VeraeSS. Disguisedkims^ietiliaiitesuponhisface.l It does not immsdiaiely appear how paKing osAcs upon his fiue eould disguise aim. Instead of *^M( aphsr, dust, Houbigant conjectured that it ahould be iak aphad, a JtlUt. or bandage. It is only the comer of the last lener which makes the difference ( for the i daUlh, and i resh, are precisely the same, only the Aoutder of Ihe former is square, the latter round. Thai bandage, not dust, waa the or^inat reading, seema pretty evident nem its remains in two Of the oldest version^ the SeptuagiTU and Ihe Oioldee: the former boa, Km KsnS^sarQ tr rtXaiiuvi n*r »f0iiV°vf tvrav, "And he bound his eyes with a filleL" The latter has mi^ mnpss' msi ukerid bemaMtra ttnohi t "And he covered his eyes with a cloth." "nia MSS. oS Kennicoti and De Rossi contain no various reading here i but bandage ia undoubtedly the true one.
Verae 39. JEe^ Mit man] Hw drift of this is at ones seen: but Muib, not knowing was M to pass anueaea there, " he was gone. And the khg of Israel eaid uoto him. So shall thy judgment be; thywlf hast decided it.
41 And he hasted, and took the aahea away from hia face; and the kin^ of Israel discemol him that he v}aa of the projiheta.
42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the
Vem 41. Took the aAa away} He took the bonda^ from off hia ejea: mo on ver. 38. It vu no doubt of thin elotb, througli which he could see, while it served for « Bi^cient diaguiae.
Vertt 42. Thy life shall eo forjiia Ufe\ This was fittfilted Kt the battle of Ramotn-gikad, where he was sbun by the Syrians; see chap. xxii. 34, S5.
Verse 43. Heavy and dtaj^eaaed\ Heavy or afflicted, beeuue of these dreadf'il tidinzs; and diapleased with the prophet for having announced them. Hail he been displeased with himself, and humbled hie eoul before Ood, even those judgments, eo circumaumiially foretold, might have been averted.
I. Wk have already seen, in vcr. 30. thfit, according to OUT text, ttoetUy-seven thpunnnd men were slain by the fillling of a wall. Serious doubu are enterfained conceminff the icgitimary of tJiis rendering. I have, in the note,
S'ven the conjecture concerning eanping the fotiodaiion of e wall, and ihnt overthrowing uiem that were iipon it. ^ initeaid of nam chomah, a wall, we read rtam canfution, or ditorder, then the destruction of the taeidy-tevm Ihoutand men may appear to have been nceasioned by the ditorganixed state into which they fell] and of which their euemies taking advantage, might deatroy the whole viih eaie.
But no>R chomah, a walit becomes, aa Dr. KennieoU has observed, a very different word when written without the ^ vou, man Aamak, which signifies htat sometimes the ttm, vAtmmt heat, or die heat <ff the noon-day nin t and also the name of a mnd, from lU suffocating, parddng quality.
'Hie same noon, from am yaAam, Dr. Cnstel explains by txcand«$eeaiia, furor, venmum.; burning, rage, poison. TTiese renderings, says Dr. KennieoU, all concur to establish the sense of a burning wind; eminenily blasting and destructive. I shall give a few instances from the Scripture:
We read in Job xxvii. 21. T^c eaet wind carrieth him away; whtm the word vtp kadim, is cana-uv, burning, ia iHe S^ptuagint: and in tiu ValgaU, venhu uretu, a bumiDK vind. In Ezek. xix. 12. Su waa plucked up, nsro Ac wat ea»t dovn to the ground, and ike eaal wind dried up ktr fruit; htr ttronf^ rod* withered, and the Jtri eonmmeathem. Hosea (xiil. tS.) mentions the deso- UUioa brought by an eaet windy the wind of the Lord. What in Amos iv. 9. is, I have smitten you with blotting, is in the Vulgate tn vento tehemerUe, *' with a vehement vind;" and in the Syriac, with a hot wind.
Let us apply tliese to the hiotoiy: when Ben-hadad, Uog of Syna, was besieging Samarte the second time, the Israelites stew of the Synana one hundred thoueand footmeD in one day t and it follows that when the rest of the array fled to Aphck, lieenty-eeven thousand of the men that were left were suddenfy destroyed by nomn haobomah, or non chamah^ a frumtn^ wind, 'niat such is the true interpretation will appear more clearly, if we compare the destruction of Ben-hadad'a army with that of Sennacherib, whose seutenca is that Qod would send upon htm a BLAST, mt ruach, a wind; doubtleaa such a wind «a woukl be suddenly destnictive. The event is said to be diat, in the night, onehundred arid eighty five Ihoueand Assyrians were smitten by the angel of the Lord, 2 Kings xix. 7, 36. Tlu coimezion of this sentence, with this ex- Motion of it, is given by the Psalmist, who says, civ. 4. Ood maketh kit angeie nirvi ruehoth, winds; or, makeOi the leindt hit angels, L e. metaengert for tiie performance of hit wilt. In a note on I^sa. xi. 6. Professor Hichaelis has these words, Ventua xUgaphoth, pestilent surus ett, orietUalHmt noHttijout, qui oovia quavit neeat; " The vind Zelgaphoth is hvealUent eaat wind, veil kncrvB to the Asiatics, which suddenly kills those who ore upoaedtoit" 7^«iMno< menti<ms such &viadinl668i Aot, in one night, suffocated (mnfyttouMind men I And the Samiel be mentions as having, in 1665, suffocated four &outand persons I tFpon the whole, I conclude, says the Doctor, that, as Tltevmot has mentioned two neat multitudes destroyed bv this buraing wind; so has Holy Scripture recorded the destmctton of two much CraUer multitudes by a similar cause: and, therefbrfc we AmU iniulaie dw words thui) But On rat JUi to
Lord, * Because Ihou luut let go out of ikg hand a man whom I appointed to utter deitnMttion, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
43 And Ihtt kmg of lerael « went to hb house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
^phek, into the city; and the bcrninq wjvaftU tnoa thetwailyajid teven thoutand if the men that were left.
3. On the case of Ben-hadod and his servants conung out to Ahab, with tackvlotk on their loina, and ropet ahatH their necka, ver. 31. I have referred to that of the six citizens of Calais, in the time of Edward 111. I shall give (his affecting account from Sir John Froitaarl, who hved in that time, and relates the story circumstantially; aod with diat simplicity and detail that give it every appearance of truth. He is the only writer of all hiscOTiiempo. raries who gives the relation; and, as it is not only ilnstralive of the text in question, but also very curious and aifecting, I will give it in his own words; only observing that. King Edward having cloaely invesud the city, in 1346, and the kin;T of Prance having made many useless atrempiB to raise uic seige, at lost withdrew bis army, and left it to ila fate, '"nien," says Froitaart, chap, cxiiv. " after the departure of the king of France with his artny, the Calesions saw clearly thai all hopes of succour were at an end; which occasioned them so much sorrow and diatresB ihat the hardieA could scarcely support it. entreated, therefore, moat earnestly, the Lord John ae Vienne, their governor, to mount upon die botUements, and make a sign that he wished to hold a parley.
"The king of England, upon hearing this, sent to htm Sir Walter {llnnny and Lord BaaaeL When they were near, the Lord de Vicnne said to ^m: ' Dear gentlemen, you who are very valiant knights, know that the king of France, whose subjects we are, has sent us hither to defend this town and castle from all harm and damage. This we have done to the best of our abilities: alt hopes of help have now left us, so that we are most exceedingly straitimed: and if the gallant king, ymir lord, have not pity apon we most perish with hunger. I dierefore entreat that yen would beg of him to haw oompaMton upon us, and to ha re the goodness to allow us to depart in the stale ve an in; and that he will be satisfied with having possessino of the town and castle, widi all that is within them, aa he will find therein riches enough to content him.' To this Sir Walter Manny replied: ^John, wo are not ignorant of what die king our lord's intentions are, for he has told them to us: know then, diot it is not his pleaiurv that you should get off so, for he ia resolved that yoQ surrender yourselves wholly to hia will, to allow those whom he pleases their mnsom, or to be put to death; for the Calesions hove done him so much mia^ef, and have, by their obstinate defence, cost him so many lives, and so much money, that be is mistily cimtged.
" 'rtic Lord de Vienne answered, ' these conditions are too hard for us: we are buta small number of knigliis and squires, who have loyally served our lord and master, as you would have done, and have suffered much ill and disquiet; but we win endure more than ony men ever did, in a similar situatioo. before we consent mat the smolteat boy in the town should fare worse than the best. I thetefore, once more, entreat yon, out of compassion, to retora to the kinsr of England, and beg of him to have piw oA us: be will, I trust, grant you this favour; for 1 nave such an opinion of his gnlloniry as to hope that, tfmugh Qod'a mercy, he will alter his mind.'
"The two lords retiuTied to the king, and related what bad passed. The king said, ' He had no intention of complying with the request, but should insist that they stirrendered themselves imconditionaUy to his will.' Sir Walter replied t ' My lord, ye may be to blame in tfiis, as yva w»H set us a very bad example; for, if you order ua to go to any of your castles, we shrill not obey ybn so cheerfully if yon put these pec^le to death, for they will retaliate upon us id a similar case.'
" Many barons who were present supported this opinioa: upon which the king replied; ' Oentlemeii, I am not so obstinate, aa to hold my opinion alone against yoa all — Sir Walter, you will inform the governor of Calais, that only grace he is to expect from me is, that six of dtt wiacipal citizens of Calais march out of the town with bare heads and feel, Ttith ropet round their neofcc, and the keys of the town and castle in thoir hand*. Ihew sx persona idiall be at my absolute disposal, and the der of the iiriiabitants pardoned." "Sir WafterFMoniedtolheLoiddeVieiUH, who
AauLOLiB./X thiiiga, that Naboth the JezrceliS^BS? ito had a vineyard, which waa in Jezrc'el, hard by the palace of Ahab kin^ of Samaria.
waiting for him on the battlement^ and told him all (hal bo bod beoQ able to grUn from (he kiiis. 'I beg of yoo,' replied the governor, ' thai jrou wouM be so eood aa to reipxin here a little, while I go and relate all mat has paeied to the townsmen; for, aa they have desired me to imderlako this, it ia but proper they should know die reault of it.'
" He vent to the market-place, and caused the bell to be rung; upon which all the inhabitant^ men and women, usembled in the town-hall. He then related to them what he had said, and the aoiwera be had received, and Utat he could not obtain any conditions more &vourablt; to which tb^ must give a short and immediate answer.
" 'HiiB in^rmation caused the greatest lamentations and despair, so that the hardest heart would have had companion on them: even the Lord de Vienna wept bitterly.
"After a short time, die moM wealthy citizen <» the lowri, by name Shi^aeeda St. Pierrtt rose up and said, 'Gentlemen, both hi^ and low, it would be a very ^reat pity to sufier so many people to die through fomine, if any means oould be found to prevent it; and it would be highly meritorious in the eyes of our Saviour, if such misoiy could be averted. I have sudi bith and trust ia fiotUog grace before (lod, if IdietoBavemytoVrn8men,duUlnamemyself as first of the tlx.'
" When Eustace bad done speaking, they all rose up, and almost woi^ipped him; many cast themselves at his feet, with tears ana groans. Another citizen, very rich, and respected, rose up and said, ' He would be the aectmd to bis companion Eustace.-' his name was John Daire. After him Jama Wi§ant, who was very rich in merchandise and lands, ofiered himaelf as companion to his two oouains; as did PeUr FFwani his brotner. Two others then named themselves, which completed the number dc m&ndcd by the king of England. The Lord John de Vieiuu, then mounted a small liackney, for it was with difficult he could walk, (he had been wounded in die ■lege,) end randuoied ttwm to the gate. There was die greatest sorrow and lamentation over all the town; and in aueb manner were diey attended to the gate, wludi die governor ordered to be opened, and then ^ut upon him and the six oitiaens, whom he led to the barriers, and said to sir Walter Manny, who was diere waiting tor him, I deliver up to you, as governor of Calais, with the consent of the inhabitants, tluse six citizens; and I swear to you that th^ were, and an, at this day, tbe most wealthy and reapeetable inludritanta of CaJua. I b^ of yoo, gentle sir, dkat you would have the gooditeM to bewech die king, that they may not be put to death.' ' I cannot answer for what the king will do widi them,' replied Sir Walter, 'but you may depend that I will do alt in my power to save them.'
*'^The barriers were opened, when these six eitiaeos advanced towards the pavilion of dwkii^t and theZjOrd de Vienna re-entered the town.
** When Sir Walter Manny had presented these six eitixens to the king, they fell upon their knees, and, with uplifted bands, said, * Most gallant king, see before you six citizens of Calais, who have been capital raerchaats, and who bring you tbe keys of tbe castle nnd of tbe town. We aurrender ourselves to your absolute will and pleasure, in order to save the remainder of die inhabitants of Calai^ wbo have suSbred much distress and misery. Condescend tfaerefere out of toot nobleness of mind to have mercy and compassion upon us.' All the barons, knights, and squires, llMat were assembled there in great numbers, wept at this
"The king eyed diam with angry look^ (fbr be hated mncb tbe people of Calais, lor the great losses he had for' metly suffered from them at sea,) and ordered dieir heads to be itrieken off All present entreated tbe king that he woaUbemoronoruiultotbemi bathe would not listen tt> thsDL Thea Sir WallwMaimy said, 'Ah, gentle king, lot ne beseech yon to restnun yoar anger ( yon have the reputation of gnat nobleness of soul, do net thersfbre tar-
2 And Ahab spake unto Nid>oth, saying, GKvo mo thy » vineyard, that I may have it for'a jar? den of herbe, because it is nearunto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than tt; or, if it saem good to thee, I will give th«e the worth of it in money,
3 And Naboth aaid to Ahab, The Lobd forbid it me, ' that I ehould give the inheritaiwe of my fathers unto thee.
4 And Ahab came into hie house heavy and tlispleuaed, beciusc of the word which Naboth the Jczrcelite had ipoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my
nish it by such an act as this; nor allow any one to speak in a disgraceful manner of you. In this instance, au the work! will say you have acted cruelly, if you put to death six such respectable persons; whoof their own freewill, have surrendered themselves to your mercy, in order to save their fellow-citiaens.' Upon this die king gave a wink, saying. Be it so, and ordered the headsman to be sent for; for, that tbe CaleHinns had done him so much damu» it was proper diey should sufier for it.
" TnB flusen of Iraiglond, who was at that time very big widi 6ki\a, fell on her knees, and with tears said, 'Ah,genile sir, since I have crossed die sea with great danger to see you, I have never asked you one favour; now I most humbly ask as a gift, for the sake of (he Son of the blessed Mary, and for your love to me, that you will be merciful to iHeso six men.' The king looked at her for socne time in ailenoft, and then said, 'An lady, I wish you had been any where else than here; you have entreated in such a manner that I cannot refiise you; I therefore give ibun to you, to do as you please with diem.'
" Tlie queen conducted die six citizens to her apartments, and bod the halters taken from round their neoki^ new clothed, and served them widi » plentifid dbmer: she then presented each with nobles, and bad tbem eseortsd out of the camp in safety."
This ia the whole of diis aSeciing account, which ia mentioned by no other writer; and has been thought a proper subject for the pen of the poet, the pencil of the painter, and tbe burine of the engraver; and which baa seldom been fairly represented in me accounts we have of it from our historians. The translation I have borrowed from the accurate edition of Fraissart, by Mr. Johns, of Hafod; and to his Wwk, vol. i. page 367, I must met for objections to the authenticity or some of the fitcts stated by the French historian. We see in Kwttao» de St. Pierrt, and his five c<mipanions, the portrait of genuine patriotism; the principle almost as rare in the world as the Egyptian pbtenix, which leads its po^ sessors to devote their property, and consecrate their livea to die public weal. Widely aiderent from that spurious birth, which is deep in the cry of my taantryi while il has nodiing in view but itifilace^ pennoa% and inroflts— Away with it!
Tone 1. AJUt that thingtl This and dw xzih diu. tar are mmsposed in the Si^uagivt i this prsoeding tM account of the Syrian war wiui Ben-had sd. Jo»tptnu gives the history in the same order.
Verste 2. Oivt me tht/ sinevard] The request of Ahab seems, at first view, &ir and nonourable. naboth's vine* yard was ntgfa to the palace of Aliab, and he wtrited to add it to bis own Iim- a kilehen garden, or perhaps a graea-plot, p^'< (J gan yirekj end he Offers to give him either a better vineyard for it, or to give faim its worth in money. Naboth rejects tbe proposal widi horror: TTia Lord forbid il me that 1 should give the inheritaJ^ee qf my /others to thee, ■ No man could Jinally alienata any part of the parental inheritance; it migni be sold or mortgaged till the Jubilee, but at that time it must revert to its original owner, if not redeemed before; for this God bad particularly enjoined. Lev. xrv. 14—17, 26 — 28. "nierefore NafaoUi properly said, Tfu Lord fbrbtd il mt to giv* Ike inheritanee of my fathtrt, Arab most evidently widied bim to <^itnate ii Jinally, and dus is what God's law bad expressly forbidden; therefore he could not, eoDsisteotly with his duty to Ood, indulge Ahab: and it was high iniqoi^ in Ahab to tempt bim to do it; and, to covet it, showed die depravity of Allah's soul. But wa see farther that, despotic as those kings wercjlhoy dared not sdia on the inWitanoa of any nan. litis wooU have been a flagrant breach of the law and comtfhrtiBn of tbe eoontry) and this indeed wottld have been ineansiiteiit with ttM oharaeter wh^diey sosiained, vi*. 71k«
Athers. And he laid him down upon hia bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
5 IT But Jezebel his wife came to him, and ■aid unto him, Why is thy stnrit so aad, that thou eatest no bread 1
6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the JezfeeUte, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and be answered, I will not give thee ray vineyard.
7 And Jezebel his wife said imto him, Doet thou now ^vern the kioedom of Israel 7 Arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will five thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreehte.
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab'a name, and •ealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles, that -were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Prodaim a fast, and set Naboth *on high among the people J
10 And set two men^ sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness agamst him, saying, Thou didst ■ blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and '' stone him, that he may die.
11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the mhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it wot written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
13 And there eame m two men, children of Belial, and sat before hjm: and the men of Beliai witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, Bayin£, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. ^ Then they carried him forth out of the city, aad stoned him with stones, that he died.
Lor^* vicegerent: The Jewish Idnga had no Authority either to aiiar the old laM or to make nev on«t.
Verse 4. A laid kim down upon hit bed] Poor soul I ke was lord over ten-twelflfas of the land, and became miserable because he coutd not get a poor man's vineyard added to at) that he possessed I It is a true saying. That soul in whieb Ood dwells nut, has no hajtuioesst and he tvbo has Ood, has a satisfying portion. Every privation ■ad orosB makes an unholy soul unhappy; and printioos and crasaaa it must erer meet with, iherefore —
Terse?. Dott &au now gwrn fh« kingdom o/* Itraalf] Naboth, not Ahab, is king. If he have authori^ t* r^U$e, and lhau have no power to take, he ia the oeater man of the twa Tbi» is the vtlsl lu^piaga of ostpofitm and lyrantix/.
Verse a She wrote lettenra in Ahab't name} She eeunterfeited hii authority, 1^ his own coment; and he lent his signet to stamp imt authori^.
Versed. Prodaim afaet] Intimate thM (here is Kime great ealamity coming upon the naUon, beeanse of SMne evil tolerated in it.
Verse 10. Set two menj For life eo«da not be attainted but on the evidence of two witnessas at least.
TJiott duUt bloMplum* Ood and the king] Thou art an a&eiet, and a rebel, thou hast apcdwn words injurious to the perfections and nature of God) and thou hast spoken woros against the crown and dignity of the king. "ihe words literally are, Naboth hath siAsscn God and th» king; or, as Parkhurst conteods, " Thou hast blessed the &£iB gods and Molech," i^di ipn^N ro*i3. And though Jezebel was herself an abominable idolatraa, yet, as me law of Hoses still eonbnued in force, she seems to have been wisked eooiu^ to have destroyed Naboth, upon the fiilse accusation oCbleenng the heathm AUiin and Maiech, which sulQseted htm to death by Daot. xii. 6. ■Tiii.2— 7.
Many drink that dw word -pa barae, signifiM bodi to UMSudotras; and so It iaiBtarpreled inmoatLexiaaaBt
14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
15 IT And it eame to pass, when Jezebel heud that Naboth was etoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelile, which he refused to give thee Sar money; for Naboth ii not alive, but dead.
16 And it eame to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard,of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of iL
17 ^ 1 And the word of the Immd came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, ^ which u in Samaria: behold, A« w in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.
19 And thou shall epeak tinto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shaJt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord,) In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
20 And Ahab said to Elijah, - Hast thoa found me» O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because 'thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the eight of the Lobd.
21 Behold, * I will bring evil upon thee, and wilt take away thy posterity, ana will cut off from Ahab i> Kim that pissetn against the wall, and ' him that is shut up and left in In^l,
22 And will make thine house like the boose of * Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of ( E^sha the eon of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked nw to anger, and made Israel to sin.
23 And " of Jezebel also spake the Loan, saying. The dogs shall eat Jezebel b7 tlie ' wall of Jezreel.
it is passing stranse, that, out of tin same word, pro* ceedeu bleuing ana eurting; and, to give such oppostw and self-destnictive meanings to way word is very dangerous. Parkhurst denies that it ever has the meaning of euraing, and examines all the texts where it is said to occur with diia meaning; and shows that blening, ML atrnng, is to be understood ia ail dtose places: aee him under sec. vi.
Verse 13. And ttoned him with staneej As th«7 pretended to find him guilty of treason against Ood and the Idnr, it ia likely they destroyed the whole of his family t ana then the kuir seized on his grounds as confiscated, or as eaeheaUd to the king, without any heir at law. TtiBi hie family was destrmred appears atrongly intimate^ 2Kiiinix.26: Surdy Ihaoetetaye^^raaySteMood^ NabMh, Am thb sloob or his sons, aaith the I^ord.
Verse 15. Arite, take potee—um] By what ritea or in what^fffl* this was done, we do not know.
Verse IB. Ch dmta to meet Ahab] This was the acTt day after the murder, as we learn miro the above quotati<u, 2 Kings ix. 26.
Venel9. MAtptaeevAmdogttudMLAe.l It is is van to look for a literal fut/Umtnt of this predictiafi. Thus it would have been mlfilled, but the humiliation cf Ahab induced the merciful Ood to say, / wiU not brimg the evil in hi* day; but in the tlaye qf hi* son, v«r. tS. Now dm did lick the blood of Ahab: but it was at d» pool of Samaria, where hta chariot ana his armour were wBiriied, after hehad raeeived his death-wound at Bame^ gilead t but stmie ihiak Aia was the place where NabMh was stoned: see cbap^ xxii. 38. And how UtcfaHytha predietioo eonoeming Ats'son was fiilfilled, see 2 miagm IX. 26; where we find that the body of Jehoiaai his sea, iusl then slain by an arrow that hao passed due«th faia neart was thrown into the portion qf tkt field jVobA Qu, JexTMHUr and there, doubtless die dog* lictod hi* blood, if they did not erea devour his body.
Verse 2a T&ou haet eM thyo^f towork evO] See* similar form of veeeb, Rom. vii. U. Tboa hast lomlly abandoned thyself to the service of sin i Satan is be dnr abtoluU nsosto-, and Ibou his undivided elan.
dagm shall eat and him that dieth in the field afaall the fowla of the air eat.
*"^m"* 25 But " there was none like unto B.C. Buian. Ahab, which did sell himself to work L ol^{!7a wickedneaa in the eight of the Lord,
26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things ■ as did the Amoritea, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel
28 And the word of the Lobd came to Elijah the TtBhbite, saying,
29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself belbre me? Becaose he humbleth himself before me, I will not brine the evil in his days; but * in his son's days wilTl bring the evil upon his
AND they continued three years without war between Syria and
2 And it came to pass in the third
3And the kiogof Israel said unto hia servants. Know ye that ■Ramoth in Qilead is outh, and we be ' still, and take it not out of the hand of the kioff of Syria?
4 And he said tinto Jetiosfaaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoehaphat said to the king of Israel, ' I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horees.
Verse 25. Did tell MmM^/* to vtork -wiekadneMt] He hired htmaelf to the devil for this very purpoae, that he might work irickednesa. 'Hiia was to M bis emplot/mtnt, ■nd at this he laboured.
In thesi^tift/uLoaD, wkom Jaxebtl hia vf^4 ttirred m.} A good wife is from the Lord} s bad win is from the devil: Jezebel wu of this kind; and she hM hid many suece—ow.
And wnt tqfUy.^ tVatked barefooted; m> tht Chaldu, Afriae, and Arabtc The Vulgate has demieeo eaoite; with his head haneinff down. Havbigani translates, loent groaning. Jardti sajrs diat the wotd Ch at, used 'her«i signifies, to be unehod. Hiis is its most likely wrsnae. All tliese thinn prov^ (hat Ahab's repentance was genuine t utd God ■ approbation of it puts it out of doubt.
Verse 29. 8eeH0uuhmtAAabhumbt^him*^\ He did alMse himself: he did trnly repent him qf Am sins; •nd it was such a repcnuncc as was genuine in the QoAt he humblelit hiirueff atron MC.
TbB jMttitenf heart ever meets the merciful eye of Ood: repenlonoe is highly esteemml by the PaUier of compas- «oo J even whu« it is comparatirely shallow and riiort- Kved. Aiw measure of eoaly sorrow has a proportionate neaaure oif God's regards; where it is deep and lastioff, the heart God is set upon iL He that mouma shall m comforted: tlius hath Ood spoken; and, though repentance far our past sins ean nunhaee no hvoiir, yet, without it Ood wilt not grant us bis salvation.
Vtrm I. T'Arst years without tenrl That i% from the time fhu Ahab made the covenant with Ben-badad, men-
rael, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to-day.
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the pro* pheta together, about four hundred men, euod said nnto them. Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall ITorbear? And they said. Go up; for the Lord shall ddiver it into the hand of (he king.
7 If And 1 Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire of him?
fihat. There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of mlab, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I hate him: for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said. Let not the kii^ say so.
9 Then the king of Israel called an ^officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son Imlah.
10 And the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a ■ void place m the entrance of the fc^te of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
11 Ana Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron; and he said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt ^ou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying. Go up to Ramoth-^ead, ana prosper: for the Lord shall deliver tt into the king's hand.
13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake imto him, saying. Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be uke the word of one of them, and speak tfuii ■vohich is good.
14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak,
15 1[ So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Rar moth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him. Go, and prosper: for the Lord slull deliver it into the hand of the king.
tioned chap. xx. 34. And probably in that treatjr it was stipulated that Ramoth-gilead should be restored to Israel t which not beinj; done, Ahab fomiad a confederacy with Judab, and determined to take it by force.
Terse,4. Will Uunt go vriih me] We find that there was agood understanding between Jehoshaphat and Ahab i ^i^ no doubt, was the c<H)seauence of a matrimonial •Uiuiee between the son of the lonner, Jehoram, and the daughter of the latter, Athaliab; see 2 Chroa. xviii. 1. 2 Kmga viii. 48^ This coalilion did not please God and he is severely reproved for it by Jehu the seer, 2 Chron. xix. 1— a
Verse 6. About Jour hundred men] These were probably the propheU Aeherah, or Venue, maintained by Jezdiel, who were not present at die contention on mount Carmel. See ehap. xviii. 19, &c.
VeraeS. JtSeaiah the son of Imlah] The Jews suppose that it was ihis prophet who reproved Ahab for diamissing Ben-hadad, chap. it. 35, And that it was because of the judgmenii with which he bad threatened him, that Ahab hated him: / bate him, /or A« doAiut >plu*y good concerning me, but evil. erae 9. The king of Im-aet called an ^c«r] D"^ Mri»! HteraJty, a eunum: probably a foreigner, for it was not lawful to disgrace on Israelite, by reducing him to such a state.
Verse 11. Zeddciah—madt him honu of iron] Tbit was in imitation of that sort of prophecy wnkh instmeted by significative actions, ^is was frequent ammig lbs prophets of the Lord.
verse 13. Tha mrds ef tk* presets declare gopdj What notion eould these men have of jtraphecy, when they suppoeed it was in the power of the prophet to model tb« 4)reuictton as he pleased; and have the result accordingly t Verse 16. OOf and prosper] This was a strong irony t as if he had said, All your prophets have predicted suo* cess i you wish me to speak as they apeak; Oo, and pros' per, Jorth* Lord ititt deliver it into thehand ^theking, Tbem ware lha preeise ^'"^^^ ^ pi^I^wti, see
16 And the king said unto him, Hqiv many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but VuU which is true in the name of the Lord?
17 And he said, I eaw all Israel " scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd; and the LoBD said. Those have qo master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
18 And the king of Israel said unto Jenoshaphat, Dkl I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
19 And he said. Hear tliou tliM-efore the word of the Lord: " 1 saw the Lord sitting on his throne, i* and all the host of heaven Btanding by him on his right hand and on his lelX:
20 And the Lord sakl, Who shall i persuade Ahab, that ha may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on thia nuumer, and another said on that manner.
SI And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Loan, and said, I will persuade him.
22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a ifing spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, ' Thou shalt persuade aim, and prevsdlalso: go forth, and dO'SO.
Tw>. 6. and 11; and were Bpoken by Mieaiah in such a toils and manner as at oace shoved to Ahab that he did aot believe them: hence the king adjure* hina, (ver. 16.) that he tnould gpeak to him nothmg but trulh; and on thia ttta prophet immediately relates to nim the prophetic vision Q^ch pointed out the clisasters which ensued.
it is worthy of remark, that this prophecy of the kin^a prophet! is couched in the same ambifuou» Urm* liy which the false prophets in the heathen world endeavoured to maintain their credit, while they deluded thsir votaries. ITie reader will observe, that the word is not in the original i the Lord vnil deUv&r n into On hand itf Ihs kimgi mod the words are so artfully constructed that ihf^ mmy be interpreted for or agairut: bo that, be the event whatever it might, the Juggling prophet naight save his credit, b; saying he meant what naa hi^ipened. Thus, then, the prophet might have been understood: 7^ Z.ora wiU dtliver (it,) Rarooth-Ollead, into the king't (Ahab's) handi or, the Lord %nU deliver (Israel) into the king's hand I i, e. into the hajtd of the king qf Sjfria. &ai Micaiah repeats these words of uncertain^ in order to ridicu/e them, and expose their fallacy.
Im following oracles, among Ihe heathens, were of dus same diMoue nature, in oraer that the priests' credit might be saved, let the event turn out as it migtu. I^us the Deltditc oracle spoke to CrcBius words which an capftble 01 this double meaning, and which he understood to his own destruction i —
Be trusted in tlie^er; the /onner took place; he was deluded: and yet the omele maintained its endib So in the following:—
Pynirai^ kins' of Eplnu, understood W this that be should emquer the Romans, against whom ne was then making war: but the oracle could lie thus translated—" The Romans shall overcome thee." He trusted in the former; made unsuccessful war, and was overcome: and yet the juggling priest saved his credit. The latter line ia capable of two oppoeite meanings: —
When propliecies and oracles were not delivered in thia dubious way, diey were generally couched in auch intrieate and dark terms that the assistance of die oracle was neoessai^ to explain the oracle; and then it waa ignotum per ignottue: a dark saying, par^hrased by one yet more obeeure.
Verse 17. 77iesf have no maater'] Here the prophet fcreiells the defeat of Israel, and the death of the kme: were as the^ that had not a thepherd; people that nu no maeitr; the political thepherd and ma$tn- (Ahab) «»U fall in battle. ' 83S
put a lying spirit m the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
24 li But Zedekiali the eon of Cheaaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, ^ Which war went the Spirit (rf'Ibe Lord from me to spealt imto thee?
25 And Micaiali said. Behold, thou ehalt see in that day, when thou shalt go " into ' an inner chamber to hide tliyeelf.
36 And the king of Israel said, Tjoke Mieaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor oi the citv, and to Joa^ the king's son;
27 And say, Thus saith the king, Pat this feiiovs in the prison, and feed him with bread affliction, and with water of amiclioD. until I come in peace.
29 ir So the king of Israel, atul Jehost^hat the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth-gilead.
30 And the king of Israel ^aid unto Jehoshaphat, ■ I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel (Uaguised himself, and went into the Dftttle.
is a mere parable; and only telta, in figui«tive langua^ what was in the womb of providence; the eventa wtucb were shortly to take place, the agents employed in ibem, and die permission 6a the part oi God for these agents to act Uicaiah did not choose to say before this aogiy and impious king, " Thy prophets are alt liars; and tl« devil, the father <n lies^ dwells in diem but he represents ibe whole by diie pandile) and sa^s the same tiudis in langUBgc as forcible, bat less oSensiv*.
Verse 22. Gojorth^ and do so] Tlus is no mon thsi^ " God has permitted the ^irit of lying to jw^^—T" the whole of tny nrophMs; sin he nw|r, of my meut^ spprises ihee of ibis^ that thou mayeat not go and fiUl at Ramoth-gilead." Nevw waa a man more circumstantnltf and fairly warned: he had counsels from iha God tf tru/A, and counsels from the spiril q/" faleiiy; he obsQnataty forsook the former, and followed the latter. B» was shown by this part^le how every thing was going on; and that all 'was under the control ana diraetioa a God; and that |tiU it was possible for him to make thai Ckid his friend, wbom^ by bw continual tnuugrcaaion^ ba had made hia enemy; but he would not: hia blood was, therefore, upon his own head.
Verse 23. The Loan haih put a tying evirit] He hath permitted, or eii^cred, a lying spirit to influence thy prophets. It is requisite again to remind the reader, that the Scriptures repeatedly represent Ood as doing vliot, in the course of his providence, he only permit* or iu_fcn M be. done., Nothing can be done in heaven, in earth, or hell, but either by his immediate energy or permumaaL. lliiB is the reason why the Scripture speaks as above.
Verse 24. WhiA way went the Spirit qf the Loan from me] This is an expression of as great insulenoe as the act waa of brutal aggressioa. *' Dtathe Spirit of ^ Lord, which rests solely upon me, eondeaoend to in^in dice! Was it at itim tu (where he smote him) that it entered, in order to hold communitm with thee?*' Jas^hya tells an idle rabbinical tale about this buatnesa, which is as • unworthy of repetition as it is of crediL See his Anfig: the Jew, book viii. c. ID.
Verse 25. When thou ahalt go into an inner cAoiaAcr] It ia probable that (hia refers to some divine judgment which fell upon this deceiver. Hearing of the tragical result of the DoUl^ he no doubt went into a secret pmee, to hide himself from the resentment of Jez^^ oai i)>e laraelitirii courtiers; and ihere^ it ia probable, he perished; but how, leA^n, or where, is not mentioned.
Verse 27. Feed him with bread cf q/^icfwm] Deprive him of al1theconrenien«uaadconi/Wf«of li&:: tmi him aeeereljf,*Just keep him alive, that he may see my triuimth.
Verse 30. I will diaguiet mytelf\ PrvtotH^ he bad heard of the orders given by Ben-hadad to bis ihirty-cvo captains, to fight wuh the king ef trrael only: that is, to make their most powerfiil attack where he conunaoded, in order to take him prisoner; that be might lead him csiative whose captive he formerly waa: and, theieftnk M aitguiud fainuelf, that he jni^ not be knowsh
31 T Bat the kins of B^rla oommaoded his thirty and two cwptains that had rule over hi* chariotc, Mying, Fight neither with small Dor ^eat, save only with the king of Urael.
32 And it came to pass, when the captaioa of the chariots saw JeaoBhi^>hat, that they said. Surely it t« the Ida^ of brael. And they turned aside to fight agajiMt him: and Jehoifaaphat ■ cried out.
33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it vas not the king of Israel, that they turned back frran pursuing
34 IT And a eer-tain man drew a bow ■ at a venture, a.od srabte the king of Israel between the ^joints of the harness: wherefore he said onto the driver of his chariot. Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am ■ wounded.
35 Am the battle increased that da^: and the Icing was stayed up iu his chariot a^nst the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the * midst of the chariot.
36 And there went a ivoclamation throughout the host about the going down of the son, saying, Bvery man to his city, and every man to his own country.
37 T So the king died, and ' was brought to SaiAaria} and they buried the king in ^una^ ria.
38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria: and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour: according 'unto the word of the Lobd which he spake.
But put Uum on Umroba] What u newt bythisi H« oowd not mean, "Ai^Mar m die kiw of Jodiibt for they will not molest thee, fta the muttr of^ MMttention lies between tbem sod me thia ie Jardu'a turn. But if Jehoehaphat aided Ahab, u it to be aappoeed that the Syrians would spare bim in battle 1 A eeneral in the ciril wan of TinglnnH, irtien he had broupit hia army in aigfat of their Um, thus addreaaed tbem: " Yooder are TOir floeniee; if ^ou do not kill tlum, dtey vtU kill jn^" Bo it mi^t be aiid in the case of Jmeth^diat ana the
The Stpiitagint DVta the claoie a different and more intriligible turn; "1 will oover (conceal) myael^ and enter into the battle t *** »>j*««' itumvprni fn, but put <Ami on Kv reftee." And doea it not i^pear that be did put on Abab'a robes t And was it not this that caused the Syriana to mistake him for the king of Israel 1 ver. 32.
Ysrse 34. Arew a bow at a MtUwe] It is supposed tfwtba Aot, as^ srebersia geoanl md, not ainuiig at •BT paraoo HI portieular.
Tno word yonft U-tummo. vhich ve tmtslate in hit ajmplieilff, baa been variouily understood: in IU» interriljf, hi* vnrightneu. in Jus pttJecOon; i. e. to Ute utmovt of hia velU «na Mitngtk. This ia moat probably the neaninff t and nay imply both oim and power, bav-; hia bm fail in viaie. In cases where the srehers llo do lbs greatest ezMution, ihqr beat dieir bom, •ad pulled till the sidKending string drew bsek the arrow up to it* luad. tUs they oould not do atwaya, because it required their whole streoiRh; and they could not mit forth their utmost edbrt each time, and omtinue to disebarge many shots. Our old national ballad of the Cfuvy C3tao9 mention* the slaying of Sir Hugh Montgomery, who had alain Earl Percy, in nearly the same way diiu Abob vp^mn to have been shot:
Wka had ■ bow tm la Ahaad,
An arm 0/ a dolfc uari iDmm
Bttwem. the joint* of (ha hameu) "Between the eu^roM and the lower part of the hdmoti" and then tlie arrow must pass through tho lUck, just above the brtatt; or, " between the cmroMand the cuiMorto /' and then the arrow must pass diraugh the abdomat. or just where the •rmoar of die MgAs ioiBs to that vfakn eovers thetrsMf andMJy.
39 IT Now the rert of the acts of ^}Lg^ Ahab, and all that he did, and ^the aow^ ivory house which he made, and all loS the cities that he built, are they not
written inthebookof thaChronicieeof thekinga of Israel 7 &^^S^
40 So Afa^dept with hie fethere; uti-oiia. and Ahasiah hie son reigned in his
41 H And I Jehoshaphat the son of Vc^^ Asa began to reign over Judah in l in. m the fourth year of Ahah king of le- tJIfSSf' raeL
and he reigned twenty and five years t. m in Jerusalem. And bis mother's name ~"* WM Azubah, the daughter of Sfailhi.
43 And * he walk ea in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that ■which was right in the eyes of the Lord: neverthelese I the hjghrplaces were not taken away; for the people ofiered and burnt incense yet in the hieh places.
44 And Jehoflhiqihat made peace with the king of Israel.
45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehodiaphat, and hjB might that he showed, and how he wiured, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?
46 ' And the remnant of the sodomites, wliidi remained in the days of hia fitther Asa, he took out of the land.
The Vulgate has, htter pulmonsn «t ttomadoM between the hiDga and the stomach f* consequently, in dM region of dw hearL
Verse 35. 71l« 1^ wot otmyed vp) He did not widi hia misfbrtaae ahouldbe known, lest his troops should be diseourafed.
Verse 36. Every man to kt* etty] It appears that the Israelites end Jews maintsioed ibe fi^t the whole of the day I bui when at evenfiiiR tbe king died, and this was known, the<« was a ptooniiiuun mt^ dis eoosent both Symns mad Israelile^ dist the war was orrer. Ah^ bejRif desd, Ui subjeets did not choose to eontend for Rainciih-gflaad; aa Ihie Israelites went to their own eiti^.— au>[ tIia Bytiasa ta> dlor own country.
Verse 'i^-. 7 'he doer HAed ttp hi* Uood] Some of the rabbins lli^iii; tTiia v.-n_B in Thererv place where Naboth wasston<"i ■■ ^r.,: un. liaii. mi. 19. The SeptuagintXiviMlale dtis verK slfanesly; And the swine and the dqgs licked hii bk»d{ feaddu^staonsbadwddieniselvesiBhis blood, aecording la the word of the Lord." It is eertatn that the H'-lnr^^v «-<ir<1ft nn-i imm haxonotk roAatau, "washed ins mmanr," might be translated as the Stptuagint have donet "and me whoru, (or public women,} waehtd," Ac. And so the rabbins seem to have understood the words: but (hen Ihey suppose that Jexebel had made him two imageo proitituUe, which he had with him in the <diario(. It is not worth inquiring into the u*« for vdueh dwv say theee imsf^ were made. See mmdUaadyarcU.
Verse 39. Aory houee] A royal palace which be built in Samaria, decorated with ivory; and hence called the ivory hmue. Amoe, the pro|»et, speaks against this luxury, chap. iii. IB.
Verse 43. The high placet were tioI taJcen away] In 2 Chron. xvii. 6. it is expressly said, dwt he did take otp^ the high piaeee. Allowing tbattheleztisriidtt mZChrga. the two places may be easilv reoooeiled. There wen two leinda nf high ptaeee in the land: — 1. Those used for idolatrou* purposes.— 2. Those that were eoiMcrated to God, and were used before the temple was built. The former he did take away; the latter he did not. But some think the parallel place in 2 Chroa tvii. 6. is eorruptad) and ihst.inslMdof-oon'nyivsocfAsiir, ** and moreover hs took ewiV,** wsdiouldread, 'v«n i6i mfo Astir "and hs did HOT take away."