CHAPTER VnL
AND >itcame topaseat the end oT Vcm twenty veera, wherein Sdomoa.as»«* had built the hoose of the Lou, and lUa jSfS own house, ^"^^ 2 That the cities which Hvram had rcetored
Terae 18. Hun Aatt net ^ Am m msr] pnmiM waa not fulfilled, beoauae tbe nsahWaw wm hi fulfilled: Uiey fbnook Qod, and be out Am oil^ aod mrone alao.
Terae 20. Thm ^ritt t timk Oum vp ^ reefcj How completely baa thia been ftiUUledl not onlyall d» ftroncAe* of ihe Jewiab polideal tree have been tm. eC but tbe very roott have been plucked iq>i so that tludw of die LonPa anger has left them neither nat nor hrtmA.
Terae 21. OuU bt m <ufonMMeM<| The -Bwiuur ia which Uieae diaobedieat people hare beea d— lujui is tnilyastoiiaUnj': ao natmo waa aver ao hMiIy faissw^t and none em ao aevarely and aignally nsniAied.
Terae 22. £<ca«aa£b^,^ir«e(N(!fiULo*»] Whaledhir cleaved to Ood, die most powerfbl enesay oooU mfee ao tmpreaaioQ on them t but whan th^ fbraoofe hiB, ^ea th* vcakeM and moat ioeonmlenUa of ibeir SaaslMraasit oppreaaed, and rwbieed diem to boadiy and susov. A waa by no peraonal prow^aa, gemme heraiau, or aopmainent'mililary tactie^ diat Um Jewa wen enahM ta mmK and overcome their enemies: it waa by dn divine pa— r alone) for, deatituta of dda, di^ ware area ««m other men.
4 * And fie built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities^ which he budlt in Hamath.
6 Also he built Beth-boron the upper, and Beth^roD the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had. and all the chariot ciUes, and the cities of the norsemen, and * all that Solomon desired ts build in Jerusalem^ and in Lf^wnon, and IbrojiEhout all the land of his dominion.
7 ^ ^ all the people th^ v>ere left of the Htttttes, and the Amorites, and the Perizzitea, And the Hivttes, and the Jebuntes, which vere not of Israel,
8 But ef their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribnta until this dar.
9 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots andlior«em<m.
10 And these were the chief of Einc Solomon's officers, even ' two hundred and my, that bare rule over the pe(v4e.
11 If And Solomon ' brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house ^at he had bu£t for her: for he said, My wife ehall not dwell in the house of David kine <^ Israel, because the places are ■ holy, wherennto the ark (tf the Lord hath come.
~ 12 \ Thm- St^mon offered burnt-offerings onto Uia Loan on the altar of the Lord, which be had built befbre the porch;
13 Even after a certain rate 'every day, offering according to the commandment of
Moaes, on the sabEaths, and on the new-moons, and on the solemn feasts, ^ee times in the rear, even in the feast of anleaveDed bread, and in the least of weeks, and m the feast of taber- Meiee.
14 IT And he appointed, according to the order of Ixavid his fether, the • eoaraea oT the priests to tAeir service, and * the Levites to their charges, to praiseand minister befbre the priests, as the duty of every day required: the 'porters also br their courses at every gale: for '^eo had David tlw man of Ck>d commanded.
15 And thfflr departed not from the commukdnaent of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treap snrea.
16 If Now all the work of Solomon was ■repwed nnto the d^iy of the foundatiMi of the hofue of the Loan, aiid until it was finished. Bo the house of the Lord was perfected.
17 1 Then went Solomon to ' Ezion-|reber, and to ^Eloth, at the seaiMe in the land of Edom.
Tens4. TUnor] Pafa^rs. See the note oa 1 Eingi ix. 1& fiw >n seoiMat of ihie eopeifo ei^.
VenTn. nUdntffUerf/'PbinuA] "And Blthiah, As dsu^ter of pbenoh, Soknnon broocfat up from the ei^of ENi-rid to die palace «4uehhe hsd buUt for her."— T.
Pecewn the plsceeaie hetj/j Is not thii a proof that he •onsidered his wifh to be a AttUMik aM iiot proper to dwell Id aptooevhkhhadboeoMiwtiAedt Solomon bad not yet dSptrtsd from the true Ood.
servants, ships, and servants that had knowledge ofthe sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought Oem to King Sfdomoo.
ND kwhen the queen of Sheba b.c.i — ^ heard of the fame of Solomon, -Wji^i. she came to prove Solomon with hard <MUib»r questions at Jerusalem, with a very c*^'"'"' great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
2 And Solomon told her ail her questions: and there was nothing bid from Solomon which he told her not.
3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wiE>(lom of Solomon, and the house Uiat he had liuilt,
4 Aitd the meat of his taSoie, and the sitting of luH serrante^ and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel: his > cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which ha went up into the house of the Loan; there waa no more spirit in her.
5 And she said to the Inng, h wosa true "report which I heard in mine own land of thme " acts, and of thv wisdom:
6 Howbeit I believed not their words until I came, and mine eyes had se«i«f; and, behold, the one half of the greatness «f thy wisdom waa not told me: for thou CTceedeet the feme that I heard.
7 Happy are thy men, and hap^ are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, aad hear thy wisdom.
8 Blessed be the Lord thy Ood, which delighted in thee, to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loved Isra^, to esuduish them for ever, therefore made he thee long over them, to do judgment and justice.
9 And she gave the king a hmidred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great obnndanoe, and precious stones: neither was there any such •jBce as die queen of Shefoo. gave King Solonan.
10 And the sNvants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, "which brought gold hom Ophir. brought i^lgum trees. and precious stones.
1 1 And the king made of the algum trees ■) terraces ' to the house oP theLoRo, and to the kitig's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers; and there were none such seen before in the land of Jodah.
12 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba aU her desire, whatsoever she ask^.
Vene 17. Hiai wmi SUnasn fo EfUm-gtber]. See ibe notea on 1 Kingt ix. 26 — ^28. fbreonjeetures ooneemUw Enm-gtbar and OpAtr.
Verae la Kiuneladgs iff&» mo] SUlftil nilora SolMBtn probably bora the a^eam: and hia friend, the l^rian king, funiiahed him with expert lailora; for ttw Jews, at DO period of llieir history, had any aluU in maritime affaire, their DwvigatkM) being confined to the takes of their own country, void whtcJi ubey could never acquire airr nautieal dEill, The l^niaiuh on the eoBtnty, lind M
Verse 1. T%b fiwm «<' Buba] See all the Mrttadim of thia mal viait diatioady maned and saphuied Ita oIb notaaoitrKiiigax.1— IOl The TIsrfHm calls her giMM besideB tfiat which she had brought unto the kine. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her eervants.
^^iS^ 13 TT Now the weight of gold that &c.uns-«a. came to Solomon in one year was six
14 Besides ^Ao/uAtcft chapmen and merchanta brought And all the kings of Arabia, and 'gorerDors of the country, bron^t gold and nlver to Sermon.
15 % And King Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shdeel* of beaten gold went to one target,
16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred «AeAeis of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
17 Moreover, the kin^ made a great thrope of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a ibotstool of gold, which v>ere fiuatened to the throne, and > stays on each side of the sittingplace, and two lions standing by the stays:
19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made m any kingdom.
80 T And all the drinking vessels of King Solomon irere o/gold, and all the vcsselfr of the house of the forest of Lebanon vere of ■ pure gold: * none loere <^sQver: it was rwt any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
21 Por the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servwits of Huram: every three years once
fttn^] In i Kingi x. 13. it is statad that Solomoa sam ber aUiiMaaked, hwidet that vkidi h» gav Hm- qf Sm nml bcuatjf. It la not M all likely that be gave her Wk the prmmU which abe bnMight to him; and which he had aoespled. Bb» btui, ao doubt, aaked for several things which were vteuUar to the land of Judea, and would be euriontiea io her own kingdom: and beaides theae, he gave her other vahioble preaenta.
Ver«lB. And Sing _Salemtmiiiada Mm hundred tar- ^ of deofm « flMn eoriM nUitttion of tbe^
Verae 26. fWr thoutand ttaiUJbr hortti] See the Bote on I JCngi iv. 28. where the different numiera in flMM two book* are considered. The Tbrmm, inatead of Jbur floiMOnd hat mo JTTM orfrA moaJu fcur hundred.
VerseSS. Nathan liu prophet} Theae booka «n all Ioa. 9it die aocoont of Solomon, his duraeter, and a review •f hia woikM, at the end of chap. zi. of the First Book of Kings.
1. Qy the kiDdneaa of a learned friend, wbo baa made thaaa kaida of subjeets hia partknlar sindy, I am able to give a mora comet view of die value of the talent of goll •od the talent of sQver, than that which I have quMed MCnga X. IT. fhm Mr. RajnoliPa ShU t^Ae gnaUtt
1. find Ae eqoivalem In Britidi standard to an ounce Trof of pure gold, valued at et^ty ahillingB; and to a ^ntof tboavneiriiidi weighs oMAouaandn^Aun-
ITie ounce coatainB,/bur AinuA^ owt tigkh/ graina; anA the guinea weighs one hundred and tteenly-nine gtaiaa, oifyt pennyweigfata, and ntru grailu.
K As 129 grains: afWullii^:: 480, the number of mills in an ounoa j 79*13fflS34Sv. or 3). l6a. Id t^amq. fhe eoolvalent in our alhnr ec^ to one omee of aumdaA goUL of jntra gold,!! 80 ahjlmgs; 81-9047619 BhiHiun, tKe equivalent in Britith wtandard to one ounee of paw jrold. <rf P««d»ff Ib8 blowing pmpoiS^
22 And King Solomon passed all the Vof&vt the earth in riches and wisdom.
23 If And all the kings of the earth soagbt the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, tklft God had put in hfs heivt.
24 And they bt'onght every idbd bis preantt vessels of silver, and reaeela of gold, luid ment, harness, and aipicea, fcoriMW, and moei, « rate year by year. ■
25 1 And Solomon 'had fotir thomand aCalb fbr horses and chnrinta, and twelve tboiuBirf horsemen, whom he bestmred in the chaiiM cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
S6 \ r And he reigned over all the kinj^s, ■fteai the ' nver even unto the land of the PEilutiiHey and to the border of EgypL
27 *>And theklng'made silverin Jeraaolemas stones, and cedar trees made he as the sreaaorv trees ttiat are in the low plains in (Uraaaaoee.
88 'And they brought unto Solomon henee out of Egypt, fuid ont of aH lands.
aw the. rest of tht acts of 3oionmj first and last, are they not written in the 'beak of Nathan the prophet, and in Use prophesy sf r Ahjjah the ShQonite, and in the visfone of *Udo the seer against Jerobtraim the son of Nebat?
31 And Sofotnon slwt with bia fa- Wgthers, and he was bnied In the tify of
9. As SI standard: ZVi port t: 60 poze: n^UtW atandanL Una mnkipUed fagp 1800^ givaa UttHS^mat. or 737R 8«. 6d. 3*49., ^ equivalent to one talMtt of pw* gold.
2. To find the etpivalenl in Britiah ataadard to a taVat o£ pure silver, wbich ia valued at four hundred aadjf/^f pound* sterling^ or Ave ^UUnge the ounce Tnj.
The pound Troy la 240 peni^ei{;fatet and our «lver coin baa IS peonywei^ta of elloy in the pound. Fram 240 pe'nnyweighu take 18, and there will rsniain 222 peonyweigh is, the pure silver in the pound.
Example I. To find the equivalent in Briciah staniaid to the on« Aundrad and Jwcq^ talaols of cold which lha (pMoi^ SbdMt gave to King SokoMi^ 2 Oiron ix. 9. 147428-67142S. equivakot to one lalMl of jkho geM, m 120 nndier of talanlB.. uamdabom I7891fl8-B704=«894^I 8t. 6|d; ihe flfohaleBi toU*
SxampU 21 To find the equivalent in Britiah to Solomon'e tteo hundred targeta of beMen re. al* Aundrsd diekris} and to bia thrte kttndred each atethmdrtdMka§,ZCt»oa. ix. K, 16.
A talent is three Ounaand shekelai fterefbre, air kmdred shekels areonejf/U, and three kmdrai m «u tenth of a t^ent
6)U74SSVn43a. equfvaknt to swaalenL 2MaS-71488 equivalent to eoe tauget 200 the number of targus. 9K»6e»7t4t2^
3 And it came to pass, when Jeto-
^oam the son of Nebat, who waa in Egnpt, I whither he hod fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard «t, that Jeroboam retarned out of Sgypt.
3 AndtheysentandcanedhinL So Jeroboam wad all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam,
&ther made our roke grievous: now therdbre ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thjr fkther, and his heavy yoke that he |Kit upon us, and we win serve thee.
^9(S,in 18*. Bid- eqolvaleBt to SM klettta. BxampU 4. To flitd tfw eqoivttlent In BrtlUt gtaad^ to Um kundrtd AowoMf talcau of giM, wid to lbs mil- Km of taleim of ■Uw whiah yen ytspiied by Dwid ftw the tompl^ 1 Chron. zxiL 14.
5 And he said onto them, Come anin unto me after three days. And the people departed.
0 \ And King Rehoboam took counsel wMi the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying. What counsel give ve me to return answer to this people?
7 And they spake unto him, saying, Irthou be kind to this peorde, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be tny servaiAs ior ever.
8 But he forsook the connsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men thaj; were brought np with him, that stood before him.
9 And he sfud unto them, What advice give ye that We may return answer.to this people* which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon as?
10 And the young men that were brought up with him sfAke unto him, saying, Thus shaft
2- I mm nfiH-rad io flie note on tm*. 17. to s eorioua aeeoaatof 8«1o«m'c ifaroM, takta from a Pfrsian MS. MitM 0*>l»II i::Jli> beM mi mmOnuMu, tk« OHy ilhurr. or JmtmUm. It hv sliaw^ baea ttaaaAai ia 4* aeeount of 8olomo», at the eod'of OMp. xi. of 1 EjBg^ artielo 12. that smong tbe oriontal wrilen Soloaioo Mcoaadered not cmly m the wiwat of all man, but as having mxfKom oomnaad antJiammu and gtiM of all kiatb j •afl dnt ho haov dw laagnaae of htaiif,>od biid^&at -■nd itaewftirfc dw nadar Mod not bo ■atpnaBd if tie fiadi in Ibe fbllowing aocoonL SvlemonfttpMriag weiflroattiittl mmiuar in tbe oooatniotton of dila oeMrmtaa Atom
*"rhe uidm of it wen pan void t the Jkd at eoHnlds Mid peiaAMt Imomiied wtth •Mr jNdn^M on eacb aido won iullniltl oNdtordb Ml ot tnea, ttelHaoobea of wfaksh >Mi« eomMssd of pwciBas sloas% wyswimiag rips and ■■ripa ftiuH;
■ "Ob Astapaof dis tw<s»*gto be —.Amtoof the «gsl boamifUl iJuMigei nsrtioalarly du.ftMtek, the atmub, and die Imrgm: ul thtaMuds wan artiisiaUy -kolmnd wMdi^ so as oeeastaialiyis utMr « ttwomx) I «0Ma mik asiie ears « Moitali bad asMr
Oa du m>r aA^ wwadaliawad «tM-ftmcA«fc havof ffrspat^ ooofMsad of fsiioaa nrtf Of pteaaSi MwiBt
" On the 8XC0ND t^t, on each aide of the thront, were two liana of masaive gold, of terrible aspect, and at largo aalife.
. **The property of diia dirone was soch, diat when the prophet Solomon plaeed bia foot upon tbe nssr all dw Mrdf apresd their winga, and made a flattering nolas In die air.
" On his reaching tbe raian tttp, Cho vholo aaaamUy of da«ra,par{ft and man, repealed an praiaea of (be Deity.
" When be arrived at dn rousTH a^p, voicos vare baard addreeainx him in tbe following manner: — Son of Datid^ b% grat^iU for the UtanagB w/Ucft Ac AinUiBU}/ iat
'*On his arrival at die BSTBirrB akp, the whole throru, irith all die birds and other animatt, Meame in motiaa, and ceased not till be had (riaoed himaelf io thercml Malj and dun ibe birda, Itona, and other animaU, by aeertt apringa, diatdtarged a diower of the moU preeieua auiac upon tbe prophett after which two of the Jfewguaea descendhiK, plaeeda joldanmwii upon bia head.
" Before the Annu^ waa a eobmn ^ bumiahed gotd t on die top of which -waa {daced mgotam dova, whicA had in ita b«ak a roii bound in ailver. In diia rod were mitten tbe Paalma of the pfopbet David and tbe doM having maanled the roU to King Solomon, he read a portioe ot It to tbe diildren of laraei.
"It ia fiuther related, tbat.on dw approaeb of wicked peraona totfais throne for juitenMot tbe Sma were wont to aet op a (erriMe rearmg, and to Ian their taita about with virteneei die Mrda also began to oroot their -ftadierat nd the whole aaaembfyot da«w and ^aaisa ottered aueh lowl ttiet, tet for fear of diem no perMm WMdd dan to be lil^ of &IadMod, bat inatanily codCmb hia eriineo. *^SlidiwaatbBljb«i«of Solomon, the aon of Oavid." Suppoaingawathiaapleodid deseiMionio beJttara^y irae, iMn m notUag ban thai oeaUT not bavslMannrfommlbr<iM!«Mrffvaadar(.* noting dM Meded lbs aU sf aiifMrnatorW bduanee.
Ia laotbarMS. oowhaBh laaanot now larmyhan^ tbewbrievaloeof diia throne, audita anasMni^ la om»- palBdinlae«ofr«p«ea/ Tim afcove diaBripiioB ia fai«dad m die mite on tbeaoooaat gim here, ebap. is. 17—19. Theaix«*fw, and ibD/bottlooioi die saered wriHr, make dw WMna iAm io the above daaei^Aiea. Tlw lieib* HsMan Mt«afiimrfiAed to dtaMohasHMdui writer; OdiermstttSB we added from imditim.
This profoMOa of gold and preeiona atfnea waa not boMndtberoBriief BoImmo when «b oonaidor the many Millioaa left byfcia ittbtri no leas a auaa than one ttonmmd two hundred dmHiaanto-ttrw waUUaua, tLthtmdrtd ondhMmtjf nini ftgitsiidi tkrMhiiMdradmjidfertv-tkru
Dotea on which die reader ia raitfred. Vans W. HfyUttU flwer ahatt ba Oddtatl "Mr thoa answer the people that apake onto thee, ■aying. Thy Tather made our yoke heavy, but make thou tt somewhat lighter lor as: thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker thau my father's loins.
11 For whereas my father " put a heavy yoke upon yoa, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I viU cka$- tiae you with scorpions.
12 If So Jeroboam and all the people came to Reboboam on the third day, as the kins l»de, sarinf, Come again to me on the third day.
13 And the king answered them rou^y; and King Reboboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
14 And answered them after the advice of the Toung men, sayins, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father cnastised you with whips, but I voiU chasHte you with scorpions.
15 So the king hearkened not unto the people; *fbr the cause was of God, that the Loan might perform his word^ which he spake by the ' butd of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat
IG T And when all Israel «a« that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saving, What oortion have we in David 1 and we nave none inheritance in the •OB of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: tmd now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
17 But ffs^br the children of Israel that dwelt in the dties of Judah, Reboboam reigned over
18 Then King Rehoboam sent HadorauK that w€u over the tnbute; and the children of urael stoned him with stones, that he died. But King Reboboam omade speed to get him up to hu diariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19 4 And Israel rebelled against the house of David onto tiiis day.
Nevi Dawid, to Mm twn AotwtO "Now, DRvid, nle over the men of ifay own bovw." Targumu
VenelS. jSUnadMH.] WhsnbenidwToaredtoeoUeat tribote vtaieh Solomoa had inn»o«ad on ihem. Jardii.
Tens 19. Imrad rAtlUd^ A few aoft vndi, asd a ranuml of a put of dM oppremve taxu, (fm thm aaid, BaMt &m aoKKwmKT tta grUvotu ttrvtbuU.) wouu ban aeeored this people to 6m >iat& aod prevantecl tha ahwidiag ^ a sea of humas bknd, which vaa the oonnqtienoe of tlw •epuation of tfaia kingdon. Rehoboan vaa a fbtd; and flumgh hia ftdly he hist his Uagdoaa. Be ii not the only •sample on raendt tha StasruMst tibe realm of Ee^ano madt in the aame way j and, by a diAnat mode of treatment, the bouae of Bnuuriek oontinuet to fill the Britirii Arone. May the Artad of ita tortime, wovm fay the hand of God, never be undooe t and may tba emrrmt of iia yowrgUrf* an u the laieat poMerity I
Amenl Amenl MOTES ON CHAPTER XI. Tarae L Oaaarad 4ra« ftoiua ^.Aida4] 8*e this aaesant 1 UigB siL 81— 21 wd OianMis dMra
2 But the word of the Loan oama 'to maiah the man of Qod, saying,
3 Speak unto Re^boam the son of BottHDon, king of Judah, and to all Israel iff Judah and Benmmin, saying.
4 Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go np^ nor fight against your brethren: return every man to bis nouse; for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words or the Loan, and returned ftom going against Jeroboam.
5 If And Rehc^KHim dwelt in Jeru- Va^uP aalem, and built cities for defence in.am-—* Judah: iaj2^
6 He built even Beth4ehem, and Etan, and
10 And Zorah.andAiialon^ and Hebron, wmdi are in Judah and in Benjamm, foieed cities.
11 And he fortified the strM^holds, and pot captains in them, and store of vwtoal, and or oil and wine.
12 And in every several city Ae put diidds and spears, and made them exce^Ing strong, having Judah and Benjamin on bis side. ».u.tm
13 And the priests aod the Levites,_B.ywi, that were in all Israel ^resorted to fain tSiSLm out of all their coasts. OMfcam
14 For the Levites left • their raboibe, anii their poaaraskm, and came to Judah and Jmsft. lem: for 'Jeroboam and hia sons had caet theai oS from flxeentiiig tha priea^a a&en oato dw Lord:
15 *And be ordained him prieata Tor theUrik places, and for *the devfla, and for 'the cahca wiiich he had made.
16 'And after them, out of all the tribea of Israel, such as set their iiearta to seek the Loo CKkI of UntA came to Jerusalem, to am iliiw unto the Lord Ood of their Others.
17 So they ■ strengthened the king-
dom of Judah, and made Rehoboam acja theeonofSolomonstrongtthreeyeara: for three years they wawed in tlie way of David and Solomon.
18 If And Reht^mam took him Ma- '-J^ balath, the daughter of Jerimoth the aon of David, to wife, and Abihail the dawhter of BUab the son of Jesse; to"*^
Vmtb. And bttOt eUiMGtrO^auti^JmdmlL} Ha waa obliged lonranglfaenfaia froetiMwagaiBiUbecBcjBath meats of the men « lanel: and Jeroooam did the ana tting on hia part, to prevent the iaroada of Jadafti. Saa 1 KmgaxiL S.
Verae 11. £Km qf vieiualj In tbeaa plaeaa he laid if Btonaof fvoviMOi^ not only ipeaahls laast t» oalwaa «ege) but BleotfM diey ught be from thaw rilv lioo, to supply deeelalB plaeea.
Verae 14. Tlu Lvritai^AdravittrUi Tb^«^*a prieetB were expelled from dwir offieaa JeceMam, Imt they ihould torn the hearta of the peopk » tba traa 0*4 and Aeo theywoald revolt to Jndidi, IKtngaziLaSt therefore, be eataUiihed a new worriup, and made asw cods.
Tom IB. ^AaardlBliMdUnsriwto— /or A* 4kta4 trvftt riuirim,itio hairy tmm t ^waUyireato: floraeAa gokUn eaha, or ox«n, were in nitacion of die Sgyptiaa or-god, ApU, wo they no doubt paid drrina henema ■» iha ^ooA vhiuk we know waa an etgeet of nligiaua veaefaiiH uEgypt
VonelA. fih(A«eaKtMrAesrt»lvsaiirilULaa»\ AH the truly piaiia joined htm outof ovafy tribe t aad *a <M)s tribeof Leaf, being deprived of d>eir hneti<m% jniaad bim also, ^e ha bad AdoL AdKfnniii, and LaKaarf fas*, faablyapan*^ Stouoa; far ba hri Aom. vlwdi wm in that tnbe, and the truly religkMB out of all na ete- triha% fcr diey oouM not bear Jarebaam's idolanv.
Terael7. fbr ftraa yewv <h«y walM <a Iha w^ # Oaatf] Doriagdbitiaia beanwandi batiw AaAaaa yaan aft« dfW aad ths iMplaiHnwfciMdaaAa
80 And after her hAtoffk^BUadiah thedau^- ter of Absalom; wliioh bare him Abijab, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith,
21 And Rehoboam loved Maaehah the daughter of Abealom above all hie wivei and fail eoneubinee: (for he took eichteen wivee, and threes •core ooncubmen; and Mwat twenty and eight sans, and threescore daughters.)
8S And Rehoboam ' made Abijah the son of Maaehah the thief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thougfU to make him king.
23 And he dealt wtaelv, and diq>medof all nil children throughout all the coontriea of Judah and Benjamin, unto ererv fenced eitv; and he cave them victoal in abundanee. Andliedeeved *many wives.
\*c. mi A ND * it came to pass, when Reho- L o^*m. bfAm had established the kingdom.,^^M^w and hadatrenKthenedhimeelft ' he forsook the lawi3*thel40Bo, and all Israel with him.
& a SI And it came to pasa, Oat In the LoS^ fifth year of King Rehoboam Shist^ak ^STtEm king of Egypt came t^l against Jerusa- SsssJ^ lem, becaosa they luid transgreaeed agaiDBt the Lord,
3 With twdve hundred chariots, and threeacore thousand horsemen: and the people were wit^eut number that came with turn oat of Kgypt; ^ the Lidnnu, the Sukldimi, and the JBIthiopians.
4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
IS. I. MahMdMUdaWtlb
Yens 18. T\»k him 3£tMaA] By nutRTiiig tbua in the Cuuily of D»tH be atrcngtheoed hit right to the Jewish duNwa.
Yens 20. Mtaeak Aa dau/AUr qf Ab$alom1 See the note on i Kings xv. 10. She if called MUAaiah, t/u daughUr ^ Untl, chap. xiiL 2. For this the Targum givea lbs (oUowiag reason: "Abijah reicped thru vean in jamaalemt and his mother's name was Mieaiah, muj^ter ftf Ur^ of Oibaatha. She is the same as Micab, the ^y^ghtmr of Absalomt bat, because she was ao u|»ig^ wooHUi, bar aaow was ohaDgad into ihenon exeellaot name Tfy^i^t., her btbar*s iimh into Aat of Uriel of Gibeatta, that the name of Absalom might iwt be remembered."
Verse 21. S^Uem wiw, om Ihretacort concubinf] Bad enou^ bitt not so abanooood as his bther. Of these titarriagcs and ooncubinage the issue was twmiy-eight •SH and ttxtf dangbtent tigfilf-«Mi children in ihs wfaele: to the edueation of the whole (tf thsm he could BM but' Uttla anantton. Numeroos Cunilios are often neg|«olsd 1 and ehiMrf") fay d^trmt ipoiRsn, must be yet in a wonie
V«rM 22. MuU AtifaV-tte tAiff] Abtjah eertamly not the Jlnt-bom of Rdioboam; but as he loved Manr***** more than any of his wive^ lo ha preferred her ■00, probably dinx^ ois molber'i mflucnce. In Oaui. nt*- ifl- this sort of piafcience is forbidden 1 butReboboam hMl a sort of freoMBM ui lbs prafcrenoerfiown by David to Solomon.
Verae 23. Bk diaU wisefyl It was tme p^toy to j^iiaye his own sons through the diSecent pnrrineee^ nho I not likely to farm ai^ league with Jeroboam against
JSfr rfssfnrf mMy vivm.] He was much addicted to wmneo t 7^ we do not find toat he Canned any heatheniA allianrnw of this nature. And as novartieulars are given, w do bM know bow br he indulged himself in this, He imbably streDgtheoed bis piditieal ood-
NOTES ON CHAPTER Xn. Vane I. Bt/itneak At tawtfOu Lraa] This was aftsar AeMrMywniaeniioDedcntp.ai. 17.
6 1 Then came i Shemalah due prophet to Itehoboam, and to the prinoes of Judah, that were jrathered totfether to Jerusalem be* cause of Shishak, and sakl unto them. Thus saith the Loan, >Ye have forsaken me, aad therefore have I also lefl you in the hand of Shishak.
A Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king ihimibled themselves; and they said, * The Lord is righteous.
7 And waen the Loan saw that they humbled themselves, " the word of the Lord cane to Shemaiah, saying. They have bumUed themseives; thert/ore l will not destroy them, but I wilt grant them " some delnmance; and my wrath shall Dot be poured out upon JeruHtlem by the hand of Shiahak.
8 Nevertheless 'they shall be his servante; that they may know t my service, and the service of the ki^doms of the countries.
9 ' So shishak king of Egypt came np Bgainst Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the hovtse of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: be carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had • made.
10 Instettd of which Kin^ Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them • to the hands e€ the chief of the guard, that kept the ratrance the khig*s hraae.
11 And when the king entered into the boose of the Lord, the guard came and fetched them» and brought them again into the guard>cbamber.
13 And when he numbled himself, the wrath 01 the Lord turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: "and also in Judah things went welL
13 \ So king Rehoboam strength- ^}%ST enedhim8eIfinJerusalem,andreigiied; aan^w. for * Rehoboam was one and forty LoKfMt years old when he began to reign, and
TerBe2. ShUliak kingqf Bgypt] CoDceming this man, and the mofive which led him to attack the Jew^ see the note on 1 Kings ziv. under ver. 31.
Verae 3. 7^ IiuMme] Supposed to be a people of lAbya, adjoining to Egypt; someUmes called Phut in ScrmVan, ai the pe<^e are ealled Lthabtm and lAuUm.
Tiu SukkUmt] Tiu T\eglodiU»t a people of Egypt, on the coast of the Red ses. Irmy were aalled TVogleittt, TjpMyWvrs*, *i tit rms rpwyX«( Mimmt, because diiqr dwelt in oavea. Heiyoh. This sgiees widi what PHng says at diem, TVogtedytm spacits e«wMMii4 ik«e iOb damtui "^le Woglodytes digdiem«lv«s cam: sad these lerve them for hoosea." This is not Terp diShrent from the import of the origiikal luune a"so SukUm, from TUDsdtoA, to cowt" or ovtr^ntadi hence mk, a tabei^ naele; the people wbo were soMred (einmatieallT) tmdir tketarth. 7%e Septoigint trandate by me word T/wyXe<
7ns SBttt^tantJ] wo auhim. Tarioos pecnla wm called by this name, partieahurly a peof^ bordenw m the nortbenieoastof theKadsea: butnessaiesuppoiea to have (N>au Iron a country af that name en the adom of
'^^^se6. WhtreupmtJujrritwa iff brad and Bu king hunMad Sunudvai] This is not mentioned in tiM parallel plaea, 1 Kings xivj and this was the sole reason why Jerusalem was not at this time totaUy destroyed, and the boose of David entirely cut off; for th^ were totally incapable of deCmding thetnselTcs against due innomnnJile host.
Vene 8. TTuy thall bt hU ttrwaniti They shall be prestfved, and serve their enemies, that diey may see the diffbroice between the service of God and tliat of man. While they were pious diey found the Rrviee of the Lord to \nbwrfiel frtMom: when they forsook the Lord, thn fbundtbe (hut to be perfict bondage. A sinful lift is both ezpMisive and painful.
Verse 9. Tom awag As frsomm) Sndi a faootf as never bad before, nor has since corns into the band of man I
Yam 18. Was sm and/ortwytan obfj HmMmoMt Aiite be vni botsMsm yean ou^irtMn be b^an to reign t ha rttgned aoveateen veara in Jerusalem, * the dtr wnich the Loho had choien out of all the tribaa o£ Israel, to put bia name there. And his BotheHa aame uxu Naamah aa AmniMiitMa.
14 And he did evil, becaui e he ■ prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.
15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and laat, are they not written in the ' boc^ of Shemaiah thA ^ophet^ 'and of Iddo the seer coocenting genealogies 7 * And /Aera were wars between Rflhoboam and Jeroboam contiaually.
'b.%m& 13 -^Q^ Rehoboam slept with hii abbum fathers, and was btiried in the city a2m%» David: and *> Abijah bis son reifned — injiig atead.
V&%iSf i^OW < in the eishteentb year of, abwim,^ 111 Kine Jeroboam began Abiuh to i£B2:S reign ov«- Judah.
Htd brioga Dkaay and loreiUs arguntenta to prove tlttt tbe number forljf-imt murt b» g »iMi>ke. Tbia'kem»yomig
Sm he oune to tlu«ie ia evident firom fats consultiiig jmnr «u» i&at war* (roMgU up w»tA Afm, chsp. ^ ^ lOL 'Tbiij wen jwung' m<n then; and if he was ArougJU tip vUh &tn, be must have been wung then aleo. Beaidea, AUjab, in bia apeecb la JeroDoam, chap, xiii. 7. say^ that at dte time Rehoboam came to the throoe be was loner hearted, and therefcm could not wilhatand tfw childnn of Belial imiaed up agaiaat him by Jerobotun: but Mtfflly at that lime no man oouhI be ceputed yotm; and Cmtttr-AeorCai^ <|uite d^nid ezperieaee^ iriiowae above /MyyMraof aee. Benda^tf dtwreodinffwoe allowed, It wmild prove that he waa born fr^bra hia n&er Solomon bean to reign, for Solomoa reigned onlyyiTrfy ye«r% and Benoboam immediate aucoeeded him.
Vane It. Cmemting gaualagiMl "In tbe book of thenoealwr of the family <^ David." Targum.
varae iSTAbifah kU aea) Cwoeraiig the mwy variMiec in thia kii^a name, age Iba pote on 1 Xiaga liv. 31.
NOTES ON CHAPTER Xm. Yerse 2. Bit mo^Aer'a name — waa Jlfiolaiaft] See on ohap. xi. 20:
Verae 3. Ahyah *ei the bottU tn arrayl Tint mpiien in diia ven^ and in the aevenioenth, aeein amoat iocredi^ Abgab'samyctmaiatedof /ourhinilredtkoHmHdeSo^n meat ibatoi JenAwam conaiated of §ight hundred thauaand; and the elain of Jeroboom'a vmy were ifno hundred Ihoutand. Now it ia very poaaible that there is a cSfAer too mush in all these numbera, and that they should atand thus: JUr^ah'e nTmv,Jbrt]/thouaamdj Jmoboam'e, eigUg thoutand; tbe aiotn, Ji/ly thautand. Calvui, who drteada tbe eonunon reading, ottowa that the Venice edition oflhaTulntat in another in 1489; that of Auren- AerATialHli Ibotof Baail by t^vUn, in 1638] ibatof Bebert ^eeene, in 1546; and many olher^ hav« tbe amaJler num&ers. Dr. KeTinicoU aaya, "On a. particular collation of tbe Vulgate venrion, it Wpcara that the number of cboaen men here Wain, which Pope Clemenft edition' in 169^ determines to be^ea hundred Aouaand, the edition ot Pope Sixtue, printed two years before, determined u> be oily lU^ Aousantl; and the two preosding numbers, in tbe edilkn of iStxfu^ are ^or^ ttotUKind and et«^ fhoueand. Aa to different printed ediUone, out oij0y-luo, from the year 1462 to 1692, thirtv-one iwntain the leaa number. And out of J\fl»-ene MSS. twenty-three in the Adbjon libram Aur m that of /Taon iUcfric^ and 2wo in that otSsder College, contain the let* number, or else are oomlpted irr^ularly, varying only one or two numbers."
This emminntion was made Dr. ^nnicalt, before he had finisbed hia collation of Hebrew MS8., and before De Rotei had published hia VarUe Leetionee Velerlt Teatamenii; but from these worka we find little help, as fhr as tbe Hebrew MSS. are coitcemed. One Hebrew MS. inplead of i)VM ima yarM arbS meoih Oeph, fotir hundred thousand, reads tfm ivy ys^ orM Iter ebnA, fourteen tbooaand.
In all prtntol eO[^ of die fle&raiA tlie numbers are aa in the common teM, Jbur hundred thoueand, dght hundrut Ihoueand, and Jtva hundred thousand. - 936
2 He reigned three years kjerwa-.,.] salem. Hia mother's name also vxig "Michaiah the danghter oT Uriel of Gibeah. And there waa war betwan Abijih and Jeroboam.
3 And Abijidi * aet the battle ki array with aa army of valiant men of war, eve* four faondred thoaaaad choaen men: Jeroboam also set tbe battle in airay against him with ei^t hundred thousand chosen men, being migntj mea «f •nloxa.
4 IF And Ahuah stood up upon DMKint *Zmn raim. which i» m mount Ephraim, and saidf Hoar ne, Uura Jeroboam, and afi Israel:
e Oi:«^ ye not to Jbuw that tbe L«n God of Israel * gare the kii^dom over ImtoA to Dsnd ht ever, even to hmi and to hia aoma ^ by a corenant of salt?
6 Yet Jeroboam the >on of Nebat, the aerraot of Solomon the son of David, is rkeo op, «d bath < rebelled against his lord.
7 And there are gathered unto him ' vainmeq. the children of Buial, and have atrmgibcaiaa tbemselvea ajcainst Rehoboam the aon of StAo-
Hie 9ersiona are as follow: the Targwm, or ClaMn tbe same in each place aa tbe Hebrew-
The Syria*, in ver. 3. baa.j^nu- hioidrwd Ikewaatf yous^ men, for the army of Ahiwh i and eU*t kndnd' thmisandatoutymiOitMibeXatjmbimm. ForAsalsiB leraelitei^ in ver. 17. It baaJBDOloaJtee fand^ Asw ' fiUaely tranalated in tbe Luin mmmw smKs^ Jive Stotuand, both in tbe Paris and ^.oiidsit PoIygiUto. Anot&er proo£ among many, what little iWysaWare je to beplaoed »lteI.ofmlr<B>BlBa>i»q<tbisvai»Bnina^ at the abero Polygiotts.
Tbe AttiMc is the same in an these eases wi& dw ^rteb frem ^Oaetk it baa been tmnalailad.
ttx SejOtuwint, bodi «« it is paUidied hi aU ^ Po^ glowiL ana as mr as I have seen m MSS. is the saote wtffc Ok Bebrew text. So is also Joeephtu.
'StuVvlgaie at Latin, veraion ia that alooe thai eiJnhila a;^ important variatioiis: we have had ooDsidetaUe pssaf fit Ibis in tbe abovMnntioned eollattOBs of CWsMf aad SMtniectL ' I shall beg ISm^ to add odieis fromi^ e«a collection.
In the AdfNo Prtnaapc of the Latin mUe^ tHoo^ vidiout date or plaee, yet evidently printed long befca* dmt ul Flut, in 146% the places stand thus: Ver. 3. Cmmks iniaeet certamen, et haberet hetHeatiemno* rtrat <f sActorumauADaAOiiTTA milia: Iheroboam cms^rvrir^omfra oatem octoointa milia virorvm i *' With him jUn cateRd into bcUtle: and he had of the moot warlike and chasDS mia/orty thoiuand! and JenAoam raised an amy gainst him of eigMy thauaand men."
And in ver. 17. Et eorruerunt vuburati ex Irr*ri; QuiNQUAOiNTA mxUo vtroram Jbrtlum: 'Aod there feU down woimded,/{/^<hous(tmf stout men of Isnd.
And in ver. 17. St eomwrmif mAuPstl «r Jsraafu mm. vlrorum /orlium. Here we have firfy thmuand far Ibe army of Mijah, and e^fl^ ftausantf for that of JUaliaij and rtFTT tamuamt for the rftnn of the latter.
. QiniiQOAOuiTA miUot Fnrrv Aauaand. I^e numbera beii^ here expreaaed in wordh at idl length, Aere can be no sua|rict<m of nnRake. C. — coco mills, Dccc milibg^ d nufia,
400 AouaandL 800 thauaand. 600 IhmmmmS. Hia ia the aome aa the Hel»ew text, and «ety ihMimBtXj ejcpnssed.
"Hiisiinthe two first mimber^ ia tlw aa i above ( but the last is conftued, and meaistosiaai JVH/OMuandtmiJlftlhmttimd. AiuerlsmdhM
8 Ana now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the band of the eons of Duvid; end ye be a {{real multitude, and there are with you golden calrea, which Jeroboam > made you for gods.
9 " Have ye not cast out the prieets of the LoBD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other Umds? "so that whofloerer cemetU 'to consecrate himaelf with a voung bullock and seven rams, the same may 6e a priest of them that are no eoAe.
10 But ae for us, the Lord i» our God, aod we have not forsaken him; aiid the priests, which minister unto the Lord, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites icaii upon their buetness.
f And they burn unto the Lord, every morning and every evening, burnt-sacrificea and sweet incense: the •* ahow-bread also set they in order the pure table; and the candlestick of gold, with the uunps thereof, ' to born every evening: for we keep the charge (rf* the Lord out God: but ye have forsaken mm.
12 And, beboM, Qod himself it with us for our captain, ■ and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, * fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers: for ye afutU not prosper.
13 tC But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to ooroe about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment wot behind them.
14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle* was before and behind: and they cried unto the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trtunMta
15 Then the men of Judah gave a about: and at the men of Ju^^i shouted, it came to pass, that God <■ smote Jeroboam aiid all iHadr before Abijah and Jadah.
hundred! aad over the second thua, tsxx. thus ohuisiog gi^Uy into eight hundred. Over the latter number, Wnicli im evidently « mittaiu of the Kribe, there i> no correction.
Tb» reader baa now the whole evidence which I have been able to eollect before him, and nuiy diooae: ilie ^rnall^ numbera appeu- to be the mo«t correct. Of cernptions in the numbers, in theee historical bocta^ ws have oAsn hsd eve to nuptet and eomplain.
Vers6 4. Stood up upon motmt Zmutraim] "Which was a moant of the tribe of the house of ^hndm." Tbrgum. Jarthi thinks thai Abijah went to the eonflnes of the tribe of E^raim to attack Jeroboam. It could not be Shomeron, the mount on which Samaria was built, in the dava of Omri, king of lerael, 1 Kings xvi. 24.
Verse 5. By a covenant ^ toll 7] For ever- " For na the water! of the aea never grow ntut, neither shall the dominion depart from the bouse of Davtd." Hargum. See my note on Pfiunb. xviit. 19.
Verse 7. WTten Rehoboam mu yotatg and tenderhMrted] Therefore he could not be Jorfy^e when he oame to die dirone; see the note on ver. 3. Children of BeUal here aignifies men of the most abandoned principles and charseiers; or men without eonsideiation, educatifm, <a hraint.
Verse 9. A yotmg hvUoek and *ttm rams] He who eould provide ntese Tor hi* own consecration, was received into the order of this spurious and wiehnl prieethood, Some think he who could give to Jeroboam a young bullock ud seven rsms, was thisreby received into the prieethood I this being the price for which the prieethood was eonfiCTTsd. The former is moet likely.
Verse 10. TTu Loan is our Ood] We have not abandODod die Lordi and wo itill lerve him according to his own law.
. npeU to cry alarm agatitH you] Hits was ■pMlUnct when the prusta ^ound their trumpsto, ityrill VoL.X— 118
16 And the chfldren oC Israel fled before Jadah: and God delivered them Into their hand. ■
17 And Abijah and his people stew them with a great slaugnter: so there fell down stain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time; and the children of Ju&h prevailed, ' because they relied upon the Lobd God of their fathers.
19 And Abijah pursued ailer Jeroboam, and took cities from him; Beth-el with the towns thereof and Jeahanah with the towna thereof, and * E()hraim with the towns thereof.
20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the Lord ' struck him, and ' he died.
21 H But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen aumwu daughters. i-olm^v.
22 And the re«t of the acta of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayiDgB, are written in the ■ atory of the prophet *Iddo.
SO Ahiiah slept with his iathers. and Iney buried him in the eity or ic^*">i_ David: and *■ Asa hie eon reig^ea in ^uSDSta!l his stead. In his days the land was a And Asa did that vihich itaa good Vc'SSSS" and right in the eyes of the Lord his. Ajn^uw* God '
3 For he took away the altars <rf Vc S?" the Btraoffe jnxis, aad the high places, k^t^m. and <■ iM-ake down the * images, ' and cSaSft
Verse I'J. Bat Jeroboam cauted an aitAtuihment'] While Abijah was Ifaus employed in reproving them, Jeroboam divided his army privately, and leia a part to take AU}Bh in the rear: and this tmiM have provsa flttal tothe Jewi^ had not the Lord inteniDaed.
VerM 17. Slain— five hundred thoutand diooen tncnj Qnm^fipy thattmand 7 This woe a great slaughter: the note on ver. 3. where all these numbers are euppooed to be overchaiged.
Verse 1& Jiidah prevailed, baetmee] " Tb^ depended on the WoaD of the God of tiMtr fathers." Ttrgvm.
Verse 20. The Loan etnuh him, and he di«L] Who died 1 Abijah, or Jerot>oain? Some think it wae Jeiv boofR, Mune that it wae AbiJtA. Both rabbiiM and ChritHan* ore divided on this point; nor ie it yet acttlsd. The ptvvailing opinion is, that Jeroboam im meant, who was sinick Acn with that diseoM of which he died about two yearv ajter; fer he did not die till two years after Abijdi: see I Kings zir. 2D. and zv. 9. It seems as if Jcreboam vraa meant, not Abijah
Yermtl. Married fmrteftmvee] Probably be mode alliances with the nei^bouring powers, by taking their daughters to him for wivee.
Vtne 82. WrUlen in the atory] e-^nija be-midrxuh^ " hi the commenuuT r" this, as ftr ss I con recollect is the first pbuewhereamiorasft, oreommenfary, is mentioned. TV flwrfto is rirtiL
Bi» voyi, and Am jMyiit«] tbt commentary tit the prophx udo is lost. What nis Myin^^ were, we cannot tell; but, from the specimen in this chapter, he appears to have been a very able speaker, and one who knew wsH how to make the best use of his arguroenu
Verse 1. The tandtca* quiet ten yeart} Cdlmel thinks these Tears should be counted from \hej[fch to tiitJtftetnA of Asa's reign.
Verse 2. otd that which ««s good] He atieoM to what the law required lehuive lo me worship of God. Hs
4 And tiomittaAded Judah to seek the LosD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment d Also he took awaf out of alt the
jLatn cities of Judah the hiffh place* and ^SLm the > images: and the kii^om was I muSa. quiet before him.
B IT And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those rears; because the Lord had given him reBt.
7 Tlierefbre he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls and towers, gates and bars, tshile the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our <3od; we have eousht him, and he hath civen ua rest on eveiy aide. So they bnitt and prospered.
8 II And Asa had an army of men that bare targeta and epears, out of Judah three hundred thotuttnd} and out of Benjamin, that bare ahielde and drew bows, two hundred and fooraeore thousand: all these toere mighty men of valour.
''tc'ST' 0 IT ^ And there came out against AM^yto them Zerah the ^thio[nan, with a ^!^SiJm host of a thousand thousand, and three
10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathafa at Mareshah.,, ^.. «,
11 And Asa ^enea unto the Lord his Ood, and said, Lord, it is i nothing with thee to help, whether with ma^. or with them that have no power: help oa, 0 Lord oar God; for we rest on thee, and " in thy name we go against this mnltituae. O Lord, thou art oar God; let not ' man prevail agamat thee.
18 So ^e Lord ' smote the.£thiopiana before AsBu and befbre Jodah; and the iGthiopians fled.
13f And Asa, and the people that were with him, poreued them unto 'Gerar; and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were ^de- wti no idolater; thoug^momlly ipetkiitA be was not oxetapt from ftiulte, I Kings zv. 14. H« aupfvesMd idolury uniTenally, and encounged the people to wor- ■hipthetnie Ood: see verses 3, 4, 6.
Verse 6. Fvutd et^Ms] To preeenra his Urritoriea from iiuaed% and stiODguieD the froatieis of his kti^ dom t see w. 7.
Tens a T^vuCi «nd sfMort] ProlmUjr laigeU with the dagger <n w centrtt and javelins fat aisunt fig^
SUmoi and drma 6ou«1 Tatj ware not mily arawr^ Ixit had Aield and sword lor close fioht.
Vhrse 9. Zerah th«.£lAt0piaiOProtab>y of that.£Mopia wfaidi layoa iIm aoodi side of Egypt, near to Lc6ya / sod dMrefbre tbe lAbumt are ifnoeoviui diem, oh^f>. ztL 8.
A AouMtitf dkoiMondJ u this peofde bad oome from •ay gnat distSBQc^ they flould not ban had foiaga to sooh an immeoie anny.
Tme It. inkeMier iritA numy] The same sentiment as tfaat uttwed by Jonaibui, 1 Sam. xiv. 6. when be attacked the garrison of the PbiUsUnes.
OliOBDour Ood-teerMtontAMl "Helpus,OL(Hdour Oodi because we dq^d on tfaj Woao, and in tbe name of IbyWoBO we oome agidnst this mat host" Tarsntm.
Tern 14. TTiere ww-^imA wptfii in Su.m.\ These olliea b^ng os tbsNsr « oiis vast nmr, they had laid up moehfbr^etatbMai Mk^toget tbi%the Jtwsovsrthrew flte whole..
Verse IS. TaOt ^ eottltj Tliose whiiOi Wt carried the ba^age of the great armv: and which diey had left in such places as abounded with pasture. PerfaafM iheepfbldi^ enclosures for camel^ mules, Ac. may alw be inteiuled. discomfiture was great, for dod fouriii fcr dte peo|rie: and dte ^wil immensh because the SMiMtuaa was Brodigioa% indeed timoat ineredOilei a stiUIm of mm in plue is abnost too mneh for tbe: mind to ooneeive, bat tfiere may be some mialBke in die nnmerals; it is erident, from the wIiaIb aeeanat. that dit ■oaber waa net, and '"^^"^ I
14 And th^ smote all the cities round about Gerar; for ' the fear of the Lord cook epoa them: and they spoiled alt the cities; for tbiere was exce^ing much spoil in them.
Id They smote also the tents of etutle. Mid carried awav sheep and camela in abundanee, and returned to Jerusalem.
2 And he went out to * meet Aaa,
and said unto him, Hear ye me, Aaa, and al Judah and Benjamm; * The Lord is with yea, while ye be with him; and ' if ye seek him, he will be found <^ you, bat * if ye forsake bim, ha will forsake you.
3 Now * for a k«g Beam ioraal A«A beam without the true God, and wltboat ' a teaching priest, and without law.
4 But* when they in theb-troiAlB did tornmtt the Lord Ood of Israel, andaotq^tli^ be waa found of them.
5 And * in Uiose times tft^e wo* do peace te him that went out, nor to him that came in, hot CTeat vexations wcr« upon all the inhabitantaef the countries,
6 And nation waa 'destroyed of natkML and city of city: for God did nz them with all adversity.
7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not yvor huidabeweak; for your wtn*kahall berewaraed.
8 TTAnd when Asa heard these woi^, and the projriiecy of Oded the prophet, he too^ courage, and put away the <■ alxmunidile idola oat of the land « Judah and Betuamin, and out of the cities * which he had taken from mount BirfiratiQ, and renewed the altar of the Lord, tbit wo before tbe-porch of the Lord.
9 And he gathered all Judah and BeojaiDa,
Verse 2. Tkt Loan is wttk you wAOe vsAewiAAsR] Iliis is tbs settled and etenial poraoaa at God: to da« who seA him he will erar be found pnpitioiias and ibMi alMie will be abandon iriw fonah* hioi. In this vane tbe uneonfitlonal perseverenee of the saints baa ao yJavt a doctrine which was fint thb ruin of the human sseiv " sAoU noi ^ t and ever ainca tbe bll, the i^^ne end diat^iiOb of thodiurcb of Christ. "Rm T^irjnnniaoinaaat ' Hearken tome, An, and all Jodah and Bemamia. Ika Woks of the Lord shall be your helper; while ye walk ia Ai» wi^ if ya seek doeCrins firom Ms presmet^ W will ht foundof youin tinssirflniubloi but if you cast away Mt /ear, ft« \rill abandon yea."
Verse 3. JVbw for a Umg season /srod] ** Israel holh fallowed Jeroboam, and th^ hsTe not warahiMted the tnw Ood. TlHy have burnt incense to Aeir goloeo ealvci; their priestlings [»riou eumaria, their hlmtk mtt§ Mcn^cen] have burnt perhimcs witfa a straxige W0ffA% and have not exercised tbemselvs in tbe law." Torgmm. lliese priests could net <eadL because Iher had sat Isonilf and, ea tbnr had abandoned the Ims ct the Loi^ eoasequently they had no proper matter for instruetide.
lliere is a great diversity of opinion conoemiiw Aa meaning of this text. Some consider it a |»ophecy redsdt* to the future state of Ais people; and the final destiwtiaa of the Jews, as to their political existence: otheran it as referring to tbe stats <rf tbe people ondar tbe of Kehoboam and Abijah which wen bqtpily A under that of Asai aiMlhio appears to no to bo the Batumi sense of the wwds.
Vene 6. Bui gnat vexation*] Does not ow haiA allude to this and the following verse, in Matt xxiv. 6. T, V, 13.
Verse & Rmuued tke aUar} Defeated it ^frtJk, as penafs mbirgti it, that mors saerifioes saigbt ba sfind and Manasaeh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel io abundance, when they •aw that the Lord hia God was with him.
10 So theiy mthered themselves together at Jerawlem 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 tH-ought, seven huDored oxen, and seven thousand sheep.
IS And they ' entwed into a covenant to seek the Loan Ood of their fathers with all their Leart, and with all their souh
13 > That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel ■ should be put to death, whether aanaH or creat, whether man or woman.
14 And ther sware unto the Lobd vnth a loud voice, and with ahoutinc, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15 And allJudah rejoiced at the oath: for they had eworn with all their heart, and " sought him wi^ their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.
16 TAnd also concerning 'Maachah, the > Mother of Asa the king, be removed her from being queen, because she had made an « idol in a ffrove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stami>ed tt, and burnt it at the brook Kldron.
17 But ' the high places were not taken away •ut of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
18 ^ And he brought into the house of Ood the things that his father bad dedicated, and that he ltiRiseirJuHidedicated,Bilver,and gold,and vessels. A. M. im mu. 19 And there was no more war unto <
jUMt oLiM. A reign of Asa, 'Baashaking of Israel ASLagTm. came up against Judab, and ouilt Ra- on it thsiD ever befcve; for it csnnot be luppoMd (hat this mlxaj had no victima offered od it till tbe j(ftmUh vear of |1m reign sf An, wtio had previously beeo so xealous in fcatoring the divioe worshifk
Terse 9. And Ou HroKgert'] Kanv outof the different ■ribasi partieulsrly out of Slimem, ^p&ratei, and MmoM «mL bmag reflected that the diviiie bleaung was promiaad iothe house of David, and finding the govwnneat of Jeroboam founded in idolatry, woald naturally, Ihraudi a ^it of piety, leave their owneounw, and go where thej might aaioT the wonhip of the irue tiod.
iTerae 10. T7u UUrd mmUk] At the faaat of peniecott, frbich was held on the Ihird month.
Vmrw» 11. Th4 moU which had braught) The gnoil whidi dH7 had taken from Zeiab and bU auxitiariea, eoap. xiv. 14, 15., „
Vane 12. Thty mUrtd into m eotmantl The coveaaat eonaiated of ^lae parts.— 1. We will aeelc the God of our fiatbera with all our heart, and with all our aoul. — 2. Wboaoever, gnat or im&U, man or woman, will not worship the true Ood, and eerve bim alon^ ahiJl be put to jaarti Tliua no toleration vaa given to idolatry, so that it must be rooted out: and, thatibit eovensat migbt be pitmerly Aiming, they confimed it with an MW/ and Oodaeeepted thwn and their Krvicea.
Verse 16. Coaeeming Maaduih] See Ibis matter ftiUy ^Mjained in tbe note on 1 Kinn zv. 13L
'^heJews imagine that Slaachah repented, and her HUM licrnmr ch tinged into Miduiiah, datu^Uer qf Drid ^ OSbtAt and Inat this was done that tbere aiigfat be BO meatioo of bwfimnernaoH^ last it might be a reproach CO Imt. But we have already seen another gloss on this (MMoe 1 see on ebap. zi. 20.
Verse 17. TIUAigAp^e* iMrenoftojlimaiMyl Ha bad oot c^lly suppreseedordaatrayeddieUoIiilrvf but some •r tto jMcs^ Mli^Fib or ottv^ iM rsraioed » PHasin.
mah, ■ to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Jtidah.
3 Then Asa brought out silver and gold oat of the treasures of the house of the Loro, and of the kinc's house, and sent to Ben-lmdad kinc of Sinria, that dwelt at * Damascus, saying,
3 TAere ia a league between me and thee, as there waa bettveen my father and thy fiuher: behold, I have sent thee silver and g(^} go, break thy league with Baaaha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the captains of * his armies against the cities of Israel: and they snmte Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-mtUm, and ul the atoreHuUea of Naphtali.
5 And it came to pass, iriienBaasha heard that he lefl off building of Ramah, and let hit
6 Then Asa Uie king took all Jidah; andlh^ carried awaf the stones ofRumahr and the timber thereof; whepjwith Btuushii waa building; and he built thm'wilh Gebaand Mizpali.
7 11 Andat that time ' Hananj tlie fieer came to Asa king of Ji^dah, and said imto him, i Beeaoaie thou hast relied on the kin^ of Syria, aod not relied on the Lord ihy God* tQerefore is the hotf of thr kingr of Syria oj^cnpcd out of thine hnnoL
8 Were not ' Elie hioj^iiane and ' the Labjma *'ahui?o lio^l, iViLti very iii;iiiv clKiriols and horsemen j yet, bucau^-e thou didft relv the LoanJhe delivered them into thine band.
9 « For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of thtm whose heart u jperfect toward him. Herein ' thou hast done foolishly; therefore from henceforth ' thou dialt have wars,
10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and r ^t him in a prison house: for he kos in a rage with him becaase of this thing. And Asa ^ op> pressed tome of the people the same time.
6r8t and last, lo. they are written in a am thebookof tbeof kiive of Judahand A^Lm Israel '^""^
Verse 18. 71b ihinga that kit father had dtdicaledl As it was a custom to dedtcata a part iff the epoiU laJcet% from an en«my to the nrvice and honour of Ood, it is natunJ to suppose thai Abijah (havinv ao ■ionally overthrown JeroKwm, xiii. 16 — 19.) had dedicalM a part of tbe apoila to tbe Lord; but thcnr bad not been broupit into tbe temple till this tima.
Verae 19. Tk»Jlte and Ihirtieih year of the reign af Aea.} Archbiriwp UMfaer thinks that thur ahould bo counted ftfoa the v^wration of the kingdom, and that thia Cell on the Jifteenth year of Am'b reign. To settle in every reapeet these cfaronolc^ea is a most difficult under* taking; and the difficulty does not belong to the Saered Booku alone, aU other chronological tables of oU the nations in (he world, are in the aaow pedicamenL With those of our own faiatonr I have often been puzzled, even while 1 had access to all the arehivea of tbe nation. Probably wa diouM read here tkejlte and IwnHeA year. See idbe margin, and the note on 1 Kings xv. 16.
Tarsal. T%*tix and thirtieth year} After tbe ffivisiail of the kin^domi of laiael and Judah } according to Vrnher. Hue opinion is fjllowed in our margin; see tlie note on 1 Kii^ XT. 1^ where this subject is lartlier considered.
Versa 3. ll»re Is a Uagtu] Let (here be a trtetn oilbosive and dsfaisivst bstiraen me and thee: sea en 1 Kings XV. 19. Varse 6. 7^ aU JudaKl See on 1 Kings xv. 22. Vene 7. Escaped out qf Mne hand.} It is difficult to know what is bare intended. Partiaps the divine ^e*^ doaes bid ialMdad to gfvs Ass agiud vicioiy ovsrihs t^KrTtt *2 And Asa, in the thirty and ninth inSlTrtwia ' yenr of his rei^n was diseased in his S?>*™ feet, until hia (UBeaee tcaji exceediiig
E'eat: yet in his diseaBC he * Bought not to the ORD, but to the physicians. Vc wt 13 IT ' And Aaa slept with his fathers, umitntm and died in the one and fortieth year iS^Tftif of his reign.
P-i*^*'-. U And they buried him in his own aepnlchre*. which be had " made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which waa fined " with aweet odours, and divers kinds <if apices prepared by the apothecaries' art; and they male ' a very great burning for him.
JitHriuphal VKwIi hIa latha An, aiul nUiBphMdy, (ml hMn^eoIuIr hl—rf. ^niUilhhsuilllnBiniaki«T,rbi'ilHbi«mclKni iStpwnle, ibnnih ■U Hie diin at laith; wtitch pfolaoi ite nxM bnieficijO cSki^— ML Tw himself against Israel. ■ 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. i which Asa hU &ther had taken.. 3 And the Loan was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first trays ' of hia fiitter
4 But eought to the LORD God of hisftther, and walked in his commandments, and not after • the doinpa of Ifirael.. „
5 Theroforc the Lord Rtablished the ^^iSt kingdom in his hand; and all Judah ^tiKJlTa 'brought "to JehoBhaphat presents; aJ?i<— ' •and he had riches and honour in abundance.
6 And his heart ' was lifted up m the waraof the Lord: Moreover, 'he took away the -places and groves out of Judah.
7 Tl Also in the third year of his Vc lEf reign he Bent to his princes, eren to Ben-hail, and toObadiah, and to Ze- ^^t^ chariah, and to Nethanee!^ and to Mi- '^"***''^ chaiah, ' to teach in the cities of Judah.
8 And with them he sent Levitea, even 8hemaiah, and Nethaniah, had Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shomiramoth, and Jehonathaji,aiid Adonijah, and Tobijah. and Tob-adoiujah, Levitts; and with them Biishaiaa and Jeboram, priests.
9 * And they taught in Jttdah, and had tiw book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all Uie cities of Judah, and taught the people.
^/riana, who had always b«en the inretarate enemies of the JewM; but, by thii unneceanry and very improper •llianM between Asa and Ben-hadad, this purpoee of the dhrioB providence was prevented I andihuBtAafi]yrian« <«•
Verse 9. Tker^ore — thou riuUt hatt waraA And eo he hid widllimel during the reatoffaisrcign, 1 Kin^xv. 32.
Terse 10. Asa was wrath ictlh the (cerl lastead of hnmbliDg himself, and deprecating the displeasure of die I^Hd, he persecuted hia messenger. And, having thus laid hie impious hands upon the prophet, he appears to have got his heart hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; •ad Iben he began to opprtsa the veopte, either by unjust imnrimuneote, or ezcesuve tantiona.
Verae 12. DUtOMtd in his,/W) He had a strong and long fit oir the gout: diis is mcmt likely.
Be BotLght not to the Loan] " He did not seek discipline from the mce of thel-ord, but from the ph\^iciaRs." 7 ar^,
Ejvt and sap|>lication to the Lord with the expectation t h4 will mal us when he finds as dutv humbled, L e. when the end ii answered for which be senas the affliction t Tetae 14. And UUdhiminOia htd\ It U very rikely that the body of Asa wBs burnt; that the bed spMcen of here waa a Jvnerai p^a, on which much apicta and odoriftroua noodw had been placed; and (hen they set fire to the whole, and oonsuraed tl)e body with the aromatics. fiome think the body woji not burned, but the aromatica vabh >a honour of the king.
Bunr the utdeDts treated the bodies of tfia illustrious dead we learn from Virgil, in the fnoeral ritee ptUd to JIKMntM.
FlnilHHii ilw jTrirJ Alufiu /.it; Uhi or iM-r. rrv-i. ub, ant iiCi.-, »1 xwJuiihJIk
All these rites are of Asiatic extraction. Virgil borrows mm evny eiieuDulance from KntMrt see A xxiii. t.
164, &c. And we well know thai Homer ever < Asiatic maniters. Sometimes^ eapaeiallf in war. captive* were sacrificed to the manes of the departed hero. So in the plaoe aliDve^ the mean-aouUd Jennioiu diona*, Achilles, is represented sacrificing fvefrs Trojo* copfire* to the ^uMt of his friend patnelos. C^nw eaatejaing the osftss and haff-et^aed bona vS ibe dead oeoar frequently in barrov-e, or tumuli, in this country; mart of them, no doubt, the work of the Roman*. But all bbcicDt. nations, in funeral matters, had nearly the saiae liva
Verse I. JdiothajAat — and atrengthaud Msisi{f arainat brael.\ The kingdoms of Israel and Joddi woe rivals from the beginning; sometimes one, MSBetiaea dis other, prevailed. Am and Baaaha were neiu-Iy matrhed; but after Baaaha's death Israel was greatly we&kgned civil contentions, and Jehoshaphat got the ascendcc^y: M 1 Kings xvi. 16—23.
Verae 2. 'JVie eiliea qf Rphraim} This ronmest fie* the kingdom of Israel ia referred to^ <atap. tv. 9; wl wfasn it -was made, we do tmt know.
Verses 7—9. To teaek in (A* citiem of Mah) "Ts teach the/ear qf the Lord in the cities of Judah." TTsrgum. ■
In these verses we find a remarftaUe aceooot of M itinerant ministry, eeKibltehed by Jdiodiaphat; aad ii diis work he employed MrM classes of men. 1. Ttteprimtm. 2. The LevHa. i The prieaU. We may prewiae *b» tlie princea instructed the people in the nature (rf tbs civil law and eonttilution of the kingdom. Tlie Laaitai instructed them in every thing that af^ienatned to Ae temple aerrice, and ritual lau; and the priest iiiatiutiri them in the nature end deaign of the nligioo dtey fcBsed, Thus the nation became thoroup^ly instn^n ia their duty to God, to the king, and to eodl Olher. "n^f became, therefore, as one man; and against a people tinited, on such prindptea; no enemy could be sueeenM.
Versed. UhAtkebookofthelaieofthc\M%o'^them\; His was dieir text-book: it waa the Book ^ God; ihiy taught it Of such, and as aatA the people receiwd it. la laws were OmPs tawa, and the people/ell dieir MagmKm, and their conadencea were boimd. Thus they were atedient to the laws of tyie land, on the principle of rdigimm. In this they were encouraged and confirmed by the croof pie of all, both in chunA and atale. The prineoa wtn not aaly pioua, but were teachers of pieW. "Hw LerOm showed diem the wdHh and exoellence of their ritml iiuti> lutiana t and the prieaU ^lowcd tbem the moral use l^My were to make of the ^riwle; and diua the poople beesM obedient to Ood as well as to the king; aaa kept aAl (hs civil ordinances not merely for the sake of axoou tnn^, bat for the sake of a good andgitteious Ood. Sfy dteae nMaaa die aationi ergoyed peiee and proipari^t aadd iMv-
10 H And ' the Tear of the Lord ^ fell npoA all the kingdom! of the lands that were round about Judah, BO that they made no war. against Jehoehaphat.
11 Also tome of the Philistines 'brought Jehoibaphat presents, and tribate-silver; and the Arabians broucht him flacks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats,
12 TT And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly: and he built ia Judah amomi ' castles, and cities of store, t otm-ia. j[3 And he had much business in the eities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
14 And these are the numbers of them, aceording to the house of their father: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with nim mighty, men of valour three hundred thousand.
15 And ■ next to him waa 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 migfatv 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 vjoa Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
19 These waited on the king, besides ( (hote whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
J^. 2 * And 1 after certain years he went