Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 21 – Chapter 22
CHAP. XXI.
Vers. 1. WAs twelve yeers old when he began to reign] 2 Chr. 33. 1. Born three yeers after his fathers great recovery, chap. 20. 6.
fifty and five yeers] The longest that ever any judge or king of Judah or Israel ruled.
his mothers] See the notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
Hephzi-bah] The title whereby God testifieth his delight in his Church, Isa. 62. 4.
V. 2. abominations] See the notes on 1 King. 14. 24.
V. 3. he built] Heb. he referred and built.
which Hezekiah his father had destroyed] Chap. 18. 4.
as did Ahab king of Israel] 1 King. 16. 32, 33.
all the host] See the notes on chap. 18. v. 16.
V. 4. he built altars] Jere. 32. 34. More then one: which was unlawfull, Josh. 22. 19. the more unlawfull, because they were built for his image, v. 7.
in the house of the Lord] A great aggravation.
In Jerusalem will I put my name] 2 Sam. 7. 13. Where the house of the LORD was built. See v. 7.
V. 5. two courts] See the notes on 1 King. 6. 36.
V. 6. his son] See the notes on chap. 16. 3.
observed times] The word properly signifieth to over-cloud, Gen. 9. 14. It is frequently applied to such as over-cloud, or overshadow what they do as juglers: or to such as observe the clouds, the planets, the stars, and thereby judge of matters present and future. They are called soothsayers (Isai. 2. 6. Mic. 5. 12.) enchanters (Jere. 27. 9.) sorcerers (Isai. 57. 3.) and observers of times, here, and 2 Chron. 33. 6. under which title they are forbidden, Levit. 19. 26. Deut. 18. 10, 14. They were counted observers of times, who by the stars pretended to soretell future contingents; or by the flying of birds judged things at such and such times to be sit or unfit to be done; or on other signs or occasions, daies to be lucky, or unlucky.
enchantments] See the note on chap. 17. 17.
dealt] Heb. made.
familiar spirits] The Hebrew word foreign Ob signifieth a bottle, (Job 32. 19.) They who use evill spirits oft swell in the belly, as a bottle: and the spirit seemeth to speak out of their belly with a low hollow voice. Such an one is called in Greek foreign, one that had a spirit speaking in the belly. See Isai. 8. 19. 29. 4. Such an one by the law was to be stoned (Levit. 19. 27.) the law forbad to deal with such (Levit. 19. 31. Deut. 18. 11.) they who dealt with them are threatned to be cut off (Levit. 19. 6.) This was Sauls sin (1 Sam. 28. 7.) for which he died, 1 Chro. 10. 13.
wizards] The Hebrew word foreign Ideonim such as are thought to know much, called in Greek foreign. Our English word wizards, importeth such as would be thought to be wise, and full of knowledge: they undertake to know all things, even secret and future. We also call them cunning men. They are in all the forenamed places joyned with such as deal with familiar spirits, and so to be judged of.
V. 7. image of the grove] Appertaining to the grove, v. 3.
David] 2 Sam. 7. 10.
In this house] 1 King. 8. 29. and 9. 3. Chap. 23. 27.
V. 8. the feet, &c.] They shall not be carried captives to another land.
onelyonly if] This being the condition of Gods promise, their failing therein made the promise void.
all that I] The morall law, Exod. 20. 1.
Moses] The ceremoniall and judiciall law, Exod. 21. 1.
V. 9. seduced] By example, and encouragement, so v. 11.
more evil] For they set up more idols, and sinned against more light, and more means afforded to turn them from their sins.
whom the Lord destroyed] The Canaanites.
V. 10. spake] To king and people.
by] Heb. by the hand.
V. 11. Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations] Jerem. 15. 4.
Amorites] Under these all the heathen are comprised.
V. 12. tingle] Shall have as it were a ringing sound in them, affrighting and astonishing them. See on 1 Sam. 3. 11. Jere. 19. 3.
V. 13. the line, &c. the plummet] The measure and weight: that is, the like judgement. The comparison is taken from carpenters, bricklaiers, and other like workmen, who by measure and rule make up and break down their work.
of Samaria] For Jerusalem was carried away captive (chap. 25. v. 9.) as well as Samaria, chap. 17. 6, &c.
of Ahab] For the posterity of Manasseh was cut off, (Jere. 22. 30.) as well as the posterity of Ahab.
wipe] The state of Jerusalem is resembled to a dish, the inhabitants thereof to the filth thereon: which as maids use to wash and wipe clean away, so should the inhabitants be taken clean away: and the state of the Jews utterly overthrown and turned up-side down. See the notes on 1 King. 14. 10.
wiping it, and turning it up-side down] Heb. he wipeth and turneth it upon the face thereof.
V. 14. remnant] The kingdom of Judah. For the kingdom of Israel was forsaken, chap. 17. 18.
inheritance] A people whom God chose, protected, provided for, and delighted in, as men their inheritance.
V. 15. since the day, &c.] Time after time, from their first beginning to be a nation.
V. 16. innocent blood] The blood of such as deserved not death, who were no malefactors, but upright and righteous.
filled] An hyperbolicall expression of his unsatiable cruelty manifested in every street of Jerusalem.
from one end to another] Heb. from mouth to mouth.
his sin] Idolatry. See the notes in 1 King. 12. 30.
V. 17. the rest] Both evill and good, 2 Chron. 33. 3, 12, &c.
his sin] Sin may well be taken more largely here, then in the former verse: and by a synechdoche comprise under it, not onelyonly idolatry, but also oppression, murther, sorcery, sacriledge.
V. 18. Manasseh slept with his fathers] 2 Chron. 33. 20.
garden] Where it is probable that he had built a sepulchre for himself.
garden of Ʋzzah] Who might be a former owner of it, and therefore the garden still carries his name.
V. 19. his mothers] See the notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
V. 20. as his father] The particular kindes hereof are reckoned up, v. 21, 22.
V. 21. the idols] See v. 3, 7.
V. 22. forsook] So do all idolaters.
V. 24. the people] Because their new king was but eight yeers old.
V. 26. in his sepulchre] In the sepulchre of Manasseh, v. 18. or in the sepulchre which he had made for himself in the same garden.
CHAP. XXII.
Vers. 1. WAs eight yeers old when he began to reign] 2 Chro. 34. 1.
his mothers] See the notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
of Bes…ath] A city in the tribe of Judah, Josh. 15. 39.
V. 2. right hand] Gods law is the onelyonly way wherein men ought to walk: all aberrations are in their excesse to the right hand, or in defect to the left hand: both which Josiah carefully avoided. The metaphor is taken from travellers, Num. 20. 17. 1 Sam. 6. 11. The strict circumspection comprised under it, is oft commanded, Deut. 5. 32. Josh. 1. 7.
V. 3. eighteenth yeer] Of his reign, 2 Chron. 34. 8.
s…rite] See the notes on 1 King. 4. 3.
V. 4. sum the silver] Take up all, and tell it. See a like charge, chap. 12. 5, &c.
keepers of the door] Heb. threshold. These were Levites, 2 Chron. 8. 14. and 34. 9.
V. 5. that have the oversight] These also were Levites, and named 2 Chron. 34. 12.
V. 6. carpenters, &c.] Under these three heads are comprised all manner of artificers, whose work was requisite for repairing the temple. See chap. 12. 11, 12.
V. 7. with them] With those Levites which had the oversight, v. 3. See the notes on chap. 12. v. 15.
faithfully] Heb. in truth, or, faith.
V. 8. the b…k] The originall copy which Moses wrote (2 Chron. 34. 14.) and caused to be put by the side of the ark, Deut 31. 26. which by the disorder in Manassehs and Ammons time might be laid aside.
V. 9. Thy servants] Hikiah, and I.
gathered] Heb. melted.
V. 10. a book] Even that very book of the law which is mentioned, v. 8. 2 Chron. 34. 18.
read it] By the kings appointment.
V. 11. rent] See the notes on chap. 18. 37.
V. 12. Achbor] Called also Abdon the son of Micah, 2 Chron. 34. 20.
a servant] A courtier, alwayes at his hand, as Matth. 8. 9.
V. 13. enquire] What judgement hangeth over our head, and when it is like to fall.
V. 14. Ha…has] Or, Hasiah, 2 Chron. 34. 22.
wardrole] Heb. garments. Holy vestments appertaining to the temple. See Nehe. 7. 72.
in the colledge] Or, in the second part.
colledge] See the notes on 1 King. 18. 4. and on 2 King. 6. 1. Some apply this word to the middle court, mentioned, chap. 20. 4. and render it as a reason why they went to her, because her habitation was so neer the king.
V. 15. the man] The king who was but a man. She cals him king, v. 18.
V. 16. the words] The judgements.
read] Heard read, v. 10, 18.
V. 18. heard] Out of the book, v. 10.
V. 19. tender] Soon moved at the hearing of judgement. A tender, or soft heart is opposed to an hard and obstinate heart.
a desolation] The land shall be emptied of all her inhabitants.
a curse] Shall lie under the curse, and vengeance of God.
heard] Observed and regarded.
V. 20. thy grave] Or, thy graves. The word is of the plurall number, to set out a most fair and sumptuous grave; or else one of many graves: so 2 Chron. 16. 14. and 35. 23.
in peace] Before that desolation and curse fall on… … in peace of conscience, in peace with God, yea, and in the peace of the land. The troubles of Israel followed after his death▪ and his sudden and violent death brake not off his peace with God, for thereby he was taken from the evils to come, as Isai. 57. 1, 2.