6 T And he built fenced cities in Judah for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest. 7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls and towers, gates and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. 2 And he went out to meet Asa, Com 139. and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you, but if ye forsake him, he 8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and four-will forsake you. score thousand: all these were mighty men of valour. B. C. 941. Anno ante A. M. 3063. 9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with a 1. Olymp. 165. host of a thousand thousand, and three Conditain 188. hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not a man prevail against thee. 12 So the LORD smote the Æthiopians before Asa, and before Judah ; and the Ethiopians fled. 13 And Asa, and the people that were with him, pursued them unto P Gerar; and the Æthiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were a de g Heb. nun images.-h Chap. 16. 8.-i Josh. 15. 44-k Exod. 14. 10. Ch. 13. 14. P. 22. 5.-1 1 Sam. 14. 6.-m 1 Sam. 17. 45. Prov. 18. 10.-n Or, mortal man. o Ch. 13. 15.-p Gen. 10. 19. & 20. 1.-q Heb. broken.-r Gen. 35. 5. Chap. 17. 10. ■ Numb. 24. 2. Judg. 3. 10. Ch. 25. 14. & 24. 20. was no idolater; though, morally speaking, he was not exempt from faults, I Kings xv. 14. He suppressed idolatry universally, and encouraged the people to worship the true God: see verses 3, 4, 5. Verse 6. Fenced cities] To preserve his territories from inroads, and strengthen the frontiers of his kingdom: see ver. 7. Verse 8. Targets and spears] Probably targets with the dagger in the centre; and javelins for distant fight. Shields and drew bows] They were not only archers, but had shield and sword for close fight. Verse 9. Zerah the Ethiopian] Probably of that Ethiopia which lay on the south side of Egypt, near to Libya; and therefore the Libyans are joined with them, chap. xvi. 8. A thousand thousand] If this people had come from any great distance, they could not have had forage for such an immense army. Verse 11. Whether with many] The same sentiment as that uttered by Jonathan, 1 Sam. xiv. 6. when he attacked the garrison of the Philistines. OLORD our God-we rest on thee] "Help us, O Lord our God; because we depend on thy WORD, and in the name of thy WORD we come against this great host." Targum. Verse 14. There was much spoil in them.] These cities being on the rear of this vast army, they had laid up much forage in them; and, to get this, the Jews overthrew the whole. Verse 15. Tents of cattle] Those which had carried the baggage of the great army: and which they had left in such places as abounded with pasture. Perhaps sheepfolds, enclosures for camels, mules, &c. may also be intended. The discomfiture was great, for God fought for the people and the spoil was immense, because the multitude was prodigious, indeed almost incredible; a million of men in one place is almost too much for the mind to conceive, but there may be some mistake in the numerals: it is evident, from the whole account, that the number was vast, and the spoil great. 3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. 5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. 6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity. 7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak; for your work shall be rewarded. d 8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD. 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, t Heb. before Asa-u James 4. 8- Ver. 4. 15. 1 Chron. 2 2. Ch. 3 R 1 Jer. 29. 13. Matt 7. 7.-w Ch. 24. 20-x Hos 3. 4-y Lev. 10 11-1 Den 3 a Judges 5. 6.-b Matt. 24. 7.-c Heb. beaten in pieces.d Heb. abominationa e Ch. 13. 19. NOTES ON CHAPTER XV. Verse 1. Azariah the son of Oded] We know nothing of this prophet but what is related of him in this place. Verse 2. The LORD is with you while ye be with him] This is the settled and eternal purpose of God: to them who seek him he will ever be found propitious; and them alone will he abandon who forsake him. In this verse the unconditional perseverence of the saints has no place; a doctrine which was first the ruin of the human race, Ye shall not die; and ever since the fall, the plague and disgrace of the church of Christ. The Targum is curious: "Hearken to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The WORD of the Lord shall be your helper; while ye walk in his ways, if ye seek doctrine from his presence, he will be found of you in times of trouble; but if you cast away his fear, he will abandon you." Verse 3. Now for a long season Israel] "Israel hath followed Jeroboam, and they have not worshipped the true God. They have burnt incense to their golden calves; their priestlings [ cumaria, their black sooty sacrificers] have burnt perfumes with a strange worship, and have not exercised themselvs in the law." Targum. These priests could not teach, because they had not learnt; and, as they had abandoned the law of the Lord, consequently they had no proper matter for instruction. There is a great diversity of opinion concerning the meaning of this text. Some consider it a prophecy relative to the future state of this people; and the final destruction of the Jews, as to their political existence: others consider it as referring to the state of the people under the reigns of Rehoboam and Abijah which were happily changed under that of Asa; and this appears to me to be the most natural sense of the words. Verse 5. But great vexations] Does not our Lord allude to this and the following verse, in Matt. xxiv. 6. 7, 9, 13. Verse 8. Renewed the altar] Dedicated it afresh, or perhaps enlarged it, that more sacrifices might be offered and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen, and seven thousand sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul; 13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and "sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about. 16 And also concerning Maachah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. mah, "to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD, and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. W 4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel: and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali. 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. 7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asaba huge host, with very many chariots and was perfect all his days. 18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver,and gold, and vessels. A. M. 3063-3073. 19 And there was no more war unto B. C. 941-931. the five and thirtieth year of the reign LOL 165-155 of Asa. Anno ante CHAPTER XVI. Baasha, king of Israel, begins to buikl Ramah, to prevent his subjects from having any intercourse with the Jews, 1. As hires Ben-nadad, king of Syria, against him; and obliges him to leave off building Ramah, 2-5. Asa and his men carry the stones and timbers of Ramah away, and build therewith Geba and Mizpah, 6. Asa is reproved by Hanani, the seer, for his union with the king of Syria: he is offend ed with the seer, and puts him in prison, 7-10 of his acts, 11. He is diseased his feet, and seeks to physicians and not to God, and dies, 12, 13. His sumptuous funeral, 14. in IN the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel Conditam 177. came up against Judah, and built Ra B. C. 930. Ante I. OL. 151. Aute Urbem t f Ch 11. 16-g Ch. 14. 15.--h Heb. in that day - Ch. 14. 13-k 2 Kings 23. 3. Ch. 34. 31. Neh. 10. 29-1 Exod. 2 20-m Deut. 13. 5, 9, 15-n Ver. 2-01 Kings 15. 13-p That is, grandmother, 1 Kings 15. 2, 10.- Heb. horror. Ch. 14. 3, 5. 1 Kings 15. 14, &c. Froin the rearing of the ten tribes from Judah, over which Asa was now king1 Kings 15. 17, &c. -u Ch. 15. 9-v Heb. Darmesek. on it than ever before; for it cannot be supposed that this altar had no victims offered on it till the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa, who had previously been so zealous in restoring the divine worship. Verse 9. And the strangers] Many out of the different tribes, particularly out of Simeon, Ephraim, and Manassch, having reflected that the divine blessing was promised to the house of David, and finding the government of Jeroboam founded in idolatry, would naturally, through a spirit of piety, leave their own country, and go where they might enjoy the worship of the true God. Verse 10. The third month] At the feast of pentecost, which was held on the third month. Verse 11. The spoil which they had brought] The spoil which they had taken from Zerah and his auxiliaries, chap. xiv. 14, 15. Verse 12. They entered into a covenant] The_covenant consisted of two parts.-1. We will seek the God of our fathers with all our heart, and with all our soul.-2. Whosoever, great or small, man or woman, will not worship the true God, and serve him alone, shall be put to death. Thus no toleration was given to idolatry, so that it must be rooted out: and, that this covenant might be properly binding, they confirmed it with an oath; and God accepted them and their services. Verse 16. Concerning Maachah] See this matter fully explained in the note on 1 Kings xv. 13. The Jews imagine that Maachah repented, and her name became changed into Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah; and that this was done that there might be no mention of her former name, lest it might be a reproach to her. But we have already seen another gloss on this name; see on chap. xi. 20. Verse 17. The high places were not taken away] He had not totally suppressed or destroyed the idolatry; but some of the places, buildings, or altars, he permitted to remain. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. f 10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. 11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the of kings of Judah and Israel. A. M. 3049 -3090. B. C. 955 -914. Anno ante I. OL 179--138. w Heb. which were his.-x 1 Kings 16. 1. Chap. 19. 2-y Isai 31. 1. Jer. 17. 5. 2 Ch. 14. 9-a Ch. 12 3-b Heb. in abundance. -c Job 31. 21. Prov. 5. 21. & 15. 3. Jer. 16. 17. & 32 19. Zech. 4. 10.-d Or, strongly to hold with them, &c.-e 1 Sam. 13. 13-f1 Kings 15, 32-g Ch. 18. 26. Jer. 20. 2. Matt. 14. 3.- Heb. crushed i 1 Kings 15. 23. Verse 18. The things that his father had dedicated] As it was a custom to dedicate a part of the spoils taken from an enemy to the service and honour of God, it is natural to suppose that Abijah (having so signally overthrown Jeroboam, xiii. 15—19.) had dedicated a part of the spoils to the Lord; but they had not been brought into the temple till this time. Silver, and gold, and vessels. The word o kelim, which we translate vessels, signifies instruments, utensils, ornaments, &c. Verse 19. The five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.] Archbishop Ussher thinks that this should be counted from the separation of the kingdom, and that this fell on the fifteenth year of Asa's reign. To settle in every respect these chronologies is a most difficult undertaking; and the difficulty does not belong to the Sacred Books alone, all other chronological tables of all the nations in the world, are in the same predicament. With those of our own history I have often been puzzled, even while I had access to all the archives of the nation. Probably we should read here the five and twentieth year. See the margin, and the note on 1 Kings xv. 16. NOTES ON CHAPTER XVI. Verse 1. The six and thirtieth year] After the division of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah; according to Ussher. This opinion is followed in our margin; see the note on 1 Kings xv. 16., where this subject is farther considered. Concerning Baasha's building of Ramah, see the note on 1 Kings xv. 17. Verse 3. There is a league] Let there be a treaty, offensive and defensive, between me and thee: see on i Kings xv. 19. Verse 6. Took all Judah] See on 1 Kings xv. 22. Verse 7. Escaped out of thine hand.] It is difficult to know what is here intended. Perhaps the divine providence had intended to give Asa a grand victory over the 2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. 3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, be k Jer. 17. 5-1 1 Kings 15. 24.-m Heb. digged.--n Gen. 50. 2. Mark 16. 1. John 19. 39, 40-0 Chap. 21. 19. Jer. 34. 5.-p 1 Kings 15. 24.--q Ch. 15. &-r Or, of his father, and of David.-s 1 Kings 12. 28. Syrians, who had always been the inveterate enemies of the Jews; but, by this unnecessary and very improper alliance between Asa and Ben-hadad, this purpose of the divine providence was prevented; and thus the Syrians escaped out of his hands. Verse 9. Therefore-thou shalt have wars.] And so he had with Israel during the rest of his reign, 1 Kings xv. 32. Verse 10. Asa was wroth with the seer] Instead of humbling himself, and deprecating the displeasure of the Lord, he persecuted his messenger. And, having thus laid his impious hands upon the prophet, he appears to have got his heart hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; and then he began to oppress the people, either by unjust imprisonments, or excessive taxations. Verse 12. Diseased in his feet] He had a strong and long fit of the gout: this is most likely. He sought not to the LORD] "He did not seek discipline from the face of the Lord, but from the physicians." Targ. Are we not taught by this, in our afflictions, to make prayer and supplication to the Lord with the expectation that he will heal us when he finds us duly humbled, i. e. when the end is answered for which he sends the affliction? Verse 14. And laid him in the bed) It is very likely that the body of Asa was burnt; that the bed spoken of here was a funeral pyre, on which much spices and odoriferous woods had been placed; and then they set fire to the whole, and consumed the body with the aromatics. Some think the body was not burned, but the aromatics only, in honour of the king. How the ancients treated the bodies of the illustrious dead we learn from Virgil, in the funeral rites paid to Misenus. Meanwhile the Trojan troops, with weeping eyes, To dead Misenus pay their obsequies. First from the ground a lofty pile they rear Of pitch tress, oaks, and pines, and unctuour fir. An. vi. 214. Dryden. All these rites are of Asiatic extraction. Virgil borrows Imost every circumstance from Homer; see Il. xxiii. v. 940 7 Also in the third year of his B. C. 912 reign he sent to his princes, even to Anno ante Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Ze-Lymp. 138 chariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Mi- Co chaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. 8 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. Le Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and vités; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. 9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. t 1 Sam. 10. 27. 1 Kings 10. 25-u Heb. gare. -v 1 Kings 10 27. Chap. 18. L. w That is, was encouraged.-x 1 Kings 22. 43. Ch. 15. 17. & 19. 3. & 20. 3—y Ch 15. 3- Chap. 35. 3. Neh. 8. 7. 164, &c. And we well know that Homer ever describes Asiatic manners. Sometimes, especially in war, several captives were sacrificed to the manes of the departed hero. So in the place above, the mean-souled ferocious damon, ACHILLES, is represented sacrificing twelve Trojan captires to the ghost of his friend Patroclus. Urns containing the ashes and half-calcined bones of the dead occur frequently in barrows, or tumuli, in this country; most of them, no doubt, the work of the Romans. But all ar cient nations, in funeral matters, had nearly the same rites. NOTES ON CHAPTER XVII. Verse 1. Jehoshaphat-and strengthened himself against Israel.] The kingdoms of Israel and Judah were rivals from the beginning; sometimes one, sometimes the other, prevailed. Asa and Baasha were nearly matched; but after Baasha's death Israel was greatly weakened by civil contentions, and Jehoshaphat got the ascendency: see 1 Kings xvi. 16-23. Verse 2. The cities of Ephraim] This conquest from the kingdom of Israel is referred to, chap. xv. 8; but when it was made, we do not know. To Verse 3. The LORD was with Jehoshaphat] "The WORD of the Lord was Jehoshaphat's helper." Targum. Verses 7-9. To teach in the cities of Judah] teach the fear of the Lord in the cities of Judah.' gum. Ter In these verses we find a remarkable account of an itinerant ministry, established by Jehoshaphat; and in this work he employed three classes of men. 1. The princes. 2. The Levites. 3. The priests. We may presume that the princes instructed the people in the nature of the civil law and constitution of the kingdom. The Levites instructed them in every thing that appertained to the temple service, and ritual law; and the priest instructed them in the nature and design of the religion they professed. Thus the nation became thoroughly instructed in their duty to God, to the king, and to each other. They became, therefore, as one man; and against a people thus united, on such principles, no enemy could be successful. Verse 9. Had the book of the law of the LORD with them] This was their text-book: it was the Book of God; they taught it as such, and as such the people received it. Its laws were God's laws, and the people felt their obligation, and their consciences were bound. Thus they were obe dient to the laws of the land, on the principle of religion. In this they were encouraged and confirmed by the exam. ple of all, both in church and state. The princes were not only pious, but were teachers of piety. The Levites showed them the worth and excellence of their ritual institutions; and the priests showed them the moral use they were to make of the whole; and thus the poople became obedient to God as well as to the king; and kept all the civil ordinances not merely for the sake of a good king, but for the sake of a good and gracious God. By these means the nations enjoyed peace and prosperity; and all insur 11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute-silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand | and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats. A. M. 3092 Anno ante 12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly: and he built in Judah d castles, and cities of store. L. 01. 136-113 13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem. 14 And these are the numbers of them, according to the house of their father: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand. 15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand. 16 And next him was Amasiah, the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour. 17 And of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. 18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war. 19 These waited on the king, besides & those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah. CHAPTER XVIII. Jehoshaphat joins affinity with Ahab, king of Israel, 1, 2 Who invites him to assist lim in the war against the Syrians, to which Jehoshaphat agrees, 3 They consult the prophets concerning the success of the war; and all but Micaiah, promise Ahab victory, 4-17. Micaiah relates his vision concerning the lying spirit in the mouth down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead. 3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war. 4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel," m Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to-day. 5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand. 6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? 7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. 9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria, until they be consumed. 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for the of Ahab's prophets, 1822. Zedekiah, a false prophet, opposes Micaiah; and Mi- LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. caiah is put in prison, 23-27. Both the kings go against the Syrians; the confalerate armies are defeated, and the king of Israel slain, 23–31. 12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. m 1 Sam. 23. 2, 4, 9. 2 Sain. 2. 1.-n Heb. yet, or more-o Or, eunuchs.-p Heb. hasten-q Or, floor.-r Heb. thou consume them.-s Heb. with one mouth. hundred thousand; Eliade, two hundred thousand; Jehozabad, one hundred and eighty thousand; in all, one million one hundred and sixty thousand. risoned. rections, seditions, and popular commotions, were prevented. The surrounding nations perceiving this, saw that there was no hope of subduing such a people; so they mude no war with Jehoshaphat, ver. 10. And they took Verse 19. These waited on the king] They were discare not to provoke such a people to fall on them; there- posable forces, always at the king's command: and were fore, it is said, The fear of the Lord fell on all the king-independent of those by which the city of Judah were gardoms and lands that were round about Judah. Such an itinerant ministry established in these kingdoms for up- There is not a sovereign in Europe, or in the world, but wards of fourscore years, teaching the pure unadulterated might read this chapter with advantage. It shows, most doctrines of the Gospel, with the propriety and necessity forcibly, that true religion is the basis of the state; and of obedience to the laws, has been the principal means, in that wherever it prospers, there the state prospers. 2. It the hand of God, of preserving these lands from those con- shows also, that it is the wisdom of kings to encourage revulsions and revolutions that have ruined and nearly dis- ligion with all their power and influence; for, if the hearts solved the European continent. The itinerant ministry, of the subjects be not bound and influenced by true religion, to which this refers, is that which was established in these vain is the application of laws, fines, imprisonments, or lands by the late truly reverend, highly learned and culti- corporal punishment of any kind. 3. A religious nation vated, deeply pious, and loyal, JOHN WESLEY, A. M. for- is ever a great nation; it is loved by its friends, it is dreadmerly a fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, whose followed by its enemies. 4. It is ever a peaceable and united ers are known by the name of METHODISTS; a people who are an honour to their country, and a blessing to the government of their most excellent and revered King George III.; who, through a long reign, has been the patron of religion and learning, and the father of his people. Verse 11. The Philistines brought presents] They and the Arabians purchased peace with the king of Judah, by paying an annual tribute. The Philistines brought silver, and no doubt different kinds of merchandise. The Arabs, whose riches consisted in cattle, brought him flocks in great abundance, principally rams and he-goats. Verse 13. He had much business in the cities] He kept the people constantly employed; they had wages for their work, and by their labours the empire was both enriched and strengthened. Verse 14. Adnah the chief] He was generalissimo of all this host. These are the numbers of the five battalions:-Under Adnah three hundred thousand; Jehohanan, two hundred and eighty thousand; Amasiah, two nation: the blessings of religion, and a wholesome and paternal government, are so fully felt and prized, that all find it their interest to preserve and defend them. Harmony, peace, piety, and strength, are the stability of such times. May Britain know and value them! NOTES ON CHAPTER XVIII. Verse 1. Jehoshaphat had riches and honour] The preceding chapter gives ample proof of this. Joined affinity with Ahab] Took his daughter Athaliah to be wife to his son Joram. Verse 3. To Ramoth-gilead] This place belonged to the Israelites, and was now held by the king of Syria. The whole of this chapter is circumstantially explained in the note on 1 Kings chap. xxii. Verse 9. The king of Israel and Jchoshaphat] "Ahab consulted false prophets: but Jehoshaphat sought instruc tion from the presence of the Lord, and prayed at the entering in of Samaria; and before these all the false prophets prophesied lies." Targum. 13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak. 14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. 15 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? 16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace. 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil? u 18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab, king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20. Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? V 21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. W 22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee. 23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and * smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? 24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. a 25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. 27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return 1 Numb. 22. 18, 20, 35. & 23. 12, 26. & 24. 13. 1 Kings 22 14-u Or, but for evil. Job 1. 6. -w Job 12. 16. Isai. 19. 14. Ezek. 14. 9.-x Jer. 20. 2. Mark 14. 65. Acts 23. 2-7 Or, from chamber to chamber.-z Heb. a chamber in a chamber.—a Ch. 16. 10.-b Heb. from after him. Verse 20. Then there came out a spirit] The Targum gives a strange gloss here: "Then the spirit of Naboth of Jezreel came out from the abode of the righteous, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will deceive him. And the Lord said, By what means? To which he answered, I will be a spirit of false prophecy in the mouth of his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou mayest then. But, although the power of deceiving them is given unto thee, nevertheless it will not be lawful for thee to sit among the righteous: for whosoever shall speak falsely cannot have a mansion among the righteous. Therefore, go forth from me, and do as thou hast said." Targum. Verse 29. I will disguise myself] See the note on 1 Kings xxii. 30. Verse 31. But Jehoshaphat cried out] ". Jehoshaphat cried, and the WORD of the Lord brought him assistance.' Targum. Verse 33. A certain man drew a bow] The Targum tells us who it was. "Now Naaman, the captain of the host of the great king of Syria, drew a bow against him, (that the prophecy of Elijah the Tishbite, and Micaiah the son of Imla, might be fulfilled,) and smote the king of Israel between the heart and the caul of the liver, through the place where the coat of mail is joined." See the note on 2 Kings v. 1. for this tradition. Verse 34. Stayed himself up-against the Syrians] There was a great deal of personal courage and patriotism in this last act of the king of Israel: he well knew if his troops found that he was mortally wounded, they would immediately give way, and the battle would not only be lost, but the slaughter would be great in the pursuit: in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people. 28 T So the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel. 31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. 32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him. b 33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot-man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am e wounded. 34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died. CHAPTER XIX. Jehoshaphat, on his return from Ramoth-gilead, is met by the prophet Jehu, and reproved, 1-3 He makes a farther reformation in the land; establishing courts of justice, and giving solemn and pertinent directions to the judges. Levites, &c. to do Judgment and justice among the people, in the fear of God, 4-11. AND Jened to his house in peace to Apte i OL 134 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah Jerusalem. A. M. 3108. Ante Erbe Condiram 143 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani & the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. 3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast 1 prepared thine heart to seek God. 4¶ And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and m he went out again through the people from c Heb. in hia simplicity -d Heb. between the joints and between the breastplate e Heb. made sick. -f 2 Kings 22 35.-g 1 Sani. 9 9- Psa. 139. 2— C. È L k Ch. 17. 4, 6. See Ch. 12. 12-1 Ch. 30. 19. Ezra 7. 10-m Heb. ke reternal and went out. therefore he stayed himself up till the evening, when the termination of the day must necessarily bring the battle to a close and when this was done, the Israelites found that their king was slain, and so they left the field of battle to their foes. Thus Israel had a great loss, and the Syrians had got a great delivery. Had it not been for this accident, the Syrians had probably been defeated. See the note on 1 Kings xxii. 36. IN the notes referred to above, the quibbling predictions of false prophets, and lying oracles, are mentioned; and several instances given: and the whole account of the lying spirit going forth from the Lord to deceive Ahab particularly considered. See especially the notes as above on verses 19, 23, 34. The reader should never forget a truth so frequently occurring in the Bible, that God is repeatedly represented as doing, what in the course of his providence he only permits to be done. NOTES ON CHAPTER XIX. Verse 1. Returned to his house in peace] That is, in safety; notwithstanding he had been exposed to a danger so imminent, and from which only the especial mercy of God could have saved him. Verse 2. Jehu the son of Hanani] We have met with this prophet before: see the note on I Kings xv 7. Therefore is wrath upon thee] That is, thou deservest to be punished. And who can doubt this, who knows that he did help the ungodly, and did love them that hated Jehovah. And is not the wrath of God upon all those alliances which his people form with the ungodly; whether they be social, matrimonial, commercial, or political ? |