Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Vers. 1. BEgan] Heb. reigned. This word is not in the text: but this word, reigned, is oft translated thus, began to reign, as 1 King. 15. 25. and 22. 41, 51. If it be here so taken, it must be expounded of his beginning of his reign alone, after his fathers death; for he began to reign with his father twelve yeers before this. See the Notes on Chap. 14. 21.
Azariah] 1 Chron. 16. 1, Ʋzziah.
V. 2. two and fif…y yeers] From his first beginning to reign with his father, Chap. 13. 21.
his mothers] See the Notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
V. 3. according to all] See the Notes on Chap. 14. v. 3.
V. 4. high places] See the Notes on 1 King 15. 14.
V. 5. smote the king] See the cause and punishment, 2 Chron. 26. 16.
a severall house] Heb. a house of freedom; Free from all company, Levit. 13. 46.
over the house] Over the court and kingdom; for he reigned as king while his father was a leper.
V. 7, with his fathers] In the field or place of buriall where other kings were buried, but not by their sepulchres, 2 Chron. 26. 23. See 2 Chron. 24. 25.
V. 10. Shallum] Some great commander.
before the people] Openly, publikely: first, he plotted against the king secretly, and is said to conspire: afterwards, he got the people to favour his cause, and to be on his side.
V. 12. the word of the Lord which he spake unto Jehu] Chap. 10. 30.
fourth] 1. J…hn. 2. Jehoahaz (chap. 13. 1, 3.) 3. Jehoash (Chap. 13. 10.) 4. Jeroboam (chap. 14. 16.) 5. Zechariah (chap. 14. 29.) Thus Gods Word was accomplished to the full; for there were four g…nerations of his sons, besides himself.
V. 13. Ʋzziah] Matth. 1. 8, 9. called Ozias.
a full monethmonth] Heb. a monethmonth of dayes.
V. 14. Menahem] Josephus saith, that Menahem was captain of Zechariah's army, and hearing that Shallum had slain his master, came with the army, and destroyed Shallum.
Ti…zah] See the Notes on 1 King. 14. 17.
V. 16. Tiphsah] A city (situate in the way to Tirzah) thorow which Menahem desired to passe.
the women] He was so incensed against Tiphsah, for refusing to entertain him, as he spared not their women great with childe, but opened their wombs, because the citizens would not open their gates to him. See an example of great severity for a like cause, Judg. 8, 5, 16. Chap. 8. 12.
V. 18. sin] See 1 King. 5. 26.
V. 19. …ul the king of Assyria] 1 Chron. 5. 26.
against the land] Which was on the other side of Jordan, 1 Chron. 5. 26.
a thousand talents] This amounts to three hundred seventy and five thousand pound sterling. See the Notes on 1 King. 16. 24.
to confirm] Menahem gave that great sum to Pul, not onelyonly to move him to depart from him, but also to aid him against all other forreign invasions, and intestine insurrections. This is to confirm or secure his kingdom, chap. 14. 5.
V. 20, exacted] Heb. caused to come forth.
fifty shekels] Six pound and five shillings: for a shekel was two shillings and six pence. See Chap. 7. 1.
V. 25. with Argob] Pekah with these conspired; they aided him.
V. 29. Tiglath-pileser] Son of Pul, mentioned v. 29.
… jon, and Abel-beth-maachah] Of these two, see 1 King. 15. 20.
Janoah] Situate on the border of Ephraim, Josh. 16. 6.
Kedesh and Hazor] 1 Kin. 9. 15. These two were in the tribe of Naphtali, Josh. 19. 32, 36, 37.
Gilead] See the notes on chap. 10. v. 33.
Galilee] See the Notes on 1 King. 9. 11.
them] The inhabitants of the places before named:
V. 30. twen ieth yeer] From the time that Jotham began to reign; for he reigned but sixteen yeers, v. 33. Some say that he lived four yeers after those sixteen, but gave up the kingdom to his son Ahaz: for Hoshea began to reign in the fourth yeer of Ahaz: but no mention being as yet made of Ahaz, the account is taken from the beginning of Jothams reign.
V. 32. second yeer] Currant; for after sixteen yeers of Jotham: reign, Ahaz began to reign, in the seventeenth yeer of Pekah.
Jotham] 2 Chron. 27. 1.
V. 33. his mothers name] See the Notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
V. 34. that his father] Before he presumed to offer incense, 2 Chron. 26. 16.
V. 35. high places] See the Notes on 1 King. 15. 14.
higher gate] See Chap. 11. 6.
V. 37. legan to send] In the later end of Jothams reign those enemies consulted about invading Judah; which they put in execution in Ahaz time, chap. 16. 5. Isai. 7. 1.
Pekah] Who slew in one day sixscore thousand valiant men of Judah, 2 Chron. 28. 6.