalus; and this Pul is supposed to be the same that reigned in Nineveh when Jonah preached the terrors of the Lord to that city. That his hand] That is, his power and influence might be with him in this sense is the word hand frequently used in Scripture. Verse 20. Each man fifty shekels of silver] Upwards of five pounds sterling a man. Verse 21. Are they not written in the Chronicles | There are no chronicles extant in which there is any thing farther relative to this king. Verse 25. Smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arich] Who Argob and Arich were, we know not: some make them men; some make them statues. Pekah had fifty Gileadites in the conspiracy with him. Verse 29. Came Tiglath-pileser] He is supposed to have been the successor of Sardanpalus: Dean Prideaux makes him the same with Arbaces, called by Elian Thil 36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? 37 In those days the LORD began Olymp. IX. 3. to send against Judah Rezin the king Arch. Athen. Of Syria, and Pekah the son of Redeeen. 1. maliah. B. C. 712 An. Esimedis, W 38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead. CHAPTER XVI. Ahaz begins to reign, acts wickedly, and restores idolatry in Juden, 1-4. Rezin, king of Syria, besieges Jerusalem, but cannot take it; he takes Elath and drives the king of Israel, and gives him the silver and gold that were found in the treasures of Ahaz goes to meet him at Dunscns; sees an altar there, a pattern of which he sends to Urijah the priest; and orders him to make one like it, which he does, 10 Jews thence, 5, 6. Ahaz hires Tiglath-pileser against the king of Syria, and the the house of the Lord, 7, 8. Tiglath-pileser takes Damascus, and slays Rezin, 9. 15. He makes several alterations in the temple; dies; and Hezekiah, his son, Yeigns in his stead, 16--20. Olymp. IX. 3, An. Esimedis, Arch. Athen decen. 1. IN N the seventeenth year of Pekah the Y son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. r 2 Chron. 27. 1.-s Ver. 3.- Ver. 4-u 2 Chron. 27. 3, &c.-v At the end of Jotham's reign-w Ch. 16. 5. Isai 7. 1-x Ver. 27-y Isa. 8. 6. 2 Chron. 23. 1, &c-a Lev. 18. 21. 2 Chron. 28. 3. Psa. 106. 37, 38.-b Deut. 12. 31. gamus, and by Ussher Ninus junior; who, together with Belesis, headed the conspiracy against Sardanapalus, and fixed his seat at Nineveh, the ancient residence of the Assyrian kings; as did Belesis, called in Isa. xxxix. 1. Baladin, fix his at Babylon. Took Ijon] These places belonged to Israel; and were taken by Ben-hadad, king of Syria, when he was in league with Asa, king of Judah. See 1 Kings xv. 20. They were regained by Jeroboam the second; and now they are taken from Israel once more, by Tiglath-pileser. From 1 Chron. v. 26. we learn that Pul and Tiglathpileser, kings of Assyria, carried away into captivity the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; all that belonged to Israel, on the other side of Jordan. These were never restored to Israel. Verse 30. Hoshea the son of Elah-in the twentieth year of Jotham] There are many difficulties in the chronology of this place. To reconcile the whole, Calmet says"Hoshea conspired against Pekah, the twentieth year of the reign of this prince, which was the eighteenth after the beginning of the reign of Jotham, king of Judah. Two years after this, that is, the fourth year of Ahaz, and the twentieth of Jotham, Hoshea made himself master of a part of the kingdom, according to ver. 30. Finally, the twelfth year of Ahaz, Hoshea had peaceable possession of the whole kingdom, according to chap. xvii. I." Verse 36. Now the rest of the acts of Jotham These acts are distinctly stated in 2 Chron. chap. xxvii. He built the high gate of the house of the Lord and he built much on the wall of Ophel. He built cities in the mountains of Judah; and in the forests he built castles and towers. He overthrew the Ammonites; and obliged them to give him one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley, for three consecutive He was twenty-five years old when he began to years. reign, and he reigned sixteen years. These are the particulars which we learn from the place in Chronicles quoted above; few of which are mentioned in this place. As to the higher gate of the house of the Lord, commentators are not well agreed some think it was a gate which he then made, and which did not exist before, and is the same that is called the new gate, Jer. xxvi. 10. which is very likely. Verse 37. In those days the LORD began to send] It was about this time that the Assyrian wars, so ruinous to the Jews, began; but it was in the following reigns that they arrived at their highest pitch of disaster to those unfaithful and unfortunate people. However much we 5 Then Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. A. M. 3262. Olymp. IX. 3. An. Esimedia, decen. 1. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. 7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. 8 And Ahazi took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. A. M. 3264. Olymp. X. 1. An Esimedis, Arch. Athen. deceu. 1. 9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. c Deut. 12. 2. 1 Kings 14. 23-d Isai. 7. 1, 4, &c.-e Chap. 14. 22-f Heb. Eloth g Ch. 15. 29-b Heb. Tilgate-pileser. 1 Chron. 5. 26. & 2 Chron. 28, 20, Tilgath pilneser.-i Ch. 12. 18. See 2 Chr. 28. 21.-k Heb. Dammesek.-1 Foretold, Amos 1. 5. may blame the Jews for their disobedience and obstinacy, yet we cannot help feeling for them under their severe afflictions. Grievously they have sinned; and grievously have they suffered for it. And if they be still objects of God's judgments, there is revelation to believe that they will yet be objects of God's goodness. Many think the signs of the times are favourable to this ingathering: but there is no evidence among the people themselves that the day of their redemption is at hand. NOTES ON CHAPTER XVI. Verse 2. Twenty years old was Ahaz] Here is another considerable difficulty in the chronology. Ahaz was but twenty years old when he began to reign, and he died after he had reigned sixteen years; consequently his whole age amounted only to thirty-six years. But Hezekiah his son was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and, if this were so, then Ahaz must have been the father of Hezekiah when he was but eleven years of age! Some think that the twenty years mentioned here respect the beginning of the reign of Jotham, father of Ahaz: so that the passage should be thus translated, Ahaz was twenty years of age when his father began to reign; and consequently, he was fifty-two years old when he died, seeing Jotham reigned sixteen years: and, therefore, Hezekiah was born when his father was seventeen years of age. This, however, is a violent solution, and worthy of little credit. It is better to return to the text as it stands, and allow that Ahaz might be only cleven or twelve years old when he had Hezekiah: this is not at all impossible; as, in the Eastern countries, we know that the youth of both sexes are marriageable at ten or twelve years of age; and are frequently betrothed when they are but nine. I knew a woman, an East Indian, who had the second of her two first children when she was only fourteen years of age, and must have had the first when between eleven and twelve. I hold it, therefore, quite a possible case that Ahaz might have had a son born to him when he was but eleven or twelve years old. Verse 3. Made his son to pass through the fire] On this passage I beg leave to refer the reader to my notes on Lev. xviii. 21. xx. 2, 14. where the subject is considered at large. Verse 5. But could not overcome him] It is likely that this was the time when Isaiah was sent to console Ahaz, see Isa. vii. 1; and predicted the death of both Rezin and Pekah, his enemies. Verse 6. Recovered Elath to Syria] See the note on chap. xiv. 22. II. KINGS. A. M. 3265. B. C. 739. were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones. 10 T And King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, | had built in the house, and the king's entry with18 And the covert for the sabbath that they and the pattern of it, according to all the work-out, turned he from the house of the LORD for manship thereof. the king of Assyria. 11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against King Ahaz came from Damascus. 12 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. 13 And he burnt his burnt-offering and his meat-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings upon the altar. 14 And he brought also the brazen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. 15 And King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt-offering, and the evening meatoffering, and the king's burnt-sacrifice, and his meat-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their meat-offering, and their drink-offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. 16 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that King Ahaz commanded. A. M. 3265. 17 And King Ahaz cut off the Olymp. x 2 borders of the bases, and removed the Anime, laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that Arch. deccn. 4. m 2 Chron. 26. 16, 19.-n Heb, which were his.o 2 Chron. 4. 1.-p Exod. 29. 39, 40, 41.-q 2 Chron. 28. 21-r1 Kings 7. 27, 28.- 1 Kings 1. 23, 25. Verse 7. I am thy servant and thy son] I will obey thee in all things, and become tributary to thee; only help me against Syria and Israel. Verse 9. The king of Assyria hearkened unto him] It is said, 2 Chron. xxviii. 20. that Tiglath-pilneser distressed him, but strengthened him not. Though he came against the Syrians, and took Damascus, and slew Rezin; yet he did not help Ahaz against the Philistines, nor did he lend him any forces to assist him against Israel; and he distressed him by taking the royal treasures, and the treasures of the temple, and did him little service for so great a sacrifice. He helped him a little, but distressed him on the whole. It appears that, about this time, Pekah, king of Israel, nearly ruined Judea: it is said, 2 Chron. xxviii. 6. that he slew one hundred thousand valiant men in one day; and that he carried away captive to Samaria two hundred thousand women and children, and much spoil: but, at the instance of the prophet Oded, these were all sent back, fed and clothed, Ib. 8-15. Verse 10. Ahaz went to Damascus] He had received so much help on the defeat of Rezin, that he went to Damascus to meet the king of Assyria, and render him thanks. Ahaz sent to Urijah, the priest, the fashion of the altar] This was some idolatrous altar, the shape and workinanship of which pleased Ahaz so well that he determined to have one like it at Jerusalem. For this he had no divine authority; and the compliance of Urijah was both mean and sinful. That Ahaz did this for an idolatrous purpose is evident from 2 Chron. xxviii. 21-25. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus; and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me. incense to other gods in every city of Judah. And he made high places to burn Verse 14. Put it on the north side] He seems to have intended to conform every thing in the Lord's house, as much as possible, to the idolatrous temples which he saw at Damascus; and to model the divine worship in the same way: in a word, to honour and worship the gods of Syria, and not the God of heaven. All the alterations specified here were in contempt of the true God. Thus he provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers, 2 Chron. xxviii. 25. Verse 18. And the covert for the sabbath] There are a great number of conjectures concerning this covert; or, as it is in the Hebrew, the 10 musach of the sabbath. As the word, and others derived from the same root, 866 Ahaz which he did, are they not writ- & C- and was buried with his fathers, in CHAPTER XVII. IX. 3 Hoshea's wicked reign, 1, 2. Shalmaneser comes up against him, maires him triều- twelfth year of Ahaz king of IN the Wegan Hoshea the son of Oyny IL 3 Ac Arch Athen deces 3 AM 374 Bea the sight of the LORD, but not as the A. M. 3279. Olymp. XIII An. Cadici, spiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent t 2 Chron. 23. 27.-a After an interregnum, Ch 15. 30-v Ch. 18. 9- Heb. rey dered. 25am 8. 2-x Or, tribute signify covering, or booths, it is very likely that this means either a sort of canopy, which was erected on the came to worship, and which Ahaz took away, to discourage sabbath days for the accommodation of the people who them from that worship: or it was a canopy, under which he transported to some other place, to accommodate the the king and his family reposed themselves; and which king of Assyria when he visited him. Jarchi suppoers that it was a sort of covert-way that the kings of Judah had to the temple; and Ahaz had it removed lest the king of Assyria, going by that way, and seeing the sacred vessels, should covet them. If that way had been open, he sacred vessels, and so have asked them from a man who might have gone by it into the temple, and have seen the might have been to give them up. The removing of this, was in no condition to refuse them, however unwilling he whatever it was, whether throne, or canopy, or covered way, the temple: and the king of Assyria would not attempt to cut off the communication between the king's house and go into that sacred place by that other passage to which the priests alone had access. Verse 20. Was buried with his fathers in the city of that he was not buried in the sepulchres of the kings of David] But it is expressly declared, 2 Chron. xxvIII. 27. degradation. His reign was disastrous and impious; Israel: and this was undoubtedly intended as a mark of and it was disastrous because it was impious: he had only made illegal alterations in the temple, and in the been a scourge, not a blessing, to his people. He had not mode of worship prescribed by the true God; but he Lad polluted all the cities of Judah with idolatry, and brought ruin upon the nation. himself had not as yet sat on the Jewish throne; and yet On the whole, a worse king than he had many advantages; he had for counsellor one of the greatest men ever produced in the Jewish nation, ISAIAH the prophet: and God condescended to interpose especially and Syria; both of whom were cut off, according to the for him, when grievously straitened by the kings of Israel heart; and, therefore, the wrath of God fell heavily upon prediction of this prophet. But he would not lay it to him, and upon the stiff-necked and rebellious people whom he governed. He had sufficient warning, and was without excuse. He would sin; and, therefore, he must suffer. NOTES ON CHAPTER XVII. Verse 3. Shalmaneser] This was the son and successor of Tiglath-pileser. He is called Shalman, by Hosea, x. 14; and Enemassar, in the book of Tobit, i. 2. the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him | manded your fathers, and which I sent to you by in prison. A. M. 3451 Olymp 2-1. XIV. A. M. 323. B. C. 721. OL. XIV. 4. Arch. Athen. decen. 2. 5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea the An Hippomenis, king of Assyria took Samaria, and a carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Helah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, 8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. 9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. 10 And they set them up f images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: 11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: 12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them Ye shall not do this thing. 13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, "Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments, and my statutes, according to all the law which I com y Ch. 18.9 Ch. 18. 10. 11. Hos. 13. 16, foretold-a Lev. 26, 37, 33. Deut. 28. 36, 61. & 29. 27, 28-b 1 Chr. 5. 26-c Lev. 18. 3. Deut. 18. 9. Ch. 16. 3.-d Ch. 18. 8. e1 Kings 11. 23. Isai. 57. 5.—f Heb statues.-g Exod. 34. 13. Deut. 16. 21. Mic. 5. 14. h Deut 122 Ch. 16. 4.- Exod. 20. 3, 4. Lev. 26. 1. Deut. 5. 7, 8-k Deut. 4. 19. Heb by the hand of all. -m 1 Sam. 9. 9.-n Jer. 18. 11. & 25. 5. & 35. 15.- Deut. 31. 27. Prov. 29. 1.-p Deat. 29. 25. Gave him presents] Became tributary to him. Verse 4. Found conspiracy in Hoshea] He had endeavoured to shake off the Assyrian yoke, by entering into a treaty with So, king of Egypt: and, having done so, he ceased to send the annual tribute to Assyria. Verse 5. Besieged it three years.] It must have been well fortified, well provisioned, and well defended, to have held out so long. Verse 6. Took Samaria] According to the prophets, Hosea x. 4, 8. and Micah i. 6. he exercised great cruelties on this miserable city; ripping up the women with child, dashing young children against the stones, &c. &c. Carried Israel away into Assyria] What were the places to which the unfortunate Israelites were carried, or where their successors are now situated, have given rise to innumerable conjectures, dissertations, discourses, &c. Some maintain that they are found on the coast of Guinea; others, in America; the Indian tribes being the descendants of those carried away by the Assyrians. In vol. i. of the supplement to Sir Wm. Jones' Works, we find a translation of the History of the Afghans, by Mr. H. Vansittart; from which it appears that they derive their own descent from the Jews. On this history Sir Wm. Jones writes the following note: "This account of the Afghans may lead to a very interesting discovery. We learn from Esdras, that the ten tribes, after a wandering journey, came to a country called Arsaret, where, we may suppose, they settled. Now the Afghans are said, by the best Persian historians, to be descended from the Jews: they have traditions among themselves of such a descent, and it is even asserted that their families are distinguished by the name of Jewish tribes; although, since their conversion to the Islám, they studiously conceal their origin. The Pushtoo, of which I have seen a dictionary, has a manifest resemblance to the Chaldaic: and a considerable district under their dominion is called Hazarek, or Hazaret, which might easily have been changed into the word used by Esdras. I strongly recommend an inquiry into the literature and history of the Afghans." Every thing considered, I think it by far the most probable that the Afghans are the descendants of the my servants the prophets. 14 Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the necks of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 15 And they rejected his statutes, P and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. 16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, " and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. V 17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and y sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. 19 Also a Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. 21 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the q Deut. 32 21. 1 Kings 16. 13. 1 Cor. 8. 4.—r Psa. 115 8. Rom. 1. 21.-s Deut. 12 30, 31 Exod. 32. 9. 1 Kings 12. 28 --u 1 Kings 14. 15, 23. & 15. 13. & 16. 33 v 1 Kings 16. 31. & 22. 53. Chap. 11. 18-w Lev. 18. 21. Chap. 16. 3. Ezek. 23. 37. x Deut. 18, 10-y 1 Kings 21. 20.-2 1 Kings 11. 13, 32-a Jer. 3. 8.-b Ch. 13. 3. & 15. 29. 1 Kings 11. 11, 31.-d 1 Kings 12. 20. 28. Jews, who were led away captives by the Assyrian kings. Thus ended the kingdom of Israel, after it had lasted two hundred and fifty-four years, from the death of Solomon and the schism of Jeroboam, till the taking of Samaria by Shalmaneser, in the ninth year of Hoshea: after which the remains of the ten tribes were carried away beyond the river Euphrates. The rest of this chapter is spent in vindicating the divine providence and justice: showing the reason why God permitted such a desolation to fall on a people who had been so long his peculiar children. Verse 9. Did secretly those things] There was much hidden iniquity, and private idolatry, among them; as well as public and notorious crimes. From the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city] That is, the idolatry was universal; every place was made a place for some idolatrous rite, or act of worship: from the largest city to the smallest village; and from the public watchtower to the shepherd's cot. Verse 10. Images and groves Images of different idols, and places for the abominable rites of Ashtaroth or Venus. Verse 13. Yet the LORD testified against Israel] What rendered their conduct the more inexcusable was, that the Lord had preserved among them a succession of prophets, who testified against their conduct, and preached repentance to them, and the readiness of God to forgive, provided they would return unto him, and give up their idolatries. Verse 17. Sold themselves to do evil] Abandoned themselves to the will of the devil; to work all iniquity with greediness. Verse 18. Removed them out of his sight] Banished them from the promised land, from the temple, and from every ordinance of righteousness, as wholly unworthy of any kind of good. None left but the tribe of Judah only] Under this name all those of Benjamin, and Levi, and the Israelites, who abandoned their idolatries and joined with Judah, are comprised. It was the ten tribes that were carried away by the Assyrians, |