Commentary on the Holy Bible

mOioat, aeditionB, and populu commotions, wero prevented. Tba* nirroundinK nationi perceiving thia, ssw that there was no hope of lubduii^ mieh a people j so thty flUMie no war mA Jduuiu^Aat, ver. 10. aoA they took cow not to provoke sueh s people to &11 on tbeta; iherefim, it tM md, 7\*Jear qf the hordJt& on all the kingdomt and landa that wert round abmtt Judah. Such an ittoeraat miniMry esiabliahed in tbeee kingdoma for upvrainii cUfavtrteort ytara, teadiing the pure unadulterated doMrinea of the Gospe), with ths propriety and neceasi^ of obedience to the utvra, baa been the principal meooa,' in the hand of Ood, of preaerving these lands from diose coo- Tulaiona and revolutions tbatliave mined aad nearly dlft Mlved the European cominenL The Uinerant mtnwfry, to which this rewra, ia that which wu established in these lands by the late truly reverend, highly learned and cultivated, aeeply pious, aod lovaJ, Jom WssLn', A. H. fbriner^ a feuow of Lincoln Collecc, Oxford, whose foUewers are known \iy the name of AlrniODiCTa: a people who are an hMtour (s their country, and a blessing to the govern meat of (hair most excellent and revered King Cleorge III.; who^ through a long reign, has been the patron of religion ajM leammg, andthe nuher of his people.

Tene U. The PkOiatnua frrou^— pressrUsI Iliey aod the ArabioMM purchased peace with the king of Judah, bv paying on annual tribuU. The PhUittiiut brouritt SMHT, ana DO doubt c^ertnt kind* of mtrdiondiu. The Arab*, whose riches consisted in cat^ brou^t him,^Qcliv ia gnat abundance, priocipally rams and h o-goata.

Verse 13. BohadiKuAb^^netainthtatuMl Hakept the people eoiutaotly enidcnred } they had wi^ea tor their work, and by their wboan the empire was bMh enriched ■kd elreiurthened.

Ttssfr H, Adnah the chis/^ He was gtneraUarimo of •U this host. Iheee are the numbers (U the Jtte batialioiut—Vaim Adnah thru hundred Ihouaand: Jthahanm, ttK hmirtd and sicAfy Omimmdi ^mwiaA, fw

down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.

3 And Ahab kins of lerael said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, lam as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we wilt be with thee m the war.

4 1[ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the wordof the Lord to-day.

5 Therefore the Icing of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forb^r? And tiiey said, Qo up: for God will deliver it into the kmg's hand.

o 1[ But Jehoshaphat said, la there not here a prophet of the Lord " besides, that we might inquire of him?

7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the Loan: hut I hate olm; ibr he never. proj>hesied good unto me, bat always evil: thtt same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king ear so... '

8 And the king of Israel called for one of his ^ officers, and eaid, ' Fetch quickly Micaian the son of Irala.

9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a i void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had mhde him horns of iron, and said. Thus oaiui the Load, With these thou shalt push Syria» imtil ' they be consumed.

11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Qo up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for we LoBD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying. Behold the words of the prophets declare good to the king * with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

hundred iMottaand; Bliada, turn hundred Ihouaand; Jthczabad, one hundred and Hghiy thouaand,- in all, one mUlim one hundred and tixly thaueand.

Verse 19. 11u$e waited on the kijig} TTiey vtere diapoa^de fbroea. always at the king's command: aad wen mdqiendent w those by whieh the ci^ of Judah were garrisoned

There is not a sovereign in Europe, or in the world, but might read this chapter with advantage. It ahtnrs, maet fordblvi that true religion is the b&sis of dw state; and that wherevw it prospers, there the state prospers. 2. It shows also, that it ia the wisdom of kings in eoeountfa religion with all their power and influenoe: for, if the newts M^tbe Bubfecis be not oound and influenced by true religion, vain is the application of laws, fines, imprisonments, or corporal punishment of any kind. 3. A. religious nation is ever a great nation: it is loved by its friends, it is dreaded by its eaenues. 4. It is ever a peaceable and united aatioa: the blessings of religion, and a wholesome and paternal govern men I, ve so fiilly felt and prized, that all iuid' it their interest to preserve and defmd them. Harmony, peaoe^ety, and strength, ore the stabih^ of such timet. Aay Britom know and value them I

Terse I. Jehoaha^Aat had richce and AoROUr] Hm preceding chapter gives ample proof of diis.

Verse 3. To Ranuah'gUea(£\ Hus ptaee beloiwed to the Israelites, and was now held by the king of Syru.

The whole of this chapter ia dreumstantially explained in the note on 1 Kings chap. zxii.

ytTtt^.TkMktngqf brad and JAaAaphii\ "ASub ooDsultedfUsepRqfneta: but Jehoshaphat sought inatmotioD from the ptesoiee ofdw L<m], andprayed at die anlar* inginofSaoiuiK; snd before mse aU ths Use implMtB pnphesM lies." Targftm.

13 And Mioaiah aaid. At the Lobs liveth, * even what mj Ood saith, that wul I speak.

14 And when he was come to the kingt the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramotb-cilead to battle, or shall 1 forbear? And he said, Go up, and prosper, and they shall be detivered into yo\kr band.

15 T And the lung said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the troth to me in the name of the Lobd?

16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered «pon the mountains, as sheep that hare no shepherd; and the Lord said. These have no master; let them return ther^re every man to his house in peace.

17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did 1 not tell thee that he would not proinesy cood unto me, " but evil?

18 Again he said. Therefore hear the word of the LoRb; I saw the Lord sitting^ upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing en his right hand and on his left.

19 And the Lord said. Who shall en6ee Ah^, king of Israel, that he may go up and (hU at Ramodi-gilead 7 And one spake saying at\er this manner, and another saying afler that manner.

20. Then there came out a * spirit, and stood before the Lord, and saldxlwill entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith 7

21 And he said, I will so out, and be a lying tmirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou afaalt entice him, and thou riialt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

22 Now therefore, behold, * the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.

23 T Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanali came near, and ' emote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LoBO from me to ^ak unto thee?

84 And Micaiah said. Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go ' into 'an inner chamber to hide thyself.

25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry nim back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

26 And say, Thus saith the king;, 'Tut this fellow in. the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I return in peace-

87 And Micaiah aaid, If thou eertaioly return

28 IF So the king of Israel, and Jehoabapbst the king of Jadah, went up to Ramoth-^ead.

29 And the king of Israel said onto Jehosha-

Ehat, I will diB^ulse myself, and will go to iht nttte; but put thou on thy robes. So the king oflorael disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that -were with him, saying^ Fight re not with small or great, uve oiuy with the king oS Israel.

3! And it came to pass, when the captain* or the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said. It iff the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried ont, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depari from bun.

32 For It came to imse, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again " from pursDing

venture, and smote the king of Israel ' between the joints of the harness: therefore fie said to his chariot-man, Turn thine hand, that tbon mayest carry me cfut of the host; for I am

34 And the battle increased that day: howbett the king of Israel f stayed himaelf up in At* chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

Sirea a atronge gloai here f " "nien the spirit of Nabotli of ezreel cam« out from the abode of the ri^bteotu, and ttood bafore the Lord, and said, I will deceive him. And the Lsrd nid, By what meana 1 To which be aniwsred, I will ka a spirit of lalM prophecy in die mouth of his fnjibeiM. And the Lord saitf, Thou mayest then. But, ^dieugh the power of deceiving them is giren unto thee, Beverthelesa it will not be lawful for tlw« to lit among the righteous: for whosoever shall apeak fiilsely c&noot have a ■tanaion among ihe righteous, l^tetefore, go forth from au, and do as thou hast said." Targum.

Verse 31. But JAotkaplua cried out] "Jehoshaphat eried, and the Woao of the Lord brought him assistaoce." Targum,

Verse 33. A eertttin man drew a bowl He Thrgum tells us mhtf it was. " Now Naomoci, ihe captain oT the host of the great kinsof Syria, drew a bow uainst him, (thM the prophecy of Kiijah the TiAbiU, and Hieaiah the •on of Imla, mi^t be fulfilled,) and smotr the king of Israel batwaen the heart and tlie caul of the liw, through the l^ace' where the ooat of mail is joined." Sae the note on 2Cnga V. 1. for this tradition,

Taras 34, Stayed himself iip~~agaSatt the Syriaru] Hun was a great deal of persooal couraga and patriotism in this last act of the king of Israel: bewail knew if bis troops fbund that ha was nwttlly womdad, tlw wouM uamadiataly eve way, and the battle would not mlv be los^ bat the akngbtar would bs gmt la the porwiti 94g

AND Jehoshaphat the king of Judah tc'mk returned to nis house in peace to tmi^aum Jerusalem. ^,

2 And Jehu the son of Hanard ' the

seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lobd? therefoie is t wrath upon thee from belbre the Lord.

3 Nevertheless there are 'good things iboad in thee, in that thou hast taken away the graves out of the land, andhast ' prepared Uiine heart to seek Ood.

4 IT And Jehoehi^hat dwelt at Jenualem: and "* he went out agam tfanragh the people from therdbre he stayed himself up till evening, whm lha termination of uie day must necessari^ bring the twxie M a close: and when this was done, the IsraeUies found that their king was slain, and so they left die field e( baola U their foes. ThuM Israel bad a great loo, and the f^faaa had a great d^very. Had it not be«n for thia aocidBS^ the Syrians had probably been defeated. See the mm on 1 Kings xzii. %.

\v the notes referred to above, ttie tfuHUing pre£ctiow of Use prophets, and lying orocka, are raenaoneJ; add several instances given: uid the whole aeconot « At lying tpirit going fbrth from the Lord to daoeive Ahsb particularly consitfered. See especially the notas as ^wa on vmea 19, 23, 34.

"nie reader should never fornt a tradt ao fireqaeadr occurring in the Bible, that Godis repeatedly iBpi'tseaasi as doing, what in the course of his proridence be oaly

NOTES ON CHAPTOR XDC Verse 1. Returned to hia kouM ra;Maes] 7W it, ta mfety; iwtwitbstandingbe had been exposed iMdsMrae immuient,and fWnn whiditmly tbeeapeeia] Aer^or Osl could have saved him.

Verse 2. Jthu SieeOtitf Ebnanq W* have MStwifc thisprophet before: see the note on I Kjoga x» 7.

TTiere/^ is wrath mm thee] That is, ibaa dmir*^ to be punished. And who can doubt thia, who knava (faas bedid kiht the tnuv^ and did lot* Atm «ai kmUi Mmah. And la not tta wia^ of Ood apoa all «hsaa aliianoes which his people form with ihs ungidifi wbatWsr tbey be social, iiMfriMmi92,somiMrx^

' BflflF'dieba to mount Bphralm. ftnd broiigbt them back unto the Lord Ood or their fathers.

5 IT And he aet judscfl in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city.

6 And said to the judges, Take need what ye do: for "ye judge not for man, but for the Lobo, * who is with you p in the judgment.

7 Wherefore now let the fear of the Lohd be u|>on you; take heed and do it: for « there i$ no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor Tespeet of perBons.aor taking of gifts.

8 H Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat ■set of the Levitea, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LoRD^ and for coatrovernes, when they returned to Jerusalem.

9 And he charged them, sa^yiiu', Thus dull ye do • in the fear of the Loso, Tafthfblly, and with a perf^t heart.

10 ' And what canse soerar shall come to you. ofjour brethren that dwell in their cities,

between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LoBD, and «o ' wrath come upon * you. and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.

11 And, behold. Amariah the chief priest ia orer jou ' in all matters of the Lone;aad Zebadiah, the eon of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Jtidah, for all the king's matters; also the ■Levites ^utll be officers before you. 'Dsal

courageously, and the Lord shall be ■ with the

IT came to pass afler this also, that, *Zz -« the children of Moab, and the chU- a^Ta*

Terae 4. FVom Ster-thtba to-mmmt Ephraini] ■ Baton the Mparatioa of the ten tribea, in apeoking trf the -eyteat of the land itwu Mud, J\om Dai^to Bt&rtKaba: kut, nnoe that eTent, the kiogdoin of Jud«h ww bounded OD the MuA by Beer-iheba, and on the noriK by the mountajna of Ephraim. This shows that Jchoahaphat had gone through all hii territories to examine every liking himself to aee that judgment and justice were propeily ■dmioistered anaw oie people.

Verae 6. Tain hud teAoi ye do] A very aoleiiui sod 'very neeessarr caution: iudges should £m1 ibemadvea in the place of Ood, and juage as those who know dk^ Aall be judged for their judgments.

Verae 8. And ftr oonimeniM te/itn 0uy returned to JtruMoUm. ] Who were they that retuoMd to Jerunlem 1 Boms sappoae that it maana Jdiotlutfkat and Ue eourffcra, ^iriw rMwued is Jeroaslem after the expedition loentioiiaa var. 4 1 but if thia were so, or if the text qxAe of any person returning to JentM/em, would not oVpvv^ bywruaAoiem, to Jeruaalem, and not the aimple word tnwr^-' Jeruakaian, without the prepoaition, be uaed t ' Learned men have auppoaed, widi great plausibilitT, that Aa word uar<i vaiyoAdnt, ''and tber returoed," ibould be written •'amy yoAAey. "the ifduAUoHtaf and that the worda ahouhf be read, ^nd ArAa emJrwarria* tf 'Steinkabitatitotf Jertualem. "Hist ihia was the original Teading ia very probable firom ita veatiMa in die VtUgata, habiUUoribut efu; " ita cmurrAKTe r* and in the Septiiagint, it ia fo<md tolldem vtrbit, Ke4 mtmrrat n> And to Judge Uto tnAoUtante iff

There ia a elauae in ehap. xxxjv. 9. where we have a rinihr mistake in our wsioii, AndAat/nbtm^to JaniFaaUm, tiSwr" >3r»> where the fiilae ken, or mar/rintU ooce, direeu it, in eppoaition to common senaai ana the varHons, to be read and t/ujf ntenii^ whkh sor

Verae 10. Batmm blood and Mood] Caaea of manslaughter, or aoeidental murder; orcaaesofevfuangttMfy, ^ setUement of inberilaooe, family elainia, dbe.

JOliiounlaigandeommandmtiUl Whanoever A* numtl jrreetpU, riUt, and eeremoniM, of the law j or wfaataoerer belongs to civil aSaira.

Verae 11. Behold, AvMriah] Here waa a twofold Jarisdiction, teeUnaaiieal and e^U. In the teeUtUuKeai MkW, Amariah the high prieat was ouprma Judg* t in Ifae civil court, Zrtauliah waa auprenM. To MaiM bods 4w LmoUm were a sort of eowiMBsra.

WMMVt good and whdasons lawe, do nsiioa tm bs MMperouat tad lam ara tha best kwiLtf itarte nst jsMrfrfniffirand nnai fwiffuMihaitiiinhlHsil ThsdriMs TomTswI ifaa ttfa^ «r thTkiM Md WW

2. Then there came some that tidd JehoshiH phat, saying. There cometh a great mnltjtada u:ainst thee frain beyond the sea on this sitle Syriii; niiil, heiiolif, thry ff '■ in Hazazoo-tamar,

I Am! JiiLErth frnth^red rhemselves together, {i>^k htifj of if II.: LoRu r L'Ten oat of aU thft ciuea of Judah ihcy ctune to seek the Loan.

5 H And Jeboebaphat jH^foA in the eoocremtion of Judah and JerasKHMa, in the house aftae

^; Air! -iii.!, '> I. f.p UmI of our fathers, orf nat tiiou < Uud iu heaven i miA ^rulest not thoa over all the ku^oms of the heathen 1 cuid ' in founded in the admiitistratioa of jnttice. AmsriilT bs prieat, and Zriiadiah the ruler, muld ever have ibeir distinct placea of juriadiction.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XX Terae 1. Children qf Ammimf and with l4«in other beaideo Ae Am.mmite»\ Here there must be a mistake; for surely tlie AmmoniUo ore the aame aa the thildrta tff Ammon. Our tnuialaion have ialaified the text by insert* ing the worda "other fteaide^' which have nothing properly to represent them in the Hebrew, Litenllv translated, the words are^ "And it happened afker iius, the cliildren of Hoob) and the children of Aromoo, and with ihem of the Ammonitea.■" and thua the Vulgate. Ilia Syriac, which the ^roMc fbllaw^ haa felt the difficulty, and tianalaled, Cam* togttktr wtth varlidu malt to Jt^t, Ae. The Stptuagint nave civen it another turn, Kai f4i* wwrxmr «c r«#r Mhwimv, And ItUk tkotptopU qf A» Minaiteo j which were a people oS AiaUa Peltx, near the Red sea. The TWgum haa wdvik |s pnop Faimmthon min Adomaey, "And with them some of the Edomitea." TioM is very likely to be the true readias^ as we find from ver. 10^ 3!^ 33. that they procured men fraoi mount iSUr; andtbeaewere tfae/nAoMm^ or Kdamitm. WeahouU.inmy minion, read Aa text thoa 1 71aeMt> drai Moab, imd Aaddidrm ^ Amrnon, omd wUh them aoma qf the EdomiUa.

Veraa2. On tiUa tide £^ria] Inataad of a-an mfarami ftom Syria, I would read with one of SMoacotta M88L (80.) DtM) Miadom, from Edom | which alteiaiion brings ittotfuiht and doea not reqoire the change of Aa{^ a Ittfar, aa it coooials in the aunoat imperceptible differeoea between i r*a& and ^ doUft. We do not read of any Suriofu in diis iamioa; bat wa know there wen EdomUm, ta ttAabUoMU ^ mount Smr.

Ha*axon^amar\ **ln the wood of pain treea^ lhUt% in En-gedi." TWitm. lUs ia the meaamg of lbs word, and it ia probable diat tbay 1^ bkl bare.

Verae 3. yAMAopkit/aarwfl He fbund that he oouU not poaaibly stand againal aacti a numerous arnr, and therefore cooH not expect to be dsKvarad eseapt Ij ths atrong arte of Ood. Togel AissariMsnest ilwss wis aary to oaafc it| and to gat audi arftsuidfaiim balp^ ih^ dwuld aeak it in an ar/iwdkwry way/ beoos bis procbumad a mdraraoi Jfuf. and alt Ua paoyls earns iq^ to /aruaalam to aeak the Load.

7 Art not thou 'our Qod, ^vhc ididet drive oat tite inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham " thy friend for ever t

8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, aayiug.

« name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt he^ and help.

10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom thoa >> wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of E^pt, but ' they turned from them, and destrovea them not;

11 Behold, f any, kov> they reward us, "to cotne to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast Airen ua to inheriL

12 U our God, wilt thou not > judge them 7 for we have no mig;ht against this sreat company that Cometh agamst us; neither kuow we what to do; but " our eyes are upon thee.

13 And all Judah stood before the Loan, with tbeir little ones, their wives, and their diildren.

14 IT Then upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the ton of Mattabiah, a Levite of &» aons of Asaph, "came the Spirit of the Lobd in the midst of Uie congregation;

15 And he said. Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, aba thou King Jenoi^aphat, Thus saith the Loan onto you, " Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this sreat multitude; for the battle is not yours^ but Qod's.

16 To-morrow go ve down agamst them: behold, they come up by the ' din of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the ' brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 » Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation the LoBD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to-hiorrow go out against them: ' for the Loan loiU be with

. 18 And Jeboshaphat'' bowed his head with face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem tell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.

Tens 7. Art not Oau our Ood] •• Hast not Ihoa, by HtnJKoma, driren out." Targvm.

JlfcjMfyism^hoiue."- Severn of KuBnieovasnd De HoM'fl mS8. wilh du T^tbraitf^ Syrtae, siid ATmbie, tdd mpi nUcra, [is invoked]] Tl^ nam* ia ittsokid in Aia hmut: here Ihou dwellest, ana beie thou art wonhipped.

VeiM 11. T^iey rewarded tu] Six of Kennicou's and Do Rosh'b MSS. add nr^ toil i " Behold, they rewaid ub BViL." This ie alao the reading of the Targum.

Vene 12. Wttt tluu net jtuLge tkem\ ^lat ia, Ttim wilt inflict deserved paniihinent upon them.

TeraelS. ^ M« bottle t> not iwur*, te4 GW*.] God will not enplor you in the diaooniWe diie great boat; he himaelf will take the matter in hsnd, delivw you, utd deatroy them.

Verse 17. For the Loao will be loiife wt».l "The Word of tbeLord Aal\ be vour helper." Targym.. Verae 20. Brieve in Hu Lobd your God[ " Belian in the WosD of the Lord your Ood, and beUeva in hia Inr, and believe in hie prophets; and ye aboU prosper." Hve the WoBD and ihe Revelation are most poiatedly distingiiiriied; the Word being used ftnonaUy.

Terse 22. The Loan let aminuktn.mU.'S '"nie Wom» of dK Lord placed snares amoag the cfailortn of Asrunoa and Moah; and the inhabitacta of the nmintaia of Oibla, wboaame tofirtitwith Judahi and Aev w«i« bnken to

19 And the Levitas, of the ehUdren of tW Kohathites, an^ of the,cfaildren of the Elorhitn, stood up to praise the Lord Cm of Israel wAha

20 \ And they rose early in &e morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went Ibrth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; < Believe in the Lord your God, eo shall ye be established; believe his pro{^eta, so shall ye prosper.

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he a4>pointed singers unto the Lobd, 'omA * that should praise the beauty of holineea, as they went out before the army, and to say, '' Praise the Lord: * for his mercy etuiuT^ for ever.

22 ^ ^ And when they began to sing iind to praise, ^ the Lord set ambushmente against the children of Ammon, Moab, and. mount Seir, which were come against Juoah; and i they wen smitten.

23 Fot the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitaiUs of mount Seir, ntterb to smy and destroy them,: and wheo they hiu made an end of the inhalntants of Seir, every one helped to destroy one another.

24 And when Judah came toward the watohtower in the witderness, they loi^d unto the m^titude, and, heboid, they verc dead bodies fallen to the earth, and *• none eaea4>ed.

85 And when JehoebuAiat and his peo|de case to take away the spoil of them, they found amoiK them in abundance both riches with the deM bodies, and precious jewels, which they str^iped off for themselves, mwe Uian they eooM carry away; and they were three days in gathering cf the spoil, it- was so much.

26 If And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of* Beraehah > for thve they blessed the Lam: thereftve the name of the same place was called, The valley of Beraehak, unto this day.

27 Then they returned every man ofJoiA and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the Forefront of them, to go Bgtun to JerusaJetn vrith joy; for tl^ Lord had ' made them \o rejoice over their enemies.

28 KoA they came to Jerusalem with psaltsries, and harps, and trumpets, unto the house of the Lobd.

29 And * the feu- of God was on all Ihe Icing-

Boubigatit translates -the place thus: " Tbc Lqrtl m against the cbUdren of Amnion and Hoeh amUwihmeal* of those who came from mount Seir againat Judah; aid the children of Ammon and Hoab vere tmitien: bat limj afterward rose up against the inluibjtanis of uMxmt Srii^ and utterly deatroyea them; who, being destroyed, Uta roae up one againat another, and mutualiy destrayed catt other." This is probably the roeanittg of tbcae versea- Calmet* version is not very different.

Verse 25. Both vidua wm the dead frodics] For pagarim, dead bodies^ tf-vs. iegadim, garments, ii the readiDg of tight MSS. in the collectioDB of KaaucoU aari Da Roan, and in several sncieDt editiooa. Koae of As vwnofM have liead Aodiet except (be.Cftaidse. TWvnda miriit be easily mietskan for cckIi other, aa ^ a pe, if a Utue &jni in the under dot, might easily pass for a 3 Ut..■ and we know, that the n reaA, and i daUth. are IreMca^ interchanged, and mistaken for each other, bo«h in £ktrar and Syriac. 1 heUeva garmada to be ibe true nadis^: and, as to the clauaci u^kA Ihey atruiped <if far A<*- setosf, it ahould be fioderstood dKi% W^AAgyarnxsAfsr

Vorse ae. AsttmhltA tkematlw in th* vaBey if J dmk] " Th* ViOley of BenedictioD and so ia dw clwiw. Targum.

domfl of Ao»e ooo&triM, iriittK tkejr Iwd heard tiiat the Low fboffht afainat the aiMmiea of ura^

30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was qtdet: fbr fau » God cave him reat round about. MSiiT* 31 T 'And Jehoaliaphat reigned aa»M over Judah: he itaa Uurty and five veari old when he began to reign, and totiw-itt rewned twen^ and five veari in Jeroaalem. Andnismother'aiiaiDewiiaAnbah, the daughter of ShOhl.

32 And he walked in the way of Am hia blfau, and departed not fh)ni it, doing thai wAscA wu right in the sight <^ Ae Loao.

33 Howbeic * the high places were not taken Awaj: for as yet the people bad not * iH«pared their hearts unto the Ood of their ihthers.

34 Now the rest of the acta of Jehoahaphat, first and last, behold, th^ ar« written in the «bookof JehnthesMtof Hanani, ' who ■ismaotktiMd in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 H And after this 'did JeboahoaJ=lol w i^t king of Jodah Join honself with ^S^^ AhaaiairW of i«nwl, who Aid very WKkedly:

36 ^ And he joined himself with bim to make ahipB to goto Tarahiah: and they made the shipa in KKHiD-geber.

37 Then Elie«er, the sen of Dodarah of Mare- •hah, prophesied against Jeboahapfaat, saying, Becanee thou haat joined thyaelf with Ahuiab, cha Lk>» hath broken thy wona. * And tha ships were broken, that they were nrt eUe to go ' to TaraUsfa.

'm!tmt IVr^^ *Jehosh8phat alept with his ■ teT.J*y.. -'-^ fathers, awl was bnned with his jgBft^ fathers in the city of David. And Jettirswt horam his son ' reigned fai his stead.

▼«rw 33. 71^ high fUun wen furf <afc«n "Hfoy] Tttt fdolatr% as ve hsm nn, UDivanally MippreaMd i bat some M the piMMwben lhat tvorahip had bean perfemwd were not deatnmd. Some of them atill tsmaiMd: aod these, to nich a fiekla people, became tha mcana of idcJatiy In reikna lew pnnltioua lo tnidi and nUgioD.

Vene U. ft Ou botk MmJ 1^ is totsUy kis^ ihoujch it IB evideat diat itms ia bsiog iriiSB dis bsoks of Cbroniclea vers written.

Vene38. TV m Is TaMkUt} "In dte gnu m." TVirnm. By wliiA exptsarioB tbay alway* maaat the AbfMcrrsiuaa no.

Vene37. TTuhomitKatihrokmuAts.} Ttu'Womotif tfU Lord ftoA hrak*n. Tucam. Cooeariung T^snAM, MMtan-gAvr, and OpUr, ■sd the ▼<» wa thither. Me the wKe* en 1 Knixa z. 22| KOd at tfte end « that AajMer, asd on chap. is. 26—28. Tha IVriiiA here is eaited by tfie ChaMaa TWsw in A« ^frooC cm, aoaas plaoe in the Medtwrranean. On this suMaot the nsder has, no doubt, alnsdy seen agrest fsrie^ ofopinisna.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXL Verae 3. And Ae had brtOtrtn — A« tonm nf JAodtO' ptkat, king AnMf.] Jabo^pbat certainly iraa not king of Inwl, bat kn^of.AwfoA. Srwn yiiArae^ nmat bo a corruption in the text, for min> VetedoA t vhich la (he reading of the iSyHo«, ilr«H(^ Sipfoa^M. and FiJ- M<«.- the Oaidt^ only, agrees with the Hebrew text. And the reading ef the Mrvtoiu ia mpported by AtrJjrof EMtatSxf^t and i>e AootI** H8S. 1^ werd J&fa^ abooM. therefore, bereatond to thatezL

Verae 3. 7lU Hn«dm mm A« to JUoram] He mada aim ooputasr wtdt Misself in tfaa kisgdom akmt Mfkree JUTS ImftirnWi dMht »teths teisMdaalyjbayMra iter ihadasdisf hk fabBrJihH*aiilist SwteaeMa SB % KlHs viU. AflL sad M dis sHi% ehl^k i 17.

9 And he had brethren, the sons of Jdmh*-

phat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zecl^iah, and Asariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: aO these were the sona of Jehbshatihat king of 1»- raeL

3 And their &ther gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of iveoious tilings, with fenced cities in Jodah: but the kingdom gave ha to K Jehorara; because he iras tbe first-born.

4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to tfaa kingdom of his father, he streogtheaed hims^. ana slew all hia brethren with the sword, and diver* also of the princes of Israel

6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as tlid the house of Ahab: for he had the dawbter of ' Abab to wife: eud he wrought thai wMcA was evil in the eyes of the Loan.

7 Howbeit the Lobo would not destroy the house of Davkl, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a * light to him and to hia i sons for ever.

8 \ -In bis daya the Edomites Vchl revolted frmn nndfv the * dominion amloijis of iodah, and made tbemaelves a cmiuB. kinff,

'.' TliQn Jehoram went forth with his prfaicea, anil all his chariots with him: and he rose up by ni^ht, nod smote the Eidomites which compassed hitn in. and the captains of the chariots.

:n s.) the Edonutes revolted from under the ku^wi at' Judah unto ^s day. The same time aUo did Lfimah revolt from under his hand t because he had forsaken the Loan Qod of bis

11 Moreover, he made high places in the mountains f£ Judah, and caused the inhabitaiits of Jerusalem to " commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.

12 IT And there came a f writing to £ aS!f him lyom Elijah the prophet, sariog,,

Ytrm 4. ShwaU hit bnArm] Whstativlydiabolia dting ia the buttf mmtrt itdasffoya all tbe ciwritiaaaf life) and lenders tnaae who ara under ita iwft>eaea ifaa (meet reaemblants of die arch fiend. That he ni^t ■( lbs aiovs seours upon hia tfarsM tUs sxaeiaUa mtm ImbraahiahandsiBdM blasdof faaiowabrstbanl Thars sfs Bore iDstsoees of tbia eparies of craelty asaoag bad Asislie kingi disa mBOOc soy other claaa as smb. Hm hinoiy of evBry eonntry abounda la proob; avaa dist of our own ia not the leaet barren.

VerK> 6. atKadOu dmu^tUr tf Ahab to wt/*1 This waa Alhaliahy daughter of Ahab and Jesabel, who was femone for her imptetiea and ontslcy, aa waa her aoat profligate mother. It ia likely lhat Ae waa the prinovsl eaoae of Jaborao^a erueltv and profiwaenaaa.

Verse 11. TV esnmU /onMeotfoitl Hurt ia, to ««pm ittolr. The lanelitea were oonaiderad as joined to Jahft. vah, aa a woaiaii ia joined to her Atufrontf / when aA« aaaoeiatea with other iMn, Ihia ts oAi/ftry; when Iknr •tfved aAer goda, lUs was osUed bf die asns nsusi A was aduUary aninet Jehovah. Tnia ia frequentty (he asly meaning oT the lema oduJtory sad fomitatimh m the Seripturea.

Verae 12. Hurt eamu a writing to him from Bt^faA Uu pnphst] Prots 3 Kinca ii. 11. it ia evidast thai Elijah had Wn tranalated m tbe retn of Jaheahaahat, the btfaar of Jefaonm. How then oauld be eesd a tettor to the aool Saoie aay be aent it fron heavea byaa angel t others, that, hy the apirit of prophecy, he fawisw dw dstetion flf Jrihmas sod left lbs iMier witb Eliahs, M5 miked in the ways dt Jehoshaphat (far ftther, nor in the ways of Asa king oi' Judah,

13 But haat walked in the way ol' the kinga of Israel, and hast * made Judah and the inhafetantH of JeruBaiem to 'go a whoring, like to tiiie ■ whoredome of the houae of Ahab, and also hast t slain thy brethren of thy father's house, ^tiUch were belter than thyself:

14 Behold, with " a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy childrea, and thy wives, and all thy goods:

15 And tUou thall have great sickness by * disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.

s: c ST' 16 IT Moreover, the LoBO -stored Asm 1. 01. iiL up against Jehoram the spirit of the *""""*55. Philistines, and of the Arabians, that v>ere near the.Ethiopians.

17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and ' carried away «I1 the sidtstaiiee that was found in the king's house, and 'his sons aJso, and his wives; so that there was never a •on left him» eave ■ Jehoahax, the youngest of his sons...;..,

VJ^^fiiSI?- 18 II * And after all this the Lohd ^^^IST' smote him ^ in his boweb with an ini OL iii-m curable disease.

19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, afler the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickoess: ao he died of sore diseaeee. And hia people made tw botning fbr him like ' rhc burninor ol his fathers-

^"m'^ 20 Tilirr.r and twn yertra ok! was H e. sw-BG. he when He bt-ean to reign, and he tSTiiTiw rci"n<;d in.lfru=!nlera eight years, ■-^ find iloptirtFd without being desired.

tdlMlHU to bin wfaM BusdsfadiiB dumOi iaku |ala(4{ 1)ltmWKf1jmEi9^i^^heiatarmiJuij *Dd oUivr^ ihai Air JBt^ah. vrnM mH ihfl Ktmt tbu una tranilucd, bit Bii'iiher VTtrptac of tba «une nuov. Thm ■» ntbm wbo think toat, u Elijah wu sUIl m die bod]/, fur he ifid itot die, but wu tratulaUd, he Bent thii letter from that secret plua in vhich he wn> hidden by the Almighty. All the Mnimu have EUjah, oad all the HSS. the Mine rtading. Dr. KennicoU eonlende that EKtlta mu the writeri for Slijah hed ben taken up to heaven thirUm yMis before the time <rf this writing. Oar margin am the lecteriMe wtMm b^bn Afo MM«]Mfon, and refon 1ft 2 Kings ii. 1.

^Iieee are all cor^fteiurui and I oould add another to Oieir number, but still we ehould be where we were. I ritould tOopt the coDjectSM relative to EiMa, were not every Sebrtv US. and aa the orUntal vtrtiatu. against it: to which may be added, that the author of thit book does not oimw nuauioo fiwfta in any part of hie work. It ia eertainlT a poanUe «aaa that thia writfng might have been a vraoiefum of Jeboram'a fanpieiT and miserable death, delivered in ibe time Of the pro^wt, and iriiiob waa BOW laid before thia wicked king for the firat time: and bjr it the pio^^t, though not among mortala, atill oontunied to apeak. I can see no solid reason agaioit thia opinion.

TeraaU WUl Am Losd anule] "The Woao of the Lndwillssnd a mat mortality." Targum.

▼era* IB^ Vnta thy bowtU fait out] TTlua must have baen oeeaaioned by a violent inflammatien; by the same death peririwd Antioehua EpijAann and Htrva Agrippa.

Terse 16. 7^.PhUwfwM* and— fAe Arabiatui] We have no other account of thia war. 'nuHtg^ it was a preda- awar, yet it appears to have been completely niiiMNia dastmoiive. what a general curse foil i^Km this bad kingi inhia&o<^ touL, aub^anee, mnUy, andm<mm«nl/ Tatse 17. Suva yahooAAz, ytmnfn^\ Thia person had at least <Af«B names: AhooAiu, JAorioA, ehap.zziL 1. and Axariah, ver. 6.

Tarsals. 71i< Loan amots Atm] " And after all thoM ^ngs the Woao of the Lord smote hia bowels^" &e. TV-gum.

king in his stead: for the band of men

that came with the Arabians to the camp bad siain all the ' eldest. So Ahaziah the soa of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

2 « Forty and two years old wo* Ahaziah when he be^ to reign, and ac^ he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His ammtm mother's name also vtu^Athaliah, the daughter of OmrL ^,,

3 He also walked in the ways of the hoose of Ahab; for his mother was his counecllor to ds.wickedly.

4 Wherefore he did evil m the eight of the Loan, like the boose of Ahab: for, they were his connsellere after the death of hw fittlwr, to his destmctkm.

sel, and i went with Jehoram the eon *»»■■«■ of Ahab king of Israel to war against 'S^JT' Hazael king of Syria bA Raraoth- ■ gilead: and the Syrians smote Jtwam.

6 ^And he returned to be healed m Jezreel, because of the wounds ' which were given him at Romah, when he fought with Hazael kiw of Syria. And Azariah the son ctf Jehoram ciog of Judah went down to see Jehonun the son <h Ahab at Jezreel, because he waa sick.

7 And the ■destruction of Ahaziah • wa« of Ood, by coming to Jorem: for, when he waa come, he ' wentout with Jehoram against Jdio the son of Nimshi, i whom the Lobd bad anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

8 And it came to pass, that when J«ha wu

out] Tho T^iryttm aeams to urtunMadit he bed a w»- atipationandidbuamaiioainbisbowalai andlbatntlMt h^ bowela gushed out.

No burtmg] " Hia peo|da made no bwinhig af ammatic woods lor him aa they had done for hia farmfaoa.' lywgum. See on chap. xn. 14.

Terse 20. Departed vWumt bamg deaired) -Be waa bated while be lived, and neglected when he dwd: vidUy cursed of God, and neceaaaiily execarated Iqr the ptoM whom he had lived only to ooirupt and oppnaa. No atmaiiat ia ntentioned aa navinc taken the pans to wiiiB any aecount of his vile lifo. Ttiia aununary meatkn of him consigns him to the execration of pootanty, and baUa in the view of every prudent governor, the rock ea arUeb ha split, and wrecked the state.

Terse 1. Made AJmsiah hia ypHagasf asn Uig] AH Ibe others had been alain by lbs Aiwiaaa, Ac: sea preceding chapter, verse 17.

Terse Z -Forfy and ftaoysoraoU waa AAoaioA] Sea (he note on 2 ungs viii. S». Ahaaiah ni^it Imva hasa (wetUy-fwo yeara om, aceording to 2 Kings viii. 26. bat ba could not have been aa atated here, withocri being hw yeara oUorSian hia omf other t See Ibeaota there. The iS^rfocaod AroMebavttlwsRte-tea; and the Sepluagini, in some eopiea, ItssMte. Aiad it ia voy probable that the Hebrew text read ao originally t fo>> when numbera were expressed by aingfa later*, a was easy to mistake D mem, roarr, for s eaphy iwui i. And if this book waa written by a scribe who used the aacOTf Hebreio leitera, now called the Sa-mariian, the misiafca was still more easy and probiAle i as the differeoee hatwaea eaph, and j9 mim, ia very small i and e^ ia na^y cases, be diacerneo only by an aecuatomed «ya^

The reading in 2 Kinga is right i and any aaempi *a reconcile thia m CkrojticUa with thai ia etfoaUy fotifcaad abaurd. Both readings cannot be tnu; — is that dtsnfaw likely to be genuine that makea the son hea far* aUm" than the fa&er who begat him 1 Apaga hm migm!

Terse 3. BU ntsAar wu hia wtnaallor} AihaUaii. lha wiekad danghtor of a wieked paraot; and foa WKkad ■louaaor aa nnpriociplsd king.

'Axecatinc judifment npon tlw haom of Ahab. and •fbuaa th« prineea of Jodah, and the worn of the breiliren of Ahaaiah, that oiinutered to Ahaxiah, he «lew them.

9 * Ana he amicht Ahasiah: and thef caofht him, (for he was nid in Samaria,) and tnY>i]ff ht hia to Jeha; and when thejr had slain him, they buried him: Because, nid they, he it the bod en Jdiosbaahat. who ■ sought the Loan with aU hie Jieart. So the house of Ahaiiah had no power to keep atill the kingdom.

10 7 ' But wfaea Athaliah, >he mother of Ahaziah, saw that her aon was dead, she arose and deatrojrfldaU the eeed royal of the house of Jadah.

11 But « Jehoshabeath. the daufffater of the king, took Joaeh the son <^ Ahaziah, and stole him from among the lung's sons that were slaio, and put him and bis nurse in a bed-chamber. So JaboabdMathj the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for mo was the •ister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so Chat phe iiew him net

Jehohanan, and Azoriah the eon of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Ziebri, into covenant with him.

2 And they went about in Jndah, and gathered the Ltevites out of all the cities of Juaah, and the chief of the fathers <^ Israel, and they came to Jeruaaleia.

3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of Ood, And he said tmte them. Behold, the lung's son shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David.

4 This it the thing that ye shall do: A third part of you ■ ratermg on the sabbath, of the

5 And a third part ahall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation; and all the people shaU be in the courts of the house of the Lobd.

6 But let none come into the house of the Xiow, save the priests, and * they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are baiyz but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lxato.

7 And the Levitea shall compass the iing round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever ehe cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: bnt be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.

VenB 16. All tke M«f royal ^ the tuntu ^ JudeiK^ Ifochisg but the miraculoue inierventioa of the divioa nro videaoe oouU have Mved the line of David at chia time; and preserred the firophecy relative to the Meaeiah. The whole imth of that prophecy, and the Mlvation of the world, auiearsd to be now nupeuded on the brittle thread at the liu of an infant of a year skL see chap. zxiv. 1. to dsslroy whom wee the intereet of the reigning poverl BiU QoA cut eave \fj fcw aa well aa by many. He had piiyftwd and vain weia the counter-ezertiooi of earth

8 So the LeviCM, and allJudah.d{d aeeordlnr to all things that Jehoiada the priest bad commanded, and took every man his men that were to eome in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: fin Jehoiada die ivieat dismissed not ' the coursea.

9 Moreover, Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds speaxs, and bucklers, and shields, that had 6«eft King David's, which were ia die houae of Ood.

10 And he set all the people, everr man having his weapon in his band, from the right > side of the ^ twnple to the le/l side of the temple, along ^^the altar and the temple, by the king round

11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and ■ gone him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, ^ God save the king.

12 IT Now when Athaliah heard the noise «r the people running and praising the king, she came to the peoirfe into the house of the Loan:

13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the enteriiig in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and 1 such as ti^ht to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, ■ Treason, Treason.

14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso fblloweth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the Lord.

15 So they laid hands on her; and when die was come to the entering of the horse-gate, by the king's bause, they slew her there.

16 And Jehoiada made a ctivetiQut lietweeii him. and beliveen all the peopLi^ and between the king, dtut they should be the Lord's people^

17 TTitfii Fill the pKople weal to ihe house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altara, and hia finagAs in pieces, and " slew Mattan th4'- priest of Baei before the altars.

18 Alt'n Jehoiada a);>poinCed the ofiicea of the' house of ihe Lonn by the btLiid of the priests tha Levites, whom David bad Pdiarributed in the house of the Loan, to offer the bumt^qfierings of the Lopo, fts it i* wriiien in the 'law of Moses, wiLh rejoicing Find v.lih Kinsins, it was ordained ■ by D&vkL

19 And he set the ^porters at the gates of the house of the Loan, that none vhich wom unclean in any thing should enter in.

20 ■ Andne took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the Lobo: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.

21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was oniet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

■nr. II. ifr^p r-npa Bekadttk Kud«M^ "intbebolrof holies." To tbia place Athaliab bad do aceeee: therefore Joaah lay concealed, he and hia affectionate aunt-nuree.

Verae 14. And vkoto /othiMlk Htr, Ut him. U Mn iridi liu raoni] He who takea her pert, or eadearoun to prevent the praeent ravolutioo, let him be immedtatett skin.

Verae 16. MuU a covenant hittetm kim] TV hifh priest WMk on this oooaston, the repreeenfauve of Oodi

3 And Jeluiada took for him two wives; and he bemt sons and daughter*.

5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said onto them, Go oat onto the cities of Jodah, and * gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God fimn year to rear, and see that ye hastaa the matter. Howoeit the Levites hastened it not

• * And the king called for Jehoiada the chier, and said unto him. Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerosalem the collection, according to the eemmandmetU 'Moses, the servant of the IjOrd, and of the eongregation of Israel, for the

7 For >■ the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the > dedicated things of the house of the Lord did they bestow upon Baalim.

6 And at the kin<;*s eommandment ^ they made a cheet, and Ket it witbaot vt the gate of the house Df the Lobd.

9 Ap4 they made ■ « Droduoation through jB^Kh md Jeruaalom, to wing in to the Lorb

• the coUectian that Mf>eee, the servant of €}od, laid upon lerael in tlic wiMcrnens.

10 And all the prtnfe^ and aU the people rejoiced, and bri3ii<^ht in, and cafi into dwehest,

\rtwm both dw M(^la and Ihfl king istuthava had in view, (hrougfa the memum of Mb priest

Tcne 17. Maitan Oie prtMt] 1^ Targum wjll sot prMtitute du term priat, but ealb him tnera kamara, prieatlinf.

Terae Zl. TTie eitv tra» qwUt] There mm no sttempt ■C ft ooonter-revcduHoa. Concsniiiv tha ooronstiod of Jissdijihsn is a flarioas AinsumHsaos msntioasd by As nrgtimttl,aayer.U. It is sa fellowsi

"Aad tfa^ brought forth dw Mu of dtt king, sod put on him the nml orovn, vhieh David tooj^ from tbif head of the king of the children of Ammon. In it wu inaerted the preoiotu attnctiiig etone. in which was engraven nod expreaaed the great sod nonouirable mahs, [reireij which David had jdawd then by the Holy Spirit; and it was of the vaiB^t of a lalent of mid; it wae therefore a leitimMiy to the boose of David mat no king, who was not of tM seed of David, ihould be able to put it on hia bead, nor be lAIe to bear its weight. When, tlierefore, the people saw it placed on the head of Joodi, and that he was able to bear thia crown, they beKeved him to be of the seed of DavM, «nd immediately coAtitutod him king. 'H^reftve Mioiada and his aoni anointed him, and nidjlUiqr ^ king be pioeperoos in Ue kingdom I"

nnie Jews say that this was die crown of the king of the Ammonltai J and that it was idwm worn afterward kings flf dte house of JodiAt. See Jardii on this

Tern 1. JoaA waa aewn ytan old] As he was hidden •txyeara in tha temple, and was but eeven vhoi 1m oams to the throne, be eould have been but one year oTA nhea be,*as secreted fay his sunt: see on diap. zzit 10.

hand of the Levites, aad "when they aawthtt th^e was much moosy, tiM king's scribe and tha high priest's oSicer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered moDcy m ahnndanoe.

18 And the king and Jchoiada gave it to soA as did the work ofthe service of the house of the Loan, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house ofthe Lou, aad aleo sodi as wroogbt iron and brass to mend the hooee ofthe Lorik

13 So the workmen wrought, and * the worit was perfected oy them, and they aet the boiHe of Ood In hia state, and strengtbeoed iL

H And when they had ftiished it, they brought the rest of the mcmey before the Idng and Jehoiada, p whereof were m^de veescle for the house ofthe Lord, eotn vessels to minieter, aad ' to offer iBtthal, and spoons, and vessels or gold and silver. And Aey o&red burnt-flAriogs hi the house of the Lou coDtimianr aH Iheoiys of Jehoiada.

15 1[ But Jehoiada waxed oM, and \%Sa was niU of days when he died; a *»»tj>» hnndred and thirty jreara old was he SeSS^ when he died.

16 And they buried, him in the city of David amons the kings, because he had done good in laraeTboth toward God, and toward hisnonse.

17 f Now after the death o( Jehmada came the prmces of Judah, and made obeiaaiiee to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.

18 And they left the house ofthe Lou God of their fhthers, and served aaae 'groves and idcds; and twrath eaae -i";;*,, upon Judah and JerosalMtt for tiiie their i^<n»* trespess.

19 Yet he ■ sent prophets to them, to briag them again tmto wa L(Wd; and they tesfified against them: but they would not give ear.

a) And 'the Spirit of God 'camc\»JJf upon Zechariah the son J^iada the priest, which stood above the peopte, a^TRS and said unto them. Thus saith God, ■ Why transgress ye the oommandme&ta of tha Lonn, that ye eannot prosper? 'BecaaM ye have forsaken Ae Lmn^he nath also foraakaa reiona of Joram and AlhalitJ^ die temple of Ood had 1 pilla^ to enrich that of Baal, and the whole permitted to fall into dac»: see ver. T,

Vtnt 6. Gathtr of aaltnal monsf] As the Inpti waa the property or (he iriude nation, aad (W swiees perfonnea in It w«n fiar the aalvation of tha psople aa lai^ It was ririit Aat each abeuld eooM fawaid w mwBBSM of diis HndL and lend a helping hand. Tim ia the frt imlancerfsiiehftyeeer^eailiSUaftTlliiiMh^sristek^ inga house o( Ood.

great dilapidatiao, when it required sooh amaial exartoas to bring it into a thorough state of renir.

VerseS. TTu eolUdion—qf Mm*] "HiiswaattenoDtaKfi«edbyMose%ofhatf«ihdtel,wlikiiTObTOJetf twty man from twenty yisre oUsna upwacdss asriwMA was oonaidered ae a raaewa jtr Ou&' eeada, Ao* mfirftt be no^agve avumg ffum. See Bind. zxx. 19— H.

Terae 8. Ttuy made a dieati See As notes «a As parallel placm, 2 Kings xxiL 4, Ao.

Verse 16. TTuy buried A*n(—«MM' Ifi* ktHf} had, in bet, been king ia Jttdd) t for Joash, who tgt to have been a weak man, waa alw^ra tader Ma Ma Jehoiada governed the stats in the name ef the king; his being buried among the kings ia a pmf at A eatimation he waa in among the pet^le.

Terae 17. The prina* tif Judah— mad* ffu king.} I boh«ve the Targum has grmt tke sense or wis verse: " AfiCTthedeadiof JeMad^ ifes men of Judah cams and adored Eng Joa^sni him; and dien the kiiw recemdfrom them Mk

YerseaO. Andtiu^^ririt^OodcamtiamZmkmHidli "Wboi he saw tha transgreniae of As Usg seA af iha pet^le^ bon^ incMise to aa idid fn As Wme «f

It Aad thtr eonspind sniiut hkn, aad *itonBd bim with BtooM at toe oomnumdmeDt flf thakia;,in theeoartof tbehouMoftheLoRD.

SH Thoa loash the long remembered not the kindneM which Jeboiada nU father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he ■aid, The Loaa look upon it, and require it.

33 T And it eaiae to pass 'at the end jJSloim. oftheyear.t^HhehostorSrriaeame upanioethnn;and(heycanietoJudah prbanee of the people from amonff it» pet^le, and •eat all the apoil of them unto the Imvof'Da-

M For the armr of the Sjrnana *eame with a anali compan/ of men, and the Loan * deKrered a very great host into their hand, beeanse they had fbraaken the Loaa God of their fathers. Bo they ' executed judgment against Joash.

W And when th^ wwe departed fVora him, (for they left hha in great diseases,) 'Iub own •errants conspired against him for the blood of tha k SOBS of Jehoiada the priest, and slew bim on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in eitr of Dand, bot.they babied him not in the aepulenree of the kinga.

26 And these are thev that constnred against him: > Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitese, and Jehozabad the son of ^ Shimrith a Meabttess.

S7 T Now eoncertttnr his sons, and the rreatness of 1 the burdens laid upon him, and the "rrpnirmg of the housR of Qod, behold, they ftrc Hiitteoln Wu:- " sifryoC thv linokof thekixiffi.

■OBotiMry of lbs Loidoathsdsyef sniatioDi and pr«- Tonttng the priens of d» Lord from oaring the bnrat' oAringi, MusnioM, dailv oU•tioH^ sad serrioM^ as wriUeo in the book of the law Of Hawst hsstMxl abondmpeopk, aadaaKL" Targmm.

Varse Si. fiKeiutf Aim— ol Ut* rammiinilmtmt ^Hu kimgi What • moat VMUhoi aad eoamptiMe DMB Ihia, who odaM iaibraehk hands iatbe blood of SMehet of Ood, and Uw eon of the man who had nved ten ama boteg anudared, and taioed hioi to tha throne t AIm^ aUal Oan ev«a Mkm forget beoeflnl Bat iriMaasBaa falls inm Ood, the davil eaters into Un I and then he iseaydUe flf •very meeiesoT enieltf.

Vena 22. 71U Loa» Im* vipon, it, onrf r«firfr< iL] And so be didt for, ai tha aad of that year, die Syiiaaa eame againat Jadah, dartrayed all tha pnnoea of the pooi^ aent tfwir apoils to Damaeeoat and Joadi, the imifJwwr of die mophet, the eon of his benefiuitor, was hhwTTlf mardered by hit own wmiua. Hen was a most ■igMl dia0w of IM dtrine retribatiOn.

«ta the snbgaet of Ae deatfi of this prophet die reader ia iMosslad to refer to die note an Matt. zniL 34, 3S.

Wmtwb M, Tlkete art ft^ ttat eorupfrod ocuinff Mm] The two persons hsre meatumed were certainty not Jmmt die VMtUrof oaa WSB aa jimmontfcM, and the in^Aer of tha eAerwasa JMbaftfiSsr. Whotheir/a(&«rtwerewe know not) diey vera probably /or^j^iert and oHms. Soaae ssppoas &at these persoos were of the Mn^t dtowaftgi and thaseftra eoold have Ae '

% And he fid thai v^dch «a« ririit In tfie sicfat of theLoBD, *butnotwMiaperteelheart.

3 'Now it came to pass, when the \*R;S^. kiagaom was * established to him, that laut^a. he slew his servants that had killed

4 But he slew not their children, but did aa tX i* written in the law in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, string, < The Ihthere shall not die for the duldren, neidier shall thtt children die for the ftthers, but every man shall die for his own sin.

5 11 Moreover, Araaziah gathered Jndah together, and made them captaiuB over tiiofi* saoMe, aiid captains over htmdreda Ewcording' to the hooses of their fathers, throughout all Jiuab and Benjamin: and he nomberM them " fVom t wenty years old and above, attd fotmd them thre« hundred thousand choice me», aU« to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

6 He hired also a hnndred thousand mighCf men of vaiou' out of Israel for a hundred tawnta of silver.

7 But there came a man of God to him, s^- ing, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; fbr the Loan it not with Israel, w weft ■with all the children of EphraJm.

8 But if thou wilt go, do it, be stronc fbr th* battle; Ood shall make thee fhU b^bre the enemy; for God hath 'power to help, and to cast down.

9 And Am^riah said to the man of Ood, hat what shall we do for the hundred talents whidi I have given to the ' army of Israel? And man oTGhid answered, ' The Lobd is edjle ta give thee much more than this.

10 Then Amaziah separated them, to vtt, the army that was come to tiim out of Bphraim, to go r home again: wherefore their anger wa» greatly kindl^agahist Judah, and tliey returned home ' in great anger.

11 IT And Amaziah Btrengthened \^S^ himselr, and led forth his people, and AnuLoTii. went to ■ the Valley of Salt, and smote SS^jni of the children of Seir ten thousand. '

12 And other ten thousand alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the nek, that thoy att were broken In pieces.

him. Itfaaabeen, sod isaiiU, die Alte of kiKa to hm iBteigyeifcrdieirTalet^wadaagtooafldeiUMsetifSPtoi wmd u>ey bstie «Am hesa «w csnns of nafdsraaM treacbeiieaof diSereat kinde. J^Vvvl^tun ahooU he banubed from the person of the aorereign hf atfong and eSeiem laws: even in thia country they have ofiss baaa the eanae of raoeh political wo.

Verae37. l^grealnm*^ 0uhvrtUn»iuim9Hktm] Meaaiog, pnAaUy, Ae heavy tribute hud apen Mm Iw tha Syriaasi Ihoa^ boom tfaiak the raat eaaas assssssa fcr toe repairs of the temple are here intended.

VMOmt tm As «<ory] midi^th, the eoomentery, of the Books of Kings. Wo have met with this fcefciu, bat these works are all lost, eneept ihe extracta foasd in Kings, ChroBielea, and Eva. Umbo mhHdg$mmt»^nn the eaoee of the n^lee^ and Anally of tha oestniettoBi of the original*. ITna has been often the ease iaworin at gnu eonae^uenee. TVofue Pomptiiu wrote a gsosiai EistOTy of the world, whien he brooght dewa u the nigs of Angustoa, in /irtf-JImr vohanes. Joaltai abri^pi them iau one volume, and the orisinal is loaL NOTES ON CHAPnCR XXV.

Versed M M that whidi was r^gMl HahigMlto re^ wsll, bat soon becassa aa idofart^ nr 14^ IB.

Verse 6. Gatltand Jbdafc IsmAw] Ha puqMSii to avenge hhnKlf of die Byttea, iM wiAed to hnow his military streiwth before He came to a ruatupo.

YerseT. The Loan ii fiofwif/i /arwefj "TfasWosasf the Lord is net the helper of dw braeUw^ imt sf the kingdom of the tribe of Bphiaim." IWgum.

rsrae 9. Tlk4 Lean <■ oMe te g4w Mm snmA Mrs Am Aie] Bettor loss As msasy than hsep ths mm, for ftey wObsa aarss oBtothes.

13 II Bat >> the soldiera of the army w^eh Amaziah sent haek, that thejf ehould not go with bim to battle, fell upoo the cities of Judafi, froin Samaria even unto Beth-horon, and smote three thousand of them, and took much epoiL

14 H Now it came to pass, ufler that Amaziah waacome from Uie slau^hterof the Edomites, that *he brought the ^ods ol'the children of Seir. and set them up to be ^ hi^ e:o<l8,and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

15 Wherefore the tLOger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him. Why hast thou sought after 'the gods of the people, which 'could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?

16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, tiiat the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's council 7 forbear; why shouldesl thou be sibitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath ■ determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearitened unto my counsel.

Then i Amaziah king of Judah AMtL'oin. took advice, and sent to Joash, the son g^SESTTi. of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu king of ■ Israel, saying, Come, let us see one

18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah kingof Judah, saying, The ^ttuBtle that wa«iD L^mon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, mying. Give thy daughter to my son to wife: wd were passed by > a wild beast that wa» in Lebanon, aiid trode down the thistle.

19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites: and thine heart tifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shoiildest thou methlle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee 1

50 But Amaziah would not hear: for "it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they ' sought after the gods of Edom.

51 So Joash the kinc; of Israel went up; and they saw one another m the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which betongeth to Judah.

22 And Judah was <> put to the worse before Israel, and thev fled every man to his tent.

S3 And Joasn the king of Israel took Amaziah kinc of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of (* Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, from the gate of Ephraim to ^the corner- Ifate, four hundred cubits.

£4 AndAtftottfcalltbegddandtbeaarcr^ all the vessels that were found in the hows of - God with (M)ed-edom, and the treasures of thfr king's house, the hostages also, and returned to

25 U ' And Amaziah the son Joash *-"^S2* king of Judah lived aAer the death of "^^iSr Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, fifleen years.

26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

27 T[Now afler the time that Amar ziah did turn away * from following the LoBD, they * made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he flea to Lachidi: but they sent to rfWi^"h bIW hio, and slew him there.

28 And they bronght him upcm horMs^ and buried him wiui bis lathers in tlw di-yot ■ Judak

THEN all the people of Judah took l'J^TV * Uzziah, ^ who v>as sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of P**— his father Amaziah.

2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, afler that the king slept with his fathers.'

3 Sixeen years old was Uzziah when ^-JtSSf' he began to reign, and he reigned fifty ^ a^mw and two yeas in Jerusalem. His mo- ^" ther's name also leae Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

4 And he did that vihichtpas right in the si^ht of the Lord, according to all

5 And o-he sought God in the days of Zecfaariedi, who *' had umlerstanding * in the visions of God, and as long as he sought the Lobd, God made him to prosper.

6 And he went forth and ' warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of JiUineh, and the wall of Ashdod, and buill cities ' about Ashdod, and among the Philistines

7 And God helped him Etgainst ^ the Pfafiistines. and against the AraKans that dwdt in Qur-baal, and the Mehunims.

8 And the Ammonites ' gave gifts to Uzxiaht

8es (hs noM «a 'i Kiogi xir. 1—20. wbeie alnuist «mr oiraunsMMe in lus ehspiar is swiminied and explained.

Vem 14. 7U gods t^Ou MUrm qf Stir\ "Tlte lAiM of ihe dtildmt of Qebal." Targvin.

V«M 16. Art thou matU nf ihe king't anmeil?] Hov dsnst tkou givs sdvioe to, or reprove a kinel

Vwse la 7%« iMaiU Aat wu in I^non] See the esplsnstion of this, 2 Einge xiv. 9. After reciting this We, the T\n-gwn sdds "Thm bast diou done in the tims ihou didM MOd unto me, and didst lead up from the hsoss of IbmI a huutred Amuand atroog waniora for a Inmdrtd (alenta of alvert an^ after mey vere seat, Ibott didst not permit them to go iritfa thee to war, but didst send diam back, greatly eniaged, so that they spread Ifaemeelves over the country; and bftvinjr out off Aret AeMMnA ihey brought back much apotl.^

T«M 3LIatk» houM qf God with OlMi-tdom\ From 1 CSma. zxTL 16. we learn, that to Obed-edom and hii desoeadaote was allotted the keejiing of the houee of Anfpim, or oolUction* for the divine treaiun. And — Ifu hoMagat] See on 2 Kings xiv. ft. Verse 26. TV ntt tif ihe ad* qfAmaxiah, Jtnt aad faKl Says the Targvm, "The fint, when he walked in me ftar of the L<mll| the laaty when be departed from Iba right way beface the Lord: are they not wntten," Ac v«m 27. Mbdt • oMu^fraqr] fit no doubt baearas very unpopular a&ev having loat the battle with cbe laraelitea; the ooneequence oi which was die rtinssTii ~ of Jenwlem, and the siiiinini of the royal ueasuna, several other evils. It is lUcely that the laet J^fUm ] of his rei^ wen greatly embWared i ma that fiadi^ ibs royal ci^ to be no place <£ a^/^ he ende«vauied is secure buneelf at LachiA; but sJl in vain, for ihirrhfr hii murderers punued him t and be who facaook ika Iiord, was fimskso bj avafrmmc^ peiiAed in Imb gsia- •ayiiCi wte to an aiituMlyaiM.

Varse I. TTuptopU qf Jitdak toot UzxuA} TbeyaB aneed to place tnia son on his father's throne.

Terse 2. Ife buUt JBtotki See the notes on 2 Kii«s xvi. 21. This kins is called by several diSeiaot nsmes: see the note on 2 Cngs xv. 1.

Verse 6.£ith«(iay«^2«Aor<di1 Who this was ws know not, but the character that is given of him heva, He was wise in die visioos of God, in givii^E the tras interpretatitm of divine prophecies. He was prafcahfr the tutor of Uzziah.

Verse 7. And Godh^>»dhim\ "Andtfae Wosttcflba Lord helped him aninst dte PhUistines, and aauM ttua Aiahiana who liveti in Gerar, and the plaina ef llaaik Targum. nwaeaiemwoaedtobetbe Anba^HfdtSi* caUedtbe Jfaanswft «r MmUm^ «r Mimitm and hit name ^ aprdad aliroBd even to the eotwing in of Egypt; for he atrensthened himae^f exceedingly.

9 H Moreover, Uzziah built toners in Jeruvar lem at the > eorDer-gat«, and at the valley-^te and at the turning q/* the leali, and » fortifiec

10 Also he built towers in the desert, and •digg«d many welU: for he had much cattle both in the lovr country, and in the plaioa; hoi bandawn obo, and vine-dresBora in the mountains, and in " Cnrmel: for he loved p huri>andry.

11 1 Moreover, Uzziah had a hOBt of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, accordinf; to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe, and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.

13 The whole number of the chief of the fhthers of the migfaty men of valour were two thooBand and six hundred.

13 And under their hand vae ' an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

14 And Uxziah prepared for them, throughout all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and ■ slings to east ■tones.

15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented fay canning men, to be on the towers, and upon toe bulwarks, to ahoot arrows sind great atones withal. And his name < spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

m' 7 But " when he was strong^ his

Qnv- heart was lifted up to fUs destruction: jb^bi*«- for he transgressed against the Lord his Qod, and ' went mto the temple of the Loan to burn incense upon the altar of incenae.

17 And ' Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord that vere ^valiant men.

18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and ■aid unto him, Jt ' appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah. to burn incenwe unto the Lord, but to

Terse IfX BuiU tower* <a A* dMerO For ihs defence eX his AiM^ mm) bis ibe^wids and buwtndnsa.

Ajtd te CodimQ Cslinet remarks that there vere two Carmele in Jude*: one in the tribe of Judah, when Nsbsl lived; and ibe other on the eosM of the Ueditenanesa sss, osar to Kidion: end both fertile in vines.

Mt taoed hnebandry.] This is s perfection in a king: on hnsliandry «wy Hale oepeode. Let their tiade or commares be irimt tbay umr, there eaa be no true nstidnsl pra«perity irsgrieultnie do not imNoer i tu lbs king hisi- ■slfMSsrvsd^ the field. Wbni, dwrefere, the king of a aOHOay eoeoursgee agriculture, an emulation is excited Ti'*Y™'g hie nil^eeta; ttu icience ia cultivated; and the ewlh yitldm iia proper increase: iben, should trade and comineroe iail, ibe people cannot be reduced to wretched nsii^ because there is plenty of bread.

Varae 14. SUM*, mid tptara] He prepsrad a vast iMitnk^ of military weapons to have reaqr lo put into the hands of hii aubjeeu on any eiigency.

Versa IB. Kngiiut — to ikoot arrouw and great «ton»] Torgim nya, "He made in Jenu&lem ingeoioua iiMtnuneota, and little hollow toweia, to Kand upon the lowets aad upon the bsitiona, for the shooting of arrowi^ and projseting (rf great etooea."

Tbim IS the veiy first intimation on record of any warlikB miginem iat the attadc oi defence ot besisgsd plsoes s and dus account ii long nior to any thing of tns kind among «ttb«r the Oreeka or Konuuis. Previoualy to lueh inventaooB, tha besieged could be eoAj atarttd out s and heoce ■iagea were very Um^ and teaUoua. Shal manner ooniimnd three ymn bamre aucb an incoiuiderable place aa Samaria^ 2 Kings xvii, 5, 6. SanUnapalua mamtained hi"»—if ID Nineveh for Mvm yssn^ becauee the besiegers had no engines propsr Car the attack snd destruction of waJJs^ dke.; and it ■ wsU known that Troy ■uetained a aisge of Im ymn, As Chsria aw poweisli^ say nsctos the ■ priests the sonfl of Aaron, that are cwuecrated to burn incense: go out of the saoctuarv; for thou hast trespassed; neither sAoU it^nr thine honour from the Lord God.

10 Then Uzziah was vrroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense} and, while he was wroth with the priests, ■ the leprosy even rose UP in his forehead before the priests in the houso of the Lord, from beside the ucense^tar.

20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all tha

f)riest8, looked upon him, and, behold, be wa« eprous in his forehead, and they thrust hua out from thence ^ea, himself ' hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him.

21 "And Uzziah the king was ateper

Lord: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

22 IT Now &e rest of the acts of Uzzi^, first and last, did ' Isaiah the profdiet, the son of Amoz, write.

33 c So Uzziah slept with his fathers, £ and they buried him with his fathers " in the field of the burial which beton^ed

JOTHAM ' was twenty and five years ^"feff* old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. Hisfli«T.a mother's name also too* Jerushah, the,, daughter of Zadok.

2 And he did that lehich ■war rifdA in the sight of the LoBD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the Lord. And ^ the people did yet corruptly.

3 THe built the hieh gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wafl of > 0|Ael he built much.

4 Moreover, he built cities in the mountains

of the kind here referred to. "nw Jew alone were the inventors of euch auginea; and the inventwa took plaes ia the reixn of Uni^ about eight kimdred years bwirs (fas ChriatMn era. It ia do wonder that, in eoanqaenos of tbi^ ftit name epread/ar abroad, ano straok terror into Us eaemiea.

Vem 16. He trantgreeeed agatnet &e LouJ "Hs ainned against the Woso of the Lord his Ood." Twyvsa.

WentwiteAetempte—tobumiiKmee] Thm siimhif to himself the priest's office. See this whols trsnssetiea explsined in the notes on 2 Kings zv. 6.

TensSO. BeenueAeLoaoJtad mMen Mm.] "Because the Wobd of the Lord bad brought the pisgue upon him." Targum.

Verae 21. And dwelt in a etverat hotue] Ha was Mparated, because of the infecttiws natut« of his disorderi from all society, domestic, civil, and religious.

.Atikam— was oMT Ac Aiag'a AoumJ Be became r^enC of Ibe kuid: bia feihsr being no hmgsr sUe to perform dis ftmetions of dte regal oSoe.

Terse22. 'n»reetqfaseeU<ifV'zsiah,Jkwtaadlaat, did Jeaiah the prophet — write.] This wors, howsver, is tolaltj/loet! for we nave not aoyhiatory of this kiiw in tbs writinge of Isaiah. He is baruy menDooed, las. i. I. sad vi. 1.

T»se23. T^httrUdkim-'tnAeJtM^lheburtall As be WM a iMwi% be wss not psmuttad to be buried in tbs common buriM-pwos of ths knigs t as it waa aunposad Ast even a place of Moulturs nmst be defiled by the body of ooo who bad died of ihls moat aflUetive and dangerous mslsdy. NOTES ON CMAPTER XXVII. Verae 2. ife mUred not into Ae templej Hs eopied his feiher's conduct aa fer as it waa cooatitutioiial; and anidefi bia trsnagreaaion. See (he preceding dtapter.

Verse \ On Aa wait Ophet\ The wall, ai^s As Targwn, of (he interior valaee. Ofifael was some part of tbe wall ^ Jsrusalein, thst was moet pcsgnsblsi eni, Ibsfsfart, JodHun fcrtMsd it in a paftknlar asBMr.

6 f He ibnglit also with the \aag of the Ammonitee, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammoa gave hioi the same ^ear a hundred talents of silver, aod ten thousand mea- Bures ofwheat, and ten thousand of barley. " So much did the children of Ammon pay unto tiua, both the second year, and the third.

6 So Jotham became mighty, because he " prepared his ways before the Lord his Ood.

7 ^ Now the rest of the acta of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kio^ of Israel and Judah.

8 He was five and twenty reers old when he becan to reign, and reigned sixteen yean in Jerosalem.

^JSmT A H AZ p tDOM twenty years old when R & M./iL he be^an to reign, and he reigned

1 sixteen years in Jerusalem: bnt he ■,. did not that which was right in the aight of the LoRo, like David his father:

8 For he walked in the wars of the kinge of IsraeL and made also « molten images for 'Baafim.

3 MoreoTW. he 'burnt ineenn In * the valley of the son of Snaom, and burnt ■ his chfldren in the fire, ailer the abonunations of the heathen', wh<»n the Lobs had cast oat bdbre tiie efaildreu

4 He sacrificed alao and burnt inoense in Ae nigh places, and on the hJIb, and under every green tree.

^c;? 5 Wherefore 'the Loan his Ood delivered bfm into the hand of the Amo TMtt king of Syria; and tbey 'smote him ''"^'*- and carried away a great multitude

Vane 4. Castla and toieers.'] Theae he built for dw protecUoD of the ooimtry people ftgaloat manuden.

VsrsaS. SiAttght alto witk—du Avmanita} We fiadhaN) tbat m brou^t item undar a heavr tn"but« for Am yean; butwheOier tbis wu Ae liff'eci of his pmvail' big asainst them ia not so evident. Some fliink that they paid toie Ihbuie for (hree yean, and then revolted; that, in coaaequeDoet be •ttackad them i and iheir auet lubjectjon WM tb4 reaUL

Terae 7. Tfu rut qf Ou aeti Jotham, and alt A£a jpor^ and Ait wqwl It waa ia lua day^ auadioK to 2 XiDOi XT. 3T. tbat Axin king of Syria, Ai

WriUm ia th§ book of 0u kingt, Ac] There ia not ao much found in ilie Booica of King» which wa have now, aa in tbiaplaice of ih» Ckroniclta. In both plaoai we have abridgta accounta aoly: the laiger hialohea have long beea uml Hie mgo of Jotham waa properly the laat poiifieggy proiparoua reiga among the Jewa. KsaAioA and Jonah did much to preaenra the divine vorabip ( but Juiah coatiiMBdtobsfiut diorv tillatlanit waa wtaally

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXYtn. Varae 1. Akaz waa twenty yeart oidi; For the difficultiea IB thia chraeotogy, aee the notea oa 2 Kings xvi. 1.

TeraeS. Avnf Ua aUUm U lAa Jlral TMtt la a moat remarkable addition here in the Ouudtt^ which I aball give at lencdi: — " Aliaz burnt hia children ra the fire; but Word of the I<ord snatched Hezeki^ from among lham t fo> it waa maaifeat before the Lord, that die three ri^ateeua men, HoMKiah, Miihad, and Axariah. wen g proceed from him; who ahould deliver up their WUea OHtt tbay nagfat be caat into a bunting flenr furnace, on •Hoontof toegrMtand^wioiiiiujiEi anafrMo vnA

(rf* themeaptiveg, andfanoAt <&em to * Daa ca«. And na wae also dwvered Into the hnd of the king of Israel, who emote him withagnat

6 For ' Pekah the son of Remaliah dew n Judah a hundred and twenty thousand a oa* day, uAtci^ were all * valiant men; beeanse ^ef had forsaken the Loan <3od of their ihthere.

7 AndZichri^amightymanof £{rfiraini,rfew Maaseiah the kio^s son, aod Asriloun the g«*^ ernor of the honse, and Elkanah OhU was ' next to the kior.

8 |i And the children of Israd carried sway captive of their ' brethren two hundred itao»- sand, women, sooB, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brooght the sptHi to Samaria.

9 But a prophet of the.Lou> waa there, wfaoae name -wo* Oaed ( and he went out bewre the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them. Behold, * because the Loan Ood of yam fatbere was wroth with Judah, he hath dravovd them into your hand, and ye have shdn dwm hi a raga that ' reacheth up unto heaven.

10 And now ye purpose to keep tmder die children of Jodah and jemsalrat mr 'boadaoi and bondwomen unto yon: hta are Hbere mc with you, even with yon, sins against the Lom> your God?

11 Now hear me therefore, end deBver Ae captives again, which ye have taken owdve of jrour brethren; ' for the fierce wraftef the Lmd is tipon you.

13 Then certain of the heads of the dtiUffen of Bphraim, Azariah the sod of JobanaiL Bereefaiah the son of MeshiUemoth. and Jehizkmh

ge son of Shallum, and Amasa the bod of adiai, stood up against them that came from the war,

13 And said unto them, Te shall not brmg is the ceqrtives hither: for whereas we have oOSrfed aj^iinst tide Loan alreadif,je intend to aid more to our sins and to our msnaas: for oat reat, and Oiere is fierce wralfa

14 Bo the armed men IflA the cutives and ths spoil before the princes and all the eoagrect- di^ timM eacspe. ^^r"^ Abraatf eaenped from Aa fornace of fire amoiw the C3ta]dettna, into iritiek bs bad been caat by N imrot^ beceuae be weuM ne* wanfeip Mr idola. Secomfly. TbTfwreacaped feonrii^ m ike hMeaf judgment of Juoab, wfto had nod, Bring ktr tml Mat a^ may 6b bvnd. TM-dhr, AxaHak fte aan af ilhaz escaped from the burning, wnen Ahax hia tahor eaal fern into the valley of the aon of Himram, oa ahm af Topbet FoirS^y JXmoniaA, AKjAmI, and Aam^sl, eacaped from the burttiiuF fierr fomaee of Neto king of Babylon, f^dy^ Jbafhio, the aoe of. high prieat, escaped, when the impioua Noba had caat him into a bomtog fiery ftmuwe, wiA Achafr At aon of Kolja, and Zedekitn the aon of Maaowat^ ifae iifa FMt)phet. 7n<y were (xmaumed by fire; but Jb*« At son of joaedek eaeaped beeatiae of faia ricfHeouaaeaa."

Terae 8. Ddietrtd Aim into l/U hand tf Su Mw< Burial To UDderstand these pnaaages. the reader «3ti gwasw to rsfer to 2 Kings xn. 1^ ^ ee^ •» A*.M nsre.

Vcne 8. A Aunrfrad md twenty AeuaoMcl) It ia * probable that thoeia a mialake in thia mtaber. lii poaaible that a Hundred and tvtntw thouoand m.. nave been alain in one day: yet all the wrriowo snJ JMBSL agree in diia number. Uto whtHe people seen is lavs been given up into die handa ol their anemina.

YeraeS. Buta prnikef ^ tta Loao— vAoaa mm WM Oded] To diiabnutiftdapoedi BotfiingembeaAMfey the beat comment; ft is aimple, humane, piou% aod omMwhelmingly convincing; no wonder it prodiori Ae^fcA mentioned neie. That there waa mnefa of faaiBuMj m the heada ol the children of BjAraim, wbo joinc^ wMi die prophet on thia oceaaion. the,/f/laenlfcw prom. llMjdidnotbareiyABffliai tfMsai

15 Aod the men f which were expressed br name rose op, and took the caplives, and with the Bpoil clothed all that were naked amons them, and arrayed them, and shod them, ara ^gave them to eat and to drmk, and anointed them, and oarried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, i the city of palm trees, to their brethren: tbea they retnrned to Samaria.

16 IT ^ At that time did King Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help hun.

17 For a^ain the Edomites had come and ■mitten Judah. and carried away > captives.

18 The PhiHstines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Jadah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Qimzo also and the villages thereof; and they dwelt there.

19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of 'Israel; for he ^'made Judab naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord.

IS^S?- 20 And p Tilgath-^dneser king of 9»-f>- Assyria came unto him, and distressed Amo vttk him, but strengthened him not.

21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto thtt Idog of Aasyria: but he nelpeafaim

22 U And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against tlw Lobo: this utthai King Ahaz.

23 For t he sacrificed unto the gods of ' Damascus, which smote hun: and he said. Because, ihe goda of the Meub of Assyria help them, ther^ore will I sacrince to them, that ■ they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all IsraeL

24 And Ahaz^athered together the vessels of the house of Ood, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, <■ and shut up the doors of the bouse of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 And in every several city of Judah he made hkh places > to oum incense unto other gods, ud proTOked to anger the Lord God of his ihtbere.

26 If ' Now the rest of his acts, and a cnt. of all his ways, first and last, behold, oiTmp. IX. B. tbey ore written in the book of the -xhi, i. itingfl of Judah and lerael.

victcvioas snny bad brouvht aw^y; aad tbey eloibed, fed, ■hod, and anointed these diatreaaed people, aet the fecDleat of tnem apon aiaea, and eacorted them safely to Jericho ] We c&a scaroely find a parallel to thia ia the umveraal hiatory erf the waza which aavage man hoa carried on amnat hia fellow^ fcom the (bundation of (be world.

v«raal6. TluMngtiif A»»}friatoiielph.im.\ Inalead «r ^sto maUtn. aniaa; the Vulgate, Syriac, Arabic, and C3WUh^ one JUS. aod the parallel place, 2 Kitin xvi. 7. have iSs vuUk, mnta, in the singular number. Thia kio^ waa Tigtath-jHbtMtr, as we learn from the book of Kinga.

Varae 21. But ha helped kim notV He did him do ultimate aerviea. See the note on 2 KiDgs xri. 9.

After verae 16, the 23d, 24th, and 26th veraci are introduced before the 16th, in the S»rw and Aratriei and the 22d vena is iriiolly vaotiiu in both, though some of the axpresaioas may be fbunatn the 21at verae.

Verae 23. Hi aaeryked unto Ihe gode tff Damaeeu; oAtcA nuU him] Thia pu>age> ny* Mr. HalUl, greatly wrprised roe i for the ncred hialorian himself is here Wiwtiseutu J aa saying, Thegodeqf Damaacu* had emiiten Jutu^ Ihil it is impoaaible to auppoae that an inspired Mlhor eould say tnia; for the Scriptura every where npnauita the heathen idols as noOdng and sonify, and s* ineapabla of doing tiikw good or mrL All difficult <■ *void«d if we follow the oU Hebrew copies, from which Jhe Greek fronaioMoa was made, Eai iivu' i ^oviXivt A^a^ ^snwi* raaf 6im«( A^umast nat rvnarrac at, Ana **Sg AKOM SAID, I mU SSBIC TO THX SOIM OF DajUS-

27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, °*??E,ML*" and they buried him in the city, even SSSutS

into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah nis son reigned in hu stead. CHAPTER XXIX aaNHaMsoadnlfn,I,« m omb and luln iM daon of ihi uoqilfc & Hi IWiaahi «nd (iEm IM priMtf and LiTiuB, mwa to mm iMf eon-

HEZEKIAH 'began to reign tohm V£.?£S?- he was nve and tiventy years old, cHn^lS and he reigned nine and twenty years -*r*~^ in Jerusalem., And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2 And he did that wJach leaa ru'bt in the sight of the Lord, according to all uiat David ois father had done.

. 3 T[ He, in the first year of his reign, ^'JS m the first month, ' opened the doors obmp-'^mt

4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,

5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, ^ sanctify now yourBelves, and sanctify the house of the Lord Qod of your fathers, and carry forth the filthinesB out of the holy place.

6 For our Ikthers have trespassed, and done that tohich teas evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have ■ turned away their faces from the habitation of theLoRD, and ■ turned their backs.

7 t Also they have shut up the doors of the

Eorcn, and put out the lamps, and Imve not urned incense, nor oflered burnt-offerings in the holy place, unto the God of Israel

8 Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to 1 trouble, to astonishment, and to k hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

9 For, lo, lour Others have fallen by the sword, and our sons, and our daughters, and our wives, are in captivity for this.

10 Now it it in mine heut to make *■ a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

11 My sons, °be not now negligent: for the Lord hath " chosen you to stand before him,' to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and ^ burn incense.

era WHICH BAVB ewrrnr nn; and then it fUIowa, both in Hebrew and Greek, He said moreover, Became the gods of the king of Swia help them / thertfore mil I aacT^Ke to them, mat oiey may hsfy me. Both the Sj/* riae and Arabic give it a aimilw turn; and aay that Ahajt sacrificed to Ihe goda qf Damascus, and said, Yt are my ^oot and lords; you viU I worship, and to you viU taaeriSce,

Verae 34. Shut tip the doors] H« caaaed the divine worabip to be totally niapended: and ther continued shut till the oeginning of the reign of Hexekiah, one of whose first acu was to reopen them, and thua t« restore (he divine worship, chap. xxix. 3.

V«ra« 27. TVu kings iff Tsraet] It is a common thiog for the wKter of tfaia book to put hraet for Judah. He still conaidars them as orb people, because proceeding from one stock. The versions and M88. have the aame reading with the Hebrew: the matter ia of littls importance, and with this interpretation none can mistake. NOTES ON CHAPTER XXIX. ►

Verse 2. Ut did diat which waa ri^] See the note on 2 Kinss xviii. 3.

Verae 8. He haih delivsredthem to trouble, to asUmishm£iU] He probably refers here chiefly to that dreadful deftttby the Israeliin^ in whi^ a hundred and tventy thousand were slain, and tuo hundred thousattd taken prisoners; see the preceding chapter, ver. 6, 8.

Verae 10. nCake a ooaenoRt] To renew the eoveoant under vluefa the whDls^opw were constantly con-

12 if "then the Lcviics arose, Mahath the. bod of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the gpQsof the Kohathites: and of the bohb of Merari: Ktbh the Bon of AbdL and Azariah the son of Jdialelel: aiidof the QerehoniteB; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:

13 And of the sons of Bltzaphan; Shimri, and Jeiet: and of the sons Asaph; Zeehariah, and Mattoniah:

14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Sbimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.

16 And they gathered their brethren, and ' sanctified themselves, and came, according to the conimandment of the king, 'by the words of the Lord, ■ to cleanse the house of the Lord.

16 And the priests went into the inner part of. the house of the Lord, to cleanee tf, and brou^t

out nil t\vy iini It ^Lim^'.ttci that ilii^y Ibund in the temiil" i>r ilic Lftno into lha court of the house of I be LoKD. A ad the Levites took tt, to carry ifqut abroad into the brook Kidron.

17 Now they be^an on the fir^i day of the firBf moiitli! to FanrtJlV, and OR the pightli day of iJie iiioiiih ranf Hu } m the porch im the Lord; BQ tlity Biitii-.tiiicd Hit. houeeof the Lord in eight day?; aadiiitheBtrctcenthday ol the first month tber made uti end.

Vena 16. And the prieeU vml] lYio priesta tuid Levitei cletuued firat th« courts bodi of the prU»U and of Ihs ptaple. Oa this labour they apent eight dan. Then iheyeleanaed the inferior of the temple; but as tae Levitaa haa DO rigftt to enter the temple, the priests carried all the dirt and mbbith to the twrcA, wnenoe they were collected W dia Levilei, cairiad amy, and cast into the bnxdt Kidron: in this work ei^i days vere occupied, and tbos (he temple vas pnrifisd id aixUen day».

Versa 17. On.(A«^ra* day! " They began the firat day of die firtf moaih Nlsati." Targum.

Tana 19. AU Uu veMsIs uMA SCmgAAax} The Targum mya, "All the vesseli which Hjng Amz had

Ctlvded and rendered abomiaable by Uiange idols, when Rigned in his tranagresaion against the Word of the Lord, we hare eollectad and bidden i and others have we |i«^red to replace them; and they an now before the

Terae 21. mtj/brmg^ aevenhuUodti, Su:.}jntitwaB more than the law required, soe LeviL iv. 13, &c. It ordwed one caff or ox, for the sins of the people i and one k4-goal for the aiaa of the prince i but Hezekiah here oflers maoy more. And the reason appeara sutGcleDtlv evident: the law speaks only of sins of ignorance; but here there vera ains of every kind, and every die, idolatry, apostasy from the divine wordup^proboaiion of uie temple, sc. &c. Hie rin-ofierings, we are informed, were offered, Jlret, tor the KmoDOK, nr the tranagreasiooa of the kin^ and his femtly; teeondly, for the autcruARv, which nad been defiled and polluted; and for Oie prUatt, who had been oro&QS^ negligent, and unlioly: aad, finally, for Jusah, tar the whole maM of the people, who had been led away into everykind of abominatiou by the above examples.

Verse 23. Tluy laid their hands upon Attn] That is, they confessed their sin; and as they had by their tians- Crasaton./br/ettaf Aeir lives, (hey now oStr these animals ^■"O'io"* offerings: their life to ba fkken for the Us of their owners.

B < sin-oflerinff for the kingdom, vad for the sanotuary, and for Judah. And he commanded tlw priests the Bone of Aaron to offer Aem on the altar of the Lord.

22 So they killed the butlocbs, and the priests received the blood, and * sprinkled if on the altar: likewiBe, when they had kilted the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambB, and they. sprinkled the blood upon the altar.

33 And they brought ' forth the he-^ats Jbr the sin-oflering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their ' hands upon them:

24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their Mood opon the altar, ■ to make an atonement for bU Israel; for the king commanded that the bmrnt-ofibn'n^ and the sin-otfering should be made for all IsraeL

25 ■ And he set the Levites in the house of the Loan with cymbals, with psalteriea, and with harps according tothe commandment of David, and of < Gad the king's seer, and Natiian the jiro-

2iS And the Levites stood with the instruments c of David, and the priests with ^ the tnunpets.

27 And Hezekiah commanded to ofier the burgt-oSering upon die altar. And i when the burnt-offering began, ^the song o€ the L<»» began also with the trampets, and with the > in* suuments ordained by David king of Israel

28 And all the congremtion worshiped, and the "> singers san^, and the trumpets sounded: and all tkia continued until the Domt-offering wae finished.

29 And when they had made an end of offenw, ' the king and all that were ' pres«at with h& bowed themselves, and worshipped.

30 Moreover, Hezekiah the kin^ and the princes commaiwed the Levites to smg pmise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises wMi

Verae 2S. WiA cymfrob, wUh poaUerttm] Hoaea had not appoiiMed any musical inatnimesu m m used ia Aa divine worship; there was nothing of the kind tmder the first tabernacle. The trumpet* or honu, then used, ware not for Bong, nor fi}r praise: but, as we use betU, to give notice to the congregation of what they wen ekiled to perform, &c. But David did certainly introduce many inttrumentt of music into God's worsoip, fur wht^fa we have already seen he was solemnly reproved by Ifae fr>- phet Amoa, chap, vi, 1—6. Here, bowever, the author ef this book atates, he had the comnandmem of the prophet Nathan, and Gad, the king'a aeer; and thia u stated to have been the commandment the Lord by hU^rtflult: but the i^Koc and Arabic gtvea dtia a diflferenl tsri: " Hesekiah appointed the Levites hi the bouse of the Lord; with instruments of muni^ and the aound of htrpa, aod with the HVMifa or David, and the vnsNa or Gaa^ Aa kin^s projAiet, and of Natbais, the kin^" prophet; far David tang the praiea <ff Ae Ijord hi* God a« /rom tke mouth thevrophett" It was 1^ the hand or cowntanrf matt oithe i^ora and hie ]vrapA<<s that the /^eviUtilumld praiae the Lord; for so the Hebrew text may be ands^ stood: and it was by the order of David that so mmf instruments of munc should be introduced into the divine service. But were it even evident, which it is not, eitbo from this or any other place in the Sacred Writings^ thai insimments of music were prescribed by divine authority under the law, could this be adduced widt any aemMasce of reawn, that they ouj^it to be tised in ChrioHan wmiUp? No; the whole sinrit, soul, and geniit% of the Chra&an religion are against this; uid those who know the chwch of God best, and what eontHIulee itt gentitne tjitt iftsSl state, know that these things have been introdoeed as a xibstiuite for the life aTtd power of religion; fend tfast where they prevail most, oere is least of ths pomr off Christiani^. Away with such portentous basMea from tba worehip of^ that infinite Sirfrlt who reqnireo Ms folio aesa to worship him in tpirU and in truAi 9ar to nonah worsliip are those instittmenla frSeodly. Sea the testa fa the margin} see the oaa of mapela in tfis inuwirt Numb. z.!^ &c and the notes Acre.

31 Tfaea Hezeldah anewered and said, Now ye have * conaecrated yourselveH uato the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and ' thank-offerioga into the house of the Lobo. And the oongregUion brought in eaerifices and tbaak-ofierioga; and aa many aa were of a fkw heart, burnt- «fferion.

32 And fhe number of the burnt-offerineB, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bulloeu, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all theae vera for a borDt-oSeriog to the Loan.

33 Ana the consecrated things ioer« aix hundred oxen, and tiaree thousand ifaeep.

34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-oQeringa: wherefore

* their brethren the Levitea < did nelp them, till Hie work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: " for the Leviies were more 'upright in heart to eanctify themselves than the pnests.

35 And also the burnt-oSerings were in abundance, with * the fat of the peace^&rings, and

* the drink-ofierings for £r«rj/ barnt-offering. So the service of the nouse of the Lorb was set in order.

ifim A ND Hezekiah sent to alt Israel and n^.^ £^ Judab, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they ■hoald oemetothe honae of the i.0KD at JeruaaleiB, to keep the paaaover unto the I^obd God

2 For fhe king had taken counsel, and his

VeiaeSi. 7%^^ eouid net Jm/ all Ou barnt-offertngt] P«ao»-ofieria9i, Sod mdi Uke, tat L«vitM mi^t flay sod dreas) but the whole bunitoseringa, thst im, those vbiob we>v nUtreiy eotmimtd on the slia^ eould be louobed on^ l^-the prie^ unloM ia s esse of neoeuiiy, such aa li ■OMiitoiied here.

aeen to have been very bsokvraM in thii gooi work; the LtmUa wen more raady to help forwaid this glorious MfiMnwlioQ. Why tbs tonaer ebouM h»ve been w fasekwwrd is not esqr to istU but H ^>pMn to have been the fcet. Indeed it o&snhsHwiu that the higher onlen of the Brie«dMod sn leai ooBeeroed for the proaperity of tnw f«lteion duui the lower. Why ieibial Thov si« mienlly too Duay about worUOf Otimg; or to* much eetumed with MOeuiar tmahtmmU. A ridh priealhood ia Dot brouraUe eithM loihe •pnm^ ordaptik^relinon. Ennhlygrati&- eationaareoAenputinthepUoeofiuviBeinfluenoea: it is ftlmoal a miraole to aee a very riflh man deeply interealed ID behalfeidierofhiaown soul, or the aoula of others.

Verae 36. And UufaJciak i^foi£td\ Both he and the psople Ruotoed Aal Ood bad pfsparad the beaiu of Ibe poofdatobciagahoat ao great a ralonaatioa in ao dtort a timet Ibr it ia added, (/uaJiigwaa done awUanAr. The king^i ezsaiple and influence wen here, under Ood, die graod apriof; of all those mighty and effsimsil movementa, Wlwl amsSMig power and inwanoa has Ood lodged widi kinfftt 1%S7 eaa sway a whole esapire Besrty ae dwr please: and whui they deolate tbemflelves in Mhatf «i •tfigien, they ham the peepU unlCarmty <» dieir aide.

NOTES ON CHAPTEE XXX. V-ene 1. HofMak mhU to m /mufl It ie not easy to ftndoutbow thiawassemittedby theking<rf Isnel: but it io^gMM^lridhnnd that As&es, who ONBrs^aedvTer princes, and all the congregation in Jemsaleq), to keep the passover in the second * month.

3 For ^ey could not keep it ^ at that time, * because the vriests had not sanctified them^ selves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

4 And the thing <* pleased the king and all the congregation.,

6 So thev established a decree to make proclamation throughoutall Israel, from Beer-shelm even to Dan, that they should come to keep HM

Iiassover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jenuar em: for they had not done ttof a long time in such sort as it was wriUen.

6 So the posts went with the letters * from the king and hu princes throughout all Israel and Judnh, and according to the commandment of the Iting, saying. Ye children of Israel, ' turn again unto the Loan God of Abraham, Isaaf. and Israel, and be will return to the rcnuiant of voo thnt are escaped out of the hand of k the kings of Assyria.

7 And be not ye ^like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LoBD.Qod of their fathers, who therelore < gave them up to desolation, as ye eee.

8 Now^be ye notieiifi'-iiecked, as your fathers were, but ■ yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, " that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from

9 For if ye turn again unto the Lobd, your brethren and your children shall find " compassion before ihem that lead thera captive, so that they shall come again- into this land: Sot Uie Lobd your Ctod ts ■> gracious and merciful, and will not turn away hia face irom you, if ye ' return unto him.

10 So the posts passedirom city to citylhrough the country ofEpnratm and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: hut * tney laughed them to acorn, and mocked them.

11 Nevertheless, 'divers of Asher, and Manass^, and of Zebulun, humbled themselves, and came to Jeriisalem.

12 Also in Judah ' the hand of God was to

Israel, was one of dieir bert kinga. And aa the Jews allow that at this lioM both the golden calves had been carried away by the Aaayriani^ that at Dan by Tiglaih-pileeer, and that at Beth-el by Sbalmanezer, the seople who choae to worahip Jehovfth at Jeruaalem were freely permitted to do it, and Hezekiah bad encouragement to make the procla. mation in question.

Verse 2. /n <A« tteond monOi] In har. aa they eould not celebrate it in JVuos, the faurUtnik oi which month wea the proper time. But aa they could not eompleie the purgoiioTi of the tenuis till the tixUmth of tlwt month, tbecefore they were oblupd to hold it now, or elae adjourn it till the next year, which would have Men fatal to that q>u-it of reformation which had now taken place, lite fair ilaelfhad given penniaaionto thoae who were at a distance, and ooutd sot attend on the fourUmtii of the firat nonih, and to ihooe who were aceioantolly defiled, and ought not to attend, to celelvate die pasaover on the/ouriecaA of the ttcsmd roondi, aee NumU ix. 10, 11. Hezekiah, therefore, and hie counaellora, thoufj^t that they roi^t extend that to the peoii^ 9i large, ^because of the delay neeeanrily ooeaiMMted by the deanaiog of the temple,) which was gtantsd to indmtbtalt in aooo oasea aa toe uove; and dte reault dkowed that they had not miataken the mind of the Lord upon the aubjeet.

Veiae 6. Ss Ou pcaU vmt] vn nUeim, the mnaerf, or erariart J persona who were looally employed to can neaaageai men who wtn light qfjbot. sad eanfidadtaL

Verae 9. jUd wW net Aim asw* Yamfatsjnm yaiil Well expieaaed bjr the 7Vw!giMi—**Por the Lord Toqr Oodiagnwiouaandmenrifiil; and will not eause Us ait* jMty to ssaaod np from among you, ifye will retain to hie Imr." 1W sMinaA, of which the IWgumiat apeaks, is d>e dwMng of the dmns {sesaaoe anosg meai sadtba vtstUssjmM tt that srowoce.

Sire them one heart to do lh6 commandment of le king and of the princes, * by the word of the

13 f And there asserfibled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congr^atioo.

14 And they arose, and took away the "altars that were in JeruBalem, and" all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook KidroD.

15 Then they killed the paesover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ■ ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt-oft'erings into the house of the Lord.

16 And they stood in 'their place afler their manner, according to the law oi Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which

17 Fn {Acre -were many in the congregation that were not sanctiGed: ■ therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the pasMvers ftr every one that -waa not clean, to sanctify them.

biiNm, hati not cleaniitd thcmselveB, "yet did rJiey pnl the paesnvcr *>iherwiee than it was written. Hill Hczelciah prnvwl for them, saying, The ^oH Lonfi pardnn every one

If* T'hat ' prpparcth his lieart to seek God, the Loud God of lii^ fatKerG, llinnirh he be VUA cleanaed ai-^rdij!?; to (he piirifif 'ifion of the sanctuary.

LJi And til? rliililrfrt DflFmel, that were presfTit ni Jcriif^rilcri. ticnt • ilii? least of unleavened broati f^i/vcnday^ wiLli greiit gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord' day by day, Hnging with ' load instruments onto the

22 And Hezekiah spake 'comfortably unto all the Levites ''that taught the good knowledge of the Lord: and they did eat throughout thefeast seven days, offering peaoe-offering8,and 'making confession to the Lord God oftheir fathers.

23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep ^ other seven days; and they kept other seven days with gladness.

_ 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah idid " give to