Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIIII.
Vers. 1. IN his days] In the end of the third yeer of Jehoiakims reign, Dan. 1. 1. and the beginning of his fourth, Jerem. 25. 1. In the third he began his expedition, in the fourth he laid his siege against Jerusalem.
came up] Against Jerusalem, and besieged it, Dan. 1. 1. The reason hereof may be gathered out of Jer. 46. 2. Pharaoh invaded Carchemesh, which bordered upon Nebuchad-nezzars dominion; but Nebuchad-nezzar overcame Pharaoh (v. 7.) Jehoiakim was tributary to Pharaoh, Chap. 23. 35. and, it may be, assisted him: hereupon Nebuchad-nezzar comes against Jehoiakim after he had smitten Pharaoh.
became his servant] Yeelded to be tributary to him, as Chap. 17. v. 3.
three yeers] Which were the fifth, sixth and seventh of his reign.
rebelled] See thee Notes on Chap. 1. v. 1. and Chap. 17. v. 4.
V. 2. the Lord sent] See the Notes on 1 King. 12. 15.
bands of the Caldees] All the bands here mentioned served under Nebuchad-nezzar, and made up one army.
according to the word of the Lord] Chap. 20. 17. and 23. 27.
by] Heb. by the hand of.
prophets] Chap. 22. 16. Jer. 25, 9.
V. 3. commandment] Heb. mouth.
of Manasseh] See the Notes on Chap. 23. v. 26.
V. 4. innocent blood] See the Notes on Chap. 21. v. 16.
V. 6. slept with his fathers] In the generall, as death is a sleep; but of the particular kinde of his death, far different from his fathers: for he was taken by Nebuchad-nezzar, bound with chains, 2 Chron. 36. 6. and, as he was going captive to Babylon, he died; and without any buriall, or mourning for him, he was as an asse cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem, Jer. 22. 18, 19.
Jehoiachin] Called also J…niah (1 Chron. 3. 6.) the Lords strength: and in contempt, Coniah (Jere. 22. 24, 28.) leaving out the syllable that hath relation to the LORD.
V. 7. came not again] Till the last yeer of Zedekiah, when he came with no successe: for he quickly returned home again, Jer. 37. 7.
river of Egypt] Called Sihor, Josh. 13. 3. taken by some to be Nilus.
all that pertained] And lay betwixt Babylon and Egypt. This is here noted to shew how little cause the Jews had to trust to Egypt: see Jere. 2. 36.
V. 8. eighteen yeers] See 2 Chron. 36. 9.
three moneths] And ten dayes, 2 Chron. 36. 9. For it may be that Jeremiah perswaded him to submit to the king of Babel: and so he did, v. 12.
V. 9. father] See chap. 23. 32.
V. 10. At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Baby…n] Dan. 1. 1.
came] At the return of the yeer, 2 Chro. 36. 10. see 1 King. 20. 22.
was besieged] Heb. came into siege.
V. 11. came] In his own person: while his servants and his army were besieging the city, v. 10.
V. 12. went cut] See the notes on v. 8.
his reign] Nebuchadnezzars. Compare Jere. 25. 1. with this.
V. 13. And he carried out thence all the treasures, &c.] Chap. 20. 17. Isa. 39. 6. The generall particle all oft used in this and the next verse, must have some limitation: as all that he could finde: or all that he thought meet: or that it was in his power to have taken all away. For there were left vessels in the house of the LORD, and in the kings house, Jere. 27. 18, 20, 21. After this were many more vessels carried away, chap. 25. v. 13, 14, 15. yea, many of the princes and mighty men were left, Jere. 38. 4.
V. 14. all Jerusalem] All sorts of people in Jerusalem, as noble, strong, skilfull in workmanship, and other the like, to weaken the city, and to keep it from rebelling again. The like policy did other enemies use in former times, Judg. 5. 8. 1 Sam. 13. 19.
the p…est] To till the land, chap. 25. 12.
V. 15. he carried away Jehoia…hin to Babylon] 2 Chr. 36. 10. Est. 2. 6.
officers] Or, …u…s. See the notes in 1 King. 22. 9.
V. 16. m…n of might] In strength of body (Psal. 76. 5.) in valour of minde (2 King. 5. 1.) and in estate, Ruth 2. 1.
V. 17. …he king of Babylon made Mattaniah his fathers brother king in his …lead] Jere. 37. 1. Jehoiachins father: for he was the immediate predecessour, of whom mention was last made, v. 15.
changed his name] See the notes on chap. 23. v. 34.
V. 18. Zedekiah was twenty and one yeers old when he began to reign] Jere. 52. 1.
his mothers] See the notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
Hamutal] Zedekiah and Jehoahaz (chap. 23. v. 31.) were brothers by father and mother: but Jehoiakim had another mother, chap. 23. 36.
V. 19. Jehoiakim] His father, v. 18.
V. 20. through the anger of the Lord] See the notes on 1 King. 12. 15. The just anger of God was so much, and so long incensed, as he suffered Zedekiah to persist in his foolish and obstinate purpose of rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar.
against the king] Who had made him king in stead of his brothers son, v. 17.