Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 2 Chronicles

Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2 · 2 Chronicles

p. 702ANNOTATIONS Upon the ſecond book of the CHRONICLES.

CHAP. I. Verſ. 3.

SO Solomon and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, &c.] To wit, becauſe being now ſettled in his kingdome, maugre the oppoſition of thoſe that favoured not his cauſe, he deſired now in a ſolemne manner to praiſe God for his mercies, and to ſeek unto the Lord for wiſdome, that he might be the better able to govern the people committed to his charge.

Verſ. 5. The brazen altar that Bezaleel the ſonne of Uri, the ſonne of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord.] That is, Moſes: of whom mention was before made verſ. 3.

Verſ. 7. In that night did God appear unto Solomon.] To wit, in that night after they had made an end of ſacrificing thoſe thouſand burnt offerings mentioned in the former verſe; (for it is not likely they offered a thouſand burnt offerings in one day upon one altar) and that in a dream, as is expreſſed, 1. Kings 3.6. where ſee alſo what is to be noted, either in Solomons prayer, or Gods anſwer to him.

Verſ. 14. And he had a thouſand and foure hundred chariots, &c.] See 1. Kings 10.26. and 1. Kings 4.26.

Verſ. 16. And Solomon had horſes brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn, &c.] See 1. Kings 10.28, 29.

CHAP. II.

Verſ. 2. ANd Solomon told out threeſcore and ten thouſand men to bear burdens.] See 1. Kings 5.15, 16.

Verſ. 3. And Solomon ſent to Huram the king of Tyre, ſaying, As thou didst deal with David my father, &c.] In the 1. Kings 5.3. it is ſaid alſo that he alledged to Huram, that he knew that David could not build an houſe for the worſhip of God by reaſon of his continuall warres, whereof himſelf being eaſed, he was now reſolved to undertake the work; where alſo ſuch other paſſages in this meſſage of Solomon to Huram, as need any expoſition, are already explained.

Verſ. 8. For I know that thy ſervants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon.] That is, excellently; better than any of my ſervants, ſee 1. Kings 5.6.

Verſ. 10. I will give to thy ſervants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thouſand meaſures of beaten wheat, &c.] Or if this did not like him, whatſoever hire himſelf did appoint, 1. Kings 5.6.

Verſ. 12. Huram ſaid moreover, Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, &c.] See 1. Kings 5.7.

Verſ. 13. And now I have ſent a cunning man, &c.] His name was Huram, chap. 4.16. or Hiram 1. Kings 7.13. concerning which, and what is further herein to be noted, ſee the note there.

p. 703Verſ. 15. The wheat, and the barley, the oyle, and the wine which my lord hath ſpoken of, let him ſend unto his ſervants.] Thus he accepts of the hire for his ſervants, which Solomon had profered, verſ. 10. but withall he made a requeſt to him for a certain yearely proviſion for his own houſhold, which Solomon granted him alſo, 1 Kings 5.9, 11. Of which, and ſome other paſſages in the king of Tyres anſwer, ſee the note there.

Verſ. 17. And Solomon numbred all the ſtrangers that were in the land of Iſrael.] See 1. Kings 5.15, 16.

CHAP. III.

Verſ. 1. THen Solomon began to build the houſe of the Lord at Jeruſalem in mount Moriah, &c.] See the notes for the firſt part of this chapter, in the ſixth chapter of the firſt of Kings.

Verſ. 14. And he made the vail of blew and purple, &c.] Which was hung upon chains of gold, betwixt the holy and the moſt holy place, ſee 1. Kings 6.21.

Verſ. 15. Alſo he made before the houſe two pillars, &c.] Concerning theſe two pillars, ſee the notes, 1. Kings 17.15. &c.

Verſ. 16. And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars.] That is wreaths of chain-work. See 1. Kings 7.17.

And made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.] That is, an hundred in each of the two rows that went round about upon the net-work of each chapiter, ſee 1. Kings 7.18.

CHAP. IIII.

Verſ. 1. ANd ten cubits the height thereof.] If their cubites contained a foot and an half, as is uſually held, then according to our meaſures this altar was five yards high, and conſequently there was ſome way for the prieſts to aſcend up to offer their ſacrifices on this altar, though they might not aſcend by ſuch ſteps as are in a ladder, leſt their nakedneſſes ſhould be thereby diſcovered, Exod. 20.26. Neither ſhalt thou go up by ſteps unto mine altar, that thy nakedneſſe be not diſcovered thereon, See the notes, Exod. 27.1. &c.

Verſ. 2. Alſo he made a molten ſea of ten cubits, &c.] Concerning this ſea, ſee the notes, 1. Kings 7.23. &c.

Verſ. 6. He made alſo ten lavers, and put five of them on the right hand, &c.] See the notes, 1. Kings 7.39. &c. they were ſet upon ſo many ſeverall baſes, which are there alſo largely deſcribed.

Verſ. 7. And he made ten candleſticks of gold according to their form, &c.] To wit, which the Lord made David to underſtand in writing, much alike to that in the Tabernacle, as it ſeems by the deſcription which is given of them, 1. Kings 7.49. And the candleſticks of pure gold, five on the right hand, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tonges of gold; concerning which, ſee the note there.

Verſ. 9. Furthermore, he made the court of the prieſts.] Called the inner court, 1. Kings 6.36.

Verſ. 16. All their instruments did Huram his father make to king Solomon, &c.] p. 704To wit, Solomons father: ſo Solomon it ſeems called him out of the great reſpect he bare him for his ſingular wiſdome and skill, and the good ſervice he did him in making all theſe things for the Temple.

CHAP. V.

Verſ. 2. THen Solomon aſſembled the elders of Iſrael, &c.] What needs explanation in this chapter is already explained in the nine firſt verſes of the eight chapter of the firſt book of the Kings.

CHAP. VI.

Verſ. 1. THen ſaid Solomon, The Lord hath ſaid that he would dwell in the thick darkneſſe.] The annotations of this chapter unto the 41. verſe, ſee 1. Kings 8.12. &c.

Verſ. 41. Now therefore ariſe, O Lord God, into thy reſting place, thou, and the ark of thy ſtrength.] In theſe words Solomon doth as it were invite the Lord in the ark, the ſigne of his preſence, to enter and take poſſeſſion of the Temple as his resting place, that is, the place of his ſettled abode; and that becauſe the ark was now no longer to be removed from place to place, but to continue there: and herein he ſeems to allude to the prayer which Moſes uſed at the removall of the ark, as they travelled through the wilderneſſe, Numb. 10.35. Riſe up, O Lord, and let thine enemies be ſcattered, &c. And he calls the ark, the ark of Gods ſtrength, as elſewhere it is called Gods ſtrength and glory, Pſal. 78.61. He delivered his ſtrength into captivity, and his glory into the enemies hand, becauſe it was the ſigne of Gods preſence amongſt them, as their ſtrength and defence, which had been manifeſted by many mighty works which the Lord had wrought, as it were by the preſence of the ark; as the dividing of Jordan, and the fall of the walls of Jericho, &c. Now becauſe we find this laſt clauſe of Solomons prayer, Pſal. 132.8, 9, 10. that Pſalme it may well be was compoſed by Solomon upon this occaſion of the dedication of the Temple. See the note, 1. Kings 8.54:

Let thy prieſts, O Lord, be clothed with ſalvation, and let thy ſaints rejoyce in goodneſſe.] The firſt clauſe may be underſtood two ſeverall wayes, either of Gods ſaving and preſerving the prieſts, Let thy prieſts, O Lord, be clothed with ſalvation, that is, let thy ſalvation be as a garment to defend them, or as a robe to adorn them, (for it is indeed an honour and glory to men, that the great God of heaven and earth ſhould make ſuch precious account of them, as to be alwayes watchfull over them to preſerve and ſave them) or elſe of the preſervation and ſalvation of the whole people, this being a decking and glorious ornament to the prieſts, that they ſtood as typicall mediatours betwixt God and them, and were the inſtrumentall meanes of their preſervation and, ſalvation; even as it is now the glory of the miniſters of the Goſpel, that they are the meanes of ſaving ſoules: whence it is, that S. Paul ſaith of the converted Theſſalonians, that they were his joy, his glory, and crown of rejoycing, 1. Theſ. 2.19.20. Indeed in Pſal. 132.9. this clauſe is expreſſed thus, Let thy prieſts be clothed with righteouſneſſe; but even that alſo the moſt Expoſitours underſtand of Gods righteouſneſſe in ſaving and defending his prieſts: as for that laſt clauſe of this verſe, it is meant doubtleſſe of the goodneſſe p. 705of God▪ let thy ſaints rejoyce in goodneſſe, that is, let thy holy people rejoyce in thy goodneſſe and bountie to them in all regards; yet becauſe the goodneſſe of God to his people conſiſts chiefly in his making them good, even this may be alſo comprehended in this requeſt of Solomons, that Gods people may rejoyce in goodneſſe and grace, rather then in outward bleſſings.

Verſ. 42. O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed.] That is, deny not the requeſt of me thine anointed; becauſe when petitioners are denyed their requeſts, their faces are turned away with ſhame and confuſion: hence is this phraſe, turn not away the face of thine anointed.

Verſ. 42. Remember the mercies of David thy ſervant.] That is, the mercies which thou haſt promiſed to David.

CHAP. VII.

Verſ. 1. NOw when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, &c.] See the notes, Levit. 9.24. and 1. Kings 8.54.

Verſ. 3. And praiſed the Lord, ſaying, For he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever.] That is, they ſang Pſalmes of praiſe, the burthen and foot whereof was this, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. And ſuch we ſee the 136. Pſalme was, and therefore happely that was ſung at this time: the like expreſſion we have again, verſ. 6.

Verſ. 6. David praiſed by their miniſtery.] That is, the Levites ſung the Pſalmes which David compoſed and appointed to be ſung.

Verſ. 7. Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court, &c.] See 1. Kings 8.64.

Verſ. 8. Alſo at the ſame time Solomon kept the feaſt, &c.] Concerning this feaſt, ſee alſo the notes. 1. Kings 8.65.66.

Verſ. 12. And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, &c.] See 1. Kings 9.1, 2.

CHAP. VIII.

Verſ. 2. THe cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, &c.] Solomon had given them to Huram, and Huram not liking them had reſtored them to Solomon, and ſo Solomon built them. See 1. Kings 9.11, 12. In which chapter we have alſo moſt of the other paſſages of this chapter; and therefore I muſt referre the reader to the annotations there.

Verſ. 11. For he ſaid, My wife ſhall not dwell in the houſe of David, &c.] In the foregoing words it is ſaid, that Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David, unto the houſe that he had built for her: and here the reaſon given for this is, for he ſaid, My wife ſhall not dwell in the houſe of David king of Iſrael; and why ſo? Becauſe the places are holy whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come: Concerning which, a queſtion of great difficulty may be moved, to wit, why the houſe of David ſhould be counted ſo holy, that Solomons wife might not be ſuffered to dwell there? and that even after the ark was already removed thence into the Temple: we reade not any where elſe that the preſence of the ark made any place holy any longer then it continued there; (for was the houſe of Obed-edom holy after the ark was carried from thence?) yet here p. 706thirteen years after the ark was carryed into the Temple, (for ſo long it was after the finiſhing of the Temple, ere Solomon had built his own houſe, and the queens houſe, 1. Kings 7.1.) Solomon refuſed to let his wife dwell in Davids houſe, becauſe the ark had been there; yea, the words ſeem to imply, that all places were eſteemed holy where the ark had been, the places are holy ſaith Solomon, whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come. But for reſolving of this, two anſwers may be given: Firſt, that thoſe words, for he ſaid, My wife ſhall not dwell in the houſe of David king of Iſrael, becauſe the places are holy, &c. contain the reaſon why Solomon reſolved to build an houſe for his wife (at which time the ark was yet in the houſe of David) not why he brought up his wife into the houſe he had built for her, when indeed the ark had been long before removed into the Temple, and ſo muſt be referred to the words immediately foregoing (the houſe that he had built for her) Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David, unto the houſe that he had huilt for her: and then to ſhew, what moved him to build an houſe for her, this clauſe is added, for he ſaid, My wife ſhall not dwell in the houſe of David king of Iſrael, becauſe the places are holy whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come. Or ſecondly, that Solomon reſolved that becauſe the places were holy, whereunto the ark was brought, therefore it was not fit that his wife who was born of heathen parents, and had not her ſelf perhaps at that time, embraced the faith of Iſrael, ſhould dwell in the houſe which had been holy in this regard: though Davids houſe ceaſed to be holy after the ark was removed thence, in regard of the Symbolicall ſigne of Gods preſence, yet out of his ſuperabundant reſpect unto that ſigne of Gods preſence, he thought it not fit to make that a dwelling place for her and her followers, that were aliens and ſtrangers to the houſe of Iſrael, which had been the holy dwelling place of the moſt high God: and this I conceive to be the beſt and moſt ſatisfying anſwer.

CHAP. IX.

Verſ. 1. ANd when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, &c.] See 1. Kings 10.1. where alſo many other paſſages of this chapter are explained in the Annotations upon the ſeverall paſſages there.

Verſ. 8. Which delighted in thee to ſet thee on his throne.] That is, the throne of Iſrael, 1. Kings 10.9. All thrones are Gods, becauſe all power is of God, and he diſpoſeth all the kingdomes in the world to whom he pleaſeth, Daniel 4.32. The moſt high ruleth in the kingdome of men, and giveth it to whomſoever he will. But the throne of Iſrael was the Lords in a more ſpeciall reſpect, becauſe there was a ſpeciall covenant betwixt God and Iſrael, in regard whereof he was more peculiarly their God and king, and their kings his deputies, and types of Chriſt, Pſal. 2.6. I have ſet my king upon my holy hill of Sion.

Verſ. 10. And the ſervants of Huram, &c.] See 1. Kings 10, 11, 12.

Verſ. 12. And king Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba, all her deſire, whatſoever ſhe asked, beſides that which ſhe had brought unto the king.] That is, beſides what he gave her of his own royall bounty, 1. Kings 10.13. in lieu of thoſe guifts which ſhe had brought to him; or rather, beſides what he gave her in gifts of the ſame kind with thoſe which ſhe had given him, to wit, gold, and ſpices, and precious p. 707ſtones, he gave her alſo other things that were greater rarities to her, becauſe ſhe had them not in her own countrey.

Verſ. 13. Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon, &c.] See 1. Kings 10.14. &c.

Verſ. 25, And Solomon had foure thouſand ſtalls for horſes, and chariots, &c.] See 1. Kings 4.26.

Verſ. 28. And they brought unto Solomon horſes out of Egypt, &c.] See 1. Kings 10.28.

Verſ. 29. Now the reſt of the acts of Solomon firſt and laſt, are they not written in the book of Nathan, &c.] See 1. Kings 11.41.

CHAP. X.

Verſ. 1. ANd Rehoboam went to Sechem.] This ſtory is related as here in 1. Kings 12.1. Concerning which therefore ſee the Annotations there.

CHAP. XI.

Verſ. 4. ANd they obeyed the words of the Lord, &c.] See 1. Kings 12.24.

Verſ. 11. And he fortified the ſtrong holds, and put captains in them, &c.] That is, many places that were by ſituation and nature ſtrong, he fortified alſo by art, and made them caſtles, and put captains in them, ſome of which were perhaps his ſonnes whom he diſperſed unto every fenced citie throughout Judah and Benjamin, verſ. 23. And he dealt wiſely, and diſperſed all his children throughout all the countreys of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced citie,

Verſ. 12. And in every citie he put ſhields and ſpears.] That is, weapons both for defence and offence.

Verſ. 14. For Jeroboam and his ſonnes had caſt them off from executing the priests office unto the Lord.] To wit, by forbidding them to go up to Jeruſalem to execute the prieſts office in the Temple, as by the Law they were enjoyned: and this is aſcribed not onelyonly to Jeroboam, but alſo to his ſonnes, becauſe he uſed them as his inſtruments in reſtraining them from going up to ſacrifice at the Temple, having happely given them the charge and command of the fenced cities, as Rehoboam did his ſonnes, verſ. 23.

Verſ. 15. And he ordained him prieſts for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.] Hereby it appears that Jeroboam ſet up other idols beſides his golden calves, in which he pretended the worſhip of the true God, and why he ſaid in them to have ſerved devils, ſee Levit. 17.7.

Verſ. 17. So they ſtrengthened the kingdome of Judah, and made Rehoboam the ſonne of Solomon ſtrong, three years.] That is, by the acceſſe of theſe Levites and others of the ten tribes the kingdome of Judah was ſtrengthened, and ſo continued three years. Indeed till the fifth yeare Shiſhak invaded not the land of Judah, chap. 12.2. But in the fourth yeare they began to corrupt themſelves; and becauſe ſo ſoon as they forſook God, God alſo forſook them, therefore even then are they counted as a weakned people, their defence being then departed from them: as was evident in the preparations which Shiſhak immediately made againſt them.

For three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.] To wit, before p. 708his fall, and after his repentance: for by this place amongſt others, it appears that Solomon before his death repented him of his idolatry, and turned unto the Lord, though he could not ſo ſoon purge the land of thoſe idolatrous monuments which himſelf had raiſed; as it was with Manaſſeh, chap. 33.18. For it is not likely that the beginning of Rehoboams reigne would have been David-like, if Solomon had died and left the kingdome in ſo corrupt a condition. Yet ſome conceive that Solomon is here joyned with David, becauſe himſelf continued incorrupt from idolatry, though he ſuffered high places to be ſet up for his wives.

Verſ. 18, And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jeremoth, &c.] Though Rehoboam had eighteen wives, verſ. 21. yet three of them onelyonly are expreſſed by name: the third, becauſe he had by her Abijah who ſucceeded him in the throne, and the firſt two onelyonly to make way to the mention of the third, becauſe he married them firſt, and then afterward took the third to wife, to wit, Maachah the daughter of Abiſhalom the mother of Abijah. Concerning whom, ſee the notes, 1. Kings 15.2.

Verſ. 22. And Rehoboam made Abijah the ſonne of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren, &c.] That is, he gave him the preheminency in all reſpects above his brethren, as intending that he ſhould ſucceed him in the throne. Now if he were not his eldeſt ſonne, unleſſe, he had expreſſe direction for this from God, it was doubtleſſe againſt that Law, Deut. 21.15.

Verſ. 23. And he dealt wiſely, and diſperſed all his children throughout all the countreys of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced citie.] The wiſdome and pollicie of Rehoboam in diſperſing his other ſonnes into the ſeverall fenced cities in the out-skirts of his kingdome was this, that hereby they were kept, either from variance amongſt themſelves, or from conſulting together againſt their brother Abijah, and perhaps under a pretence of honouring them with the charge of thoſe places, were little better then priſoners there, under the eye of ſome that were appointed to watch over them; (for indeed otherwiſe there would have been little policie in putting the ſtrong places of the kingdome into their hands) to which purpoſe alſo it was (as I conceive) that the better to content them, he allowed them moſt liberall and princely maintenance in all regards, which is implyed in the following clauſe, he gave them victualls in abundance.

CHAP. XII.

Verſ. 1. ANd it came to paſſe when Rehoboam had establiſhed the kingdome, &c.] See the notes for theſe two verſes, 1. Kings 14.22. and 25.

Verſ. 7. They humbled themſelves, therefore I will not deſtroy them, &c.] This humiliation of Rehoboams (and ſo it is likely of his Princes too) proceeded onelyonly from a baſe ſlaviſh fear of the wrath that he ſaw was coming upon him, and therefore it ſaid after this, that he did evil becauſe he prepared not his heart to ſeek the Lord; yet ſo farre did the Lord regard this, that he reſolved ſo farre, or ſo long to deliver them, that he would not now utterly deſtroy Jeruſalem, and the Temple by the hand of Shiſhak, as he did afterward in a like caſe with Ahab, 1. Kings 21.27. Concerning which ſee the notes there.

Verſ. 8. Nevertheleſſe, they ſhall be his ſervants, &c.] That is, they ſhall become p. 709tributaries to the king of Egypt, (upon which condition it ſeems Shiſhak rendred up to Rehoboam the cities which he had taken) that they may know my ſervice (ſaith the Lord) and the ſervice of the kingdomes of the countreys; that is, that they may know how much better it had been to have ſerved me, then by ſin to bring themſelves into bondage to other nations, which indeed they had cauſe to complain of, as Iſaiah 26.13. O Lord, other lords beſides thee have had dominion over us.

Verſ. 9. So Shiſhak king of Egypt came up against Jeruſalem, and took away the treaſures of the houſe of the Lord, &c.] Not the holy veſſels, but the treaſures of the Temple, and the treaſures of the kings houſe, which were yielded it ſeems for the ranſome of Jeruſalem, and thoſe other cities which he had taken.

Verſ. 12. And alſo in Judah things went well.] That is, after this time things began again to proſper and go well with the kingdome of Judah. But ſome reade it as in the margin, and yet in Judah there was good things; and then it is added as another reaſon, why God did not utterly deſtroy Jeruſalem at this time, to wit, becauſe there were ſome in Judah that feared God, and continued conſtant in that way of his worſhip which he had preſcribed: for that which is ſaid, verſ. 1. that he forſook the Law of the Lord, and all Iſrael with him, muſt be underſtood onelyonly of the generality of the people, that all in a manner had corrupted themſelves.

Verſ. 15. And there were warres between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.] See 1. Kings 12.24.

CHAP. XIII.

Verſ. 1. NOw in the eighteenth yeare of king Jeroboam, began Abijah to reigne over Judah, &c.] Or Abijam, ſee the notes, 1. Kings 15.1, 2.

Verſ. 4. And Abijah ſtood upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and ſaid, Hear me thou Jeroboam, and all Iſrael, &c.] To wit, having firſt by his Heralds or meſſengers deſired a parley, or at leaſt liberty to ſay ſomewhat that he had to ſay, both to Jeroboam and the people, for otherwiſe being ſo near the enemy that they might heare what he ſaid, he could not have ſtood thus to ſpeak to them without danger.

Verſ. 5. The Lord God of Iſrael gave the kingdome over Iſrael to David for ever, even to him and to his ſonnes by a covenant of ſalt.] See Numbers 18.19.

Verſ. 7. And there are gathered to him vain men, the children of Belial.] See Deut. 13.13.

And have ſtrengthened themſelves against Rehoboam the ſonne of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender hearted, &c.] That is, when Rehoboam was newly entred upon his kingdome, unexperienced in matters of ſtate, and much more in warlike affaires, as having alwayes been brought up in his fathers peaceable reigne, delicately and daintily; and being not yet ſettled in that throne (as a plant that hath not yet taken root) was eaſily ſhaken and terrified with the inſolencies of his rebellious ſubjects; that thus we muſt underſtand theſe words is evident, becauſe Rehoboam was one and fourty years old when he began to reigne, as we may ſee, 1. Kings 14.21.

p. 710Verſ. 10. The Lord is our God, and we have not forſaken him, &c.] Though he walked in all the ſinnes of his father Rehoboam 1. Kings 15.3. and ſuffered idolatry in his kingdome (which his ſonne Aſa did afterwards reform, 1. Kings 15.12, 13.) yet becauſe withall the true religion was openly profeſſed, and the true worſhip of the true God openly and incorruptly maintained in the Temple at Jeruſalem, he boaſts of their aſſurance of Gods favour, and ſeeks to ſcare the Iſraelites from hoping to maintain their party againſt them.

Verſ. 11. The ſhew-bread alſo ſet they in order upon the pure table, &c.] That is, upon the tables of the ſhew-bread. And ſo we muſt alſo underſtand the next clauſe, and the candleſtick of gold, &c. for there were in the Temple ten candleſticks, and ten tables, chap. 4.7, 8. and it is but a poore conceit of ſome, that becauſe but one table here is mentioned, therefore Shiſhak had carryed away the reſt: for thus alſo table is put for tables, 1. Kings 7.48.

Verſ. 17. So there fell down ſlain of Iſrael, five hundred thouſand.] And yet, the men of Judah that ſlew them, were but foure hundred thouſand in all, verſ. 3.

Verſ. 19. And Abijah purſued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the townes thereof, &c.] Which ſtood in the borders of Benjamin and Ephraim, Joſh. 18.13. and had in it one of Jeroboams calves, 1. Kings 12.29. ſome conceive that this is meant of another Beth-el, becauſe Jeroboams idol ſtood ſtill, and was not deſtroyed in the dayes of Aſa, &c. but this is no ſufficient argument, ſince perhaps this Beth-el was afterwards recovered from the kings of Judah, and perhaps was now taken by compoſition, &c.

Verſ. 20. Neither did Jeroboam recover ſtrength again in the dayes of Abijah: and the Lord ſtroke him, and he dyed.] That is, Jeroboam: for of Abijahs death the text ſpeaks after, chap. 14.1. perhaps he was ſtruck in the dayes of Abijah, but he dyed not till the ſecond yeare of Aſa the ſonne of Abijah.

Verſ. 21. But Abijah waxed mighty, and married foureteen wives, and begat twenty and two ſonnes, and ſixteen daughters.] Partly before he was king, and partly after; for he reigned in all but three years, 1. Kings 15.2.

CHAP. XIIII.

Verſ. 1. SO Abijah ſlept with his fathers, &c. and Aſa his ſonne reigned in his ſtead.] In the twentieth yeare of Jeroboam, 1. Kings 15.9. where alſo are many ſeverall Annotations that may ſerve for the explaining of ſeverall paſſages in this chapter.

Verſ. 9 And came unto Mareſhah.] A city in Judah, Joſh. 15.44.

Verſ. 13. And Aſa and the people that were with him purſued them unto Gerar.] Which was a city of the Philiſtines; whereby it ſeems very probably that they alſo joyned with the Ethiopians in invading the land of Judah; eſpecially becauſe it is expreſſely alſo ſaid in the following verſe, that they ſmote all the cities round about Gerar.

Verſ. 15. They ſmote all the tents of cattell, &c.] That is, the tents of the Arabians, who indeed were wont to dwell in tents, and ſo to remove from place to place for the feeding of their cattell. It ſeems the Ethiopians paſſing through Arabia, p. 711the Arabians aided them in their invaſions of the land of Judah; and ſo now Aſa and his ſouldiers ſmote their tents and carryed from them abundance of cattel.

CHAP. XV.

Verſ. 2. THe Lord is with you, whileſt ye be with him, &c.] As if he ſhould have ſaid, By experience you now ſee in this your victory over the Ethiopians, that whileſt you walk in Gods wayes he will not fail to bleſſe you.

Verſ. 3. Now for a long ſeaſon Iſrael had been without the true God, &c.] That is, now for a long time, ever ſince their revolting from Rehoboam, the ten tribes have lived under Jeroboam in a manifeſt apoſtacie from the true God, not having Gods prieſts to inſtruct them, and not regarding the law of God, according to which they ought in all things to have ordered themſelves.

Verſ. 4. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Iſrael, and ſought him, he was found of them.] That is, in former times when the Iſraelites in their trouble did repent and return unto the Lord, he was alwayes ready to receive them into his favour again. And this is added to imply, that though the ten tribes had thus forſaken the Lord, yet if they would as in former times have returned to the Lord, he would have pardoned them.

Verſ. 5. And in thoſe times there was no peace, &c.] That is, ever ſince the revolting of the ten tribes from Rehoboam, and their apoſtacie from the true God; whereof he had before ſpoken, verſ. 3.

Verſ. 6. And Nation was deſtroyed of nation, &c.] To wit, in the warres betwixt the kingdome of Judah and the kingdome of Iſrael; wherein they alſo made uſe of the auxilliary forces of other nations.

Verſ. 7. Be ye ſtrong therefore, and let not your hands be weak, for your work ſhall be rewarded.] That is, go couragiouſly and conſtantly forward in the reformation begun amongſt you, and the Lord ſhall be ſtill with you.

Verſ. 8. And when Aſa heard theſe words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols, &c.] Either this is meant of ſome prophecy of Oded the father of this Azariah, which he declared unto them at this time, together with this his own exhortation; or elſe of ſome propheſie of Azariah himſelf, he alſo being here called by the name of his father Oded. As for that which is ſaid, that when Aſa had heard theſe words, and this propheſie, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land, &c. we ſee that he had in a great part done this before, chap. 14.3. but it ſeems now upon a more diligent ſearch made throughout his kingdome, he put away the remainder of the idols that were found amongſt them; and that not onelyonly out of the land of Judah and Benjamin, but alſo out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, which may be meant of the cities which his father Abijam had taken, chap. 13.19. but yet there is mention made of cities of Ephraim which Aſa himſelf took, chapter 17.2.

And renewed the altar of the Lord.] That is, the altar which Solomon had built, having ſome way loſt its beautie in ſo many years (which is no wonder, conſidering how continually it was uſed and ſtood in the open court) he renewed it, p. 712and beautified it again; and then in a ſolemne manner obſerved again ſacrifices thereon.

Verſ. 9. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the ſtrangers with them out of Ephraim and Manaſſeh, and out of Simeon.] Hereby it is manifeſt that even the tribe of Simeon did revolt from the kingdome of Judah, or at leaſt the greateſt part of them, however they had their inheritance within the portion of Judah, Joſh 19.1. and that therefore either they removed from their firſt habitation, and tranſplanted themſelves amongſt other tribes of Iſrael: or elſe that they ſtood out againſt Judah, and clave to the party of the other tribes, yea, though they had their dwelling within Judahs portion.

Verſ. 10. So they gathered themſelves together at Jeruſalem in the third monethmonth, in the fifteenth yeare of the reigne of Aſa.] Which was the twelfth of Baaſha king of Iſrael. By this it appears that Zerah the Ethiopian did not invade the land of Judah, till the fourteenth yeare of Aſa. Indeed Aſa lived in peace but ten years, chap. 14.1. But it was therefore Baaſha king of Iſrael not Zerah, that immediately after thoſe ten years were ended, made warre againſt Aſa. As for the third monethmonth, it was that wherein the feaſt of Pentecoſt was kept.

Verſ. 15. And the Lord gave them reſt round about.] To wit, at that time when Aſa and the people made this covenant with God; then the Lord gave them reſt, the land not being invaded by any of her enemies.

Verſ. 16. And alſo concerning Maachah the mother of Aſa, &c.] That is, the grandmother. The Annotations concerning theſe three following verſes, ſee 1. Kings 15.2, 10, 14, 15.

Verſ. 19. And there was no more warre unto the five and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of Aſa.] Ʋnto the five and thirtieth yeare (that is, untill the five and thirtieth yeare was ended, whence is that chap. 16.1. In the ſix and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of Aſa, Baaſha king of Iſrael came up against Judah, &c.) of the reigne of Aſa, that is of the kingdome of Judah ſince it was divided from that of Iſrael; which was the fifteenth yeare of Aſa: for that thus theſe words muſt be expounded is evident, becauſe Baaſha died in the ſix and twentieth yeare of Aſa, 1 Kings 16.8. and therefore could not come up in the ſix and thirtieth yeare of Aſa, as is expreſſely ſaid in the firſt verſe of the following chapter: we have a like paſſage afterward, chap. 22.2.

CHAP. XVI.

Verſ. 1. IN the ſix and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of Aſa, Baaſha king of Iſrael came up againſt Judah, and built Ramah, &c.] That is, in the thirty ſixth yeare of the kingdome of Judah, which was the ſixteenth yeare of Aſa, and the fourteenth of Baaſha. See the laſt note in the former chapter, as alſo ſee the note 1. Kings 15.17. where alſo ſeverall other paſſages in the five firſt verſes of this chapter, are already explained.

Verſ. 7. Becauſe thou hast relyed on the king of Syria, and not relyed on the Lord thy God, therefore is the hoſt of the king of Syria eſcaped out of thine hand.] Whereas if he had gone on (as he intended, verſ. 3.) in his league with the king of Iſrael to invade thy land, thou ſhouldeſt have overcome him as thou diddeſt p. 713the Ethiopian; now thou haſt deprived thy ſelf of this glory and booty.

Verſ. 9. Therefore, from henceforth thou ſhalt have warres,] To wit, with Baſha, 1. Kings 15.16. And there was warre betwixt Aſa and Baaſha king of Iſraael all their dayes.

Verſ. 12. And Aſa, in the thirty and ninth yeare of his reigne, was diſeaſed in his feet.] About the ſix and twentieth yeare of his reigne Baaſha died, and Elah his ſonne ſucceeded him 1. Kings 16.8. about the ſeven and twentieth yeare of his reigne Zimri one of his captains ſlew Elah, and all the houſe of Baaſha, 1. Kings 16.9. &c. and within a few dayes Omri being made king by the ſouldiers, forced Zimri deſperately to burn himſelf, and about the one and thirtieth yeare of Aſa, was peaceably ſettled in the throne of Iſrael, Tibni his competitour dying, 1. Kings 16.22.23. And about this nine and thirtieth yeare wherein Aſa fell ſick of the gout, Omri died, and Ahab his ſonne ſucceeded him, 1. King. 16.29.

Verſ. 14. And laid him in the bed, which was filled with ſweet odours and diverſe kinds of ſpices, &c.] After the manner of embalming kings uſed in thoſe times they filled the beer whereon he was laid, or coffin whereinto he was put, with all kinds of odours and ſweet ſpices.

And they made a very great burning for him.] That is, they burnt ſweet prefumes at his buriall in very great plenty.

CHAP. XVII.

Verſ. 1. ANd Jehoſhaphat his ſonne reigned in his stead, and ſtrengthened himſelf againſt Iſrael.] In the latter dayes of Aſa, after he fell into thoſe grievous ſinnes mentioned in the former chapter, the kings of Iſrael (as God threatned, chap. 16.9.) did it ſeems in their ſeverall times renew their warres againſt Judah, to wit, Baaſha, Omri, and Ahab, and had happely often the better of them; but about the third or fourth yeare of Ahab, Aſa dying, 1. Kings 22.41. Jehoſhaphat ſucceeded him, and making great preparations to withſtand them, he was greatly ſtrengthened againſt the kingdome of Iſrael.

Verſ. 3. And the Lord was with Jehoſhaphat, becauſe he walked in the first wayes of his father David.] Which were purer and freer from ſinne then were his latter dayes: for whileſt he was in continuall troubles, we reade not any ſuch foul ſinnes he fell into, as afterwards being ſettled in his kingdome, when he committed adultery with Uriahs wife, and many other wayes tranſgreſſed Gods Laws.

And ſought not unto Baalim.] To wit, as did Ahab at this time king of Iſrael: whether by Baalim we underſtand all falſe Gods in generall, or in particular the the idols of Baal, the God of the Sydonians, 1. Kings 16.31, 32. for that theſe words are ſpoken by way of comparing of Jehoſhaphat to Ahab, we may ſee by that which follows, verſ. 4. But ſought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Iſrael.

Verſ. 6. And his heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord.] That is, he became zealous, and very couragious in Gods cauſe, and went forward with an high, and magnanimous ſpirit, without any baſeneſſe, fear, or carnall reſpects.

Moreover, he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.] The high places, whereon the God of Iſrael was worſhipped, though contrary to his Law, p. 714were not by Jehoſhaphat taken away, chap. 20.33. and therefore this muſt be meant of ſuch high places and groves, wherein they worſhipped idol-gods. Theſe indeed Aſa his father had taken away, chap. 14.3. but it ſeems in the latter and declining dayes of Aſa, when he lay ſick, ſome of the people that lingred ſtill after their former idolatry, made uſe of the advantage of theſe times, and did ſecretly ſet up their high places and groves again: and theſe they were that Jehoſhaphat after ſearch made did now take away.

Verſ. 7. And in the third yeare of his reigne, he ſent to his princes, &c. to teach in the cities of Judah.] To ſee that they were taught. We may not think, that at other times the people of God did now live in the kingdome of Judah without any ordinary teaching; but becauſe he found that the people were in many places ſo inclined to idolatry (as having ſet up their high places, which his father Aſa had pulled down) theſe choice prieſts and Levites mentioned, verſ. 8. were ſent as viſitours into the ſeverall parts of his kingdome, to ſee whether they were truely taught, and by their own perſonall teaching, both to confirm thoſe that were rightly inſtructed, and to convince thoſe that were corrupt, and to ſhew them how expreſſely the Law did forbid, and threaten all idolatry whatſoever. And with them theſe princes were ſent to countenance, and incourage them, and happely to puniſh thoſe that ſhould oppoſe them, or that ſhould be found obſtinate in their errours.

Verſ. 13. And the men of warre, mighty men of valour, were in Jeruſalem.] That is, his Generalls, and captains, and ſome companies of their ſouldiers ſtill attended with them.

Verſ. 14. Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour, three hundred thouſand.] That is, under his command.

Verſ. 16. Amaſiah the ſonne of Zichri, who willingly offered himſelf unto the Lord.] To wit, to fight his battels, ſome ſay as a Nazarite.

Verſ. 19. Theſe waited on the king, beſides thoſe whom the king put in the fenced cities, throughout all Judah.] That is, theſe captains before mentioned, and ſome of their bands by courſe: for it is not likely that ſo many hundred thouſand did at one time attend on the kings perſon at Jeruſalem. Yea, becauſe the totall number of the ſouldiers here mentioned, amounts to eleven hundred and threeſcore thouſand (and it ſeems not probable that Jehoſhaphat would have been ſo affrighted with the multitude of the Moabites and Ammonites that came againſt him, chap. 20.12. if he had had eleven hundred and threeſcore thouſand trained men in his kingdome, beſides thoſe wherewith his ſtrong cities were manned) Therefore ſome conceive it more likely, that he had not all theſe at one time, but ſucceſſively; the trained band of Judah being firſt under the command of Adnah, and then Adnah being dead, under the command of Jehohanan; and ſo likewiſe the trained band of Benjamin, under the command of Amaſiah firſt, then Eliada, and then Jehozabad, and were in the ſeverall times of theſe Generalls, ſometimes more, and ſometimes leſſe.

CHAP. XVIII.

Verſ. 1. NOw Jehoſhaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joyned affinity with Ahab.] To wit, by marrying his eldeſt ſonne Joram to Athaliah Ahabs daughter, chap. 21.6. and 2. Kings 8.18.

p. 715Verſ. 2. And after certain years, he went down to Ahab to Samaria.] To wit, about the ſeventeenth yeare of his reigne. See the notes for this chapter, 1. Kings 22.1. &c.

CHAP. XIX.

Verſ. 2. ANd Jehu the ſonne of Hanani the ſeer went out to meet him.] Who reproved Aſa Jehoſhaphats father, ſee chap. 16.7.

And ſaid to king Jehoſhaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?] That is, oughteſt thou thus to joyn thy ſelf in ſuch ſtrict wayes of love and friendſhip with ſuch a wicked idolatrous wretch, ſuch an enemy to God and all goodneſſe as Ahab is? In ſome caſes to joyn in league with infidels and idolaters, is not unlawfull, Gen. 14.13. when it is done onelyonly to uphold peace, to maintain mutuall traffick, or for the common defence of their countreys; but otherwiſe unneceſſarily, as out of love and friendſhip to joyn with them and help them, is doubtleſſe unlawfull; and ſo it had been now with Jehoſhaphat.

Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.] That is, God is highly diſpleaſed with thee, and hath determined to poure forth his diſpleaſure upon thee: and this might have reſpect to that invaſion of the Moabites and Ammonites, which followed not long after, chap. 20.1. or happely to ſome diſſenſion that began at preſent betwixt his ſonnes, the ſeeds of that horrid ſlaughter which his eldeſt ſonne did afterwards make amongſt them, chap. 21.4.

Verſ. 3. Nevertheleſſe there are good things found in thee, &c.] This is added to intimate, that becauſe of this the Lord would deal gently with him, and even in judgement remember mercy.

Verſ. 4. And he went out again, &c. and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers.] That is, where he found any idolatry, or any corruptions amongſt the people, he reduced them to the true worſhip of God, and reformed what was out of order amongſt them.

Verſ. 5. And he ſet judges in the land, &c.] To wit, where he found any wanting.

Verſ. 6. Ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgement.] That is, whoſe perſon ye repreſent, and who is preſent ſeeing all you do; and accordingly ready to ſtand by you and defend you if you judge aright, and to puniſh you if you deal unjuſtly:

Verſ. 8. In Jeruſalem did Jehoſhaphat ſet of the Levites, and of the prieſts, and of the chief of the fathers of Jeruſalem, &c.] See above verſ. 5. This is meant of the high ſenate or councel of the Sanhedrim in Jeruſalem, to which all appeals were made from inferiour courts, and to which all cauſes of difficulty were referred, both for eccleſiaſticall and civill affairs; and therefore it is ſaid here that they were for the judgement of the Lord, that is, for eccleſiaſticall cauſes, concerning which God had determined in his law what ſhould be done; and for controverſies, to wit, in cauſes merely civill. See Deut. 17.8, 9, 10.

Verſ. 10. And what cauſe ſoever ſhall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between bloud and bloud, between law and commandment, &c.] p. 716That is, where each party ſhall pretend that they have the law or ſtatutes on their ſide; and ſo one ſhall alledge one law, and another an other, ſee Deut. 17.8. &c.

Verſ. 11. Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord.] That is, in all matters eccleſiaſticall, or which are determined in the law of the Lord.

And Zebadiah the ſonne of Iſhmael, the ruler of the houſe of Judah, for all the kings matters.] For all civill affairs, or thoſe things which were determinable by the civill ſtatutes of the king and kingdome.

Alſo the Levites ſhall be officers before you.] That is, they ſhall be officers in every city, ſubordinate to the great Sanhedrim in Jeruſalem, from whom they ſhould receive their power and directions.

CHAP. XX.

Verſ. 1. THe children of Ammon, and with them other beſide the Ammonites, came against Jehoſhaphat in battel.] That is, the Edomites of mount Seir, verſ. 10.

Verſ. 2. There cometh a great multitude againſt thee from beyond the ſea, on this ſide Syria.] That is, the dead ſea, which lay betwixt Judah and Syria: and becauſe they came from thoſe parts, ſome Expoſitours conceive it to be very probable, that Jehoſhaphats aiding of Ahab in his warres againſt the Syrians, chap. 18. was the firſt occaſion of this invaſion of his land.

Verſ. 5. And Jehoſhaphat ſtood in the congregation of Judah and Jeruſalem, in the houſe of the Lord before the new court.] Some Expoſitours underſtand this of a new court added of late years to the Temple, for thoſe that were ſtrangers and unclean amongſt the Iſraelites to worſhip God in: but becauſe of this we have no mention at all in the Scriptures, it is better by others expounded of the court of the prieſts, which Solomon built; and that it is here called the new court, becauſe it was of late newly repaired and beautified, and that happely by Aſa when the altar of burnt offerings was alſo renewed, chap. 18.8. Others again underſtand it of the court of the people, and that this had been lately repaired, and perhaps divided into two courts, the one being appointed for the men and the other for the women (as it is generally held, that though at firſt when Solomon built it it was but one court, yet afterwards it was divided into two) or that having been ever ſince the revolt of the ten tribes alienated to other uſes (becauſe then there was no uſe of ſo large a court as was provided for the meeting of the twelve tribes) now upon the coming in of ſo many of the ten tribes to the kingdome of Judah, it was opened and reſtored again to the ſervice of the Temple. But becauſe it is moſt probable that Jehoſhaphat ſtood to pray amongſt the people upon the braſen ſcaffold which Solomon had built, 2. Chron. 6.13. which was in the court of the people, therefore I rather think this new court before which he ſtood, was the prieſts court newly repaired.

Verſ. 13. And all Judah ſtood before the Lord with their little ones, their wives and their children.] In times of publick humiliation they uſed to bring their little ones to the aſſemblies, Joel 2.16. Gather the children, and thoſe that ſuck the breasts. Firſt, that the bowels of the people might be the more moved by the ſight of thoſe their little ones, now in danger to be cruelly butchered by theſe enemies, p. 717and ſo they might be rendred the more ſerious and vehement in their prayers, and more couragious in withſtanding the enemy, when they ſhould come to fight againſt them. And ſecondly, being preſented before the Lord, as a pitifull object of his mercy, he might alſo be moved to take compaſſion on them.

Verſ. 16. Behold they come by the cliff of Ziz, and ye ſhall find them at the end of the brook, &c.] By telling them before-hand the place where they ſhould meet their enemies the next day, he let them ſee with what aſſurance they might believe whatever elſe he ſaid unto them.

Verſ. 20. Believe his prophets, ſo ſhall ye proſper.] This it is likely was ſpoken with ſpeciall reference to the prophecy of Jehaziel the Levite, which they had heard the day before, concerning their ſubduing the mighty army that was coming againſt them.

Verſ. 21. And when he had conſulted with the people, &c.] That is, when he had adviſed with the heads and rulers of the people, concerning their ordering of the battel, &c. he appointed ſingers unto the Lord to go before the army, as it were to triumph beforehand for the victory promiſed, and that ſhould praiſe the beauty of holineſſe; that is, Gods moſt holy majeſtie, the glory of Gods ſanctuary his dwelling place (which alſo is therefore called the beautie of holineſſe, Pſal. 29.2. Worſhip the Lord in the beautie of holineſſe, and Pſal. 96.9. O worſhip the Lord in the beauty of holineſſe.) and to ſay praiſe ye the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever, which was the foot of ſeverall Pſalmes of thankſgiving compoſed by David and others, as in particular, of the 136. Pſalme, wherein there is an enumeration of many ſeverall mercies which God afforded to his people; and that therefore was happely at this time ſung by the Levites.

Verſ. 22. And when they began to ſing and to praiſe, the Lord ſet ambuſhments againſt the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, &c.] That is, the Lord did ſuddenly and unexpectedly cut them off, as when men are cut off by enemies that ly in ambuſh againſt them, and that by ſending ſome unexpected ſtrife amongſt thoſe nations, whereupon they fell out amongſt themſelves, and ſlew one another; and ſo that was accompliſhed which the Levite had foretold, verſ. 17. Ye ſhall not need to fight in the battel, &c. Yet ſome Expoſitours underſtand this ambuſhment of the holy angels that came ſuddenly in upon them by the Lords command, and ſlew them; whereupon they miſtaking the matter, and ſuppoſing it had been their own companions, flew upon them, and ſo ſheathed their ſwords in one another bowels.

Verſ. 31. He was thirty and five years old when he began to reigne, &c.] See 1. Kings 22.41.

Verſ. 33. Howbeit the high places were not taken away.] See the notes, chap. 17.6.

For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.] That is, though Jehoſhaphat did endeavour to reforme what was amiſſe, chap. 19.4. yet from the high places the people would not be reclaimed.

Verſ. 36. And he joyned himſelf with him to make ſhips to go to Tarſhiſh, &c.] See 1. Kings 22.48.

p. 718CHAP. XXI.

Verſ. 2. ALl theſe were the ſonnes of Jehoſhaphat king of Iſrael.] That is, king of the Iſraelites in the kingdome of Judah. Uſually in the ſacred hiſtory the kings of the ten tribes are onelyonly called kings of Iſrael: it may be therefore that Jehoſhaphat is here ſo called, becauſe many of the ten tribes had now joyned themſelves to the kingdome of Judah, chap. 15.9. They fell to him out of Iſrael in abundance, when they ſaw that the Lord his God was with him.

Verſ. 3. And their father gave them great gifts of ſilver and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah.] See the Annotations for moſt paſſages in this chapter, 2. Kings 8.16. &c.

Verſ. 11. And cauſed the inhabitants of Jeruſalem to commit fornication, &c.] That is, to worſhip Baal; and herein this ſinne of Jehoram is aggravated, that he ſet up this idolatry in Jeruſalem, where was the Temple, Gods dwelling place.

Verſ. 12. And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, &c.] Elijah was taken up into heaven in Jehoſhaphats time, and Eliſha was ſucceeded in his room, 2. Kings 3.11. either therefore this is meant of ſome other Elijah, or of Eliſha, and that he is here called Elijah as the Baptiſt afterward was, becauſe he came in the ſpirit and power of Elijah or elſe (which is more probable) this propheſie was written by Elijah whileſt he lived upon the earth (as Iſaiah wrote beforehand concerning Cyrus. Iſaiah 45.1. and the prophet that was ſent to Jeroboam propheſied of Joſiah 1. Kings 13.2.) and committed either to Eliſha, or the other prophets, and by them now ſent to Jehoram; whoſe inſolent crueltie was ſuch, that the prophets durſt not ſhew themſelves in his preſence.

Verſ. 14. Behold, with a great plague will the Lord ſmite thy people, and thy children, &c.] See the event, verſ. 16, 17, 18. and thus his ſlaying his brethren was puniſhed with the loſſe of his own children.

Verſ. 19. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.] See chap. 16.14.

CHAP. XXII.

Verſ. 1. ANd the inhabitants of Jeruſalem made Ahaziah his youngest ſonne, king in his ſtead, &c.] See the Annotations of moſt of this chapter, in 2. Kings 8.24. &c.

Verſ. 9. And he ſought Ahaziah and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria) and brought him to Jehu.] He was firſt wounded in his flight from Iſrael not farre off from Ibleam, which was not farre from Megiddo, and being wounded fled to Megiddo, and at Megiddo he was at length ſlain, 2. Kings 9.27. But how is it then ſaid that he was h…d and taken in Samaria? I anſwer; 1. That by Samaria here may be meant onelyonly the kingdome of Samaria, as is noted on the 2. Kings 9.27. Or, 2. that not thinking himſelf ſafe in Megiddo, whither he at firſt fled to hide himſelf, he thence fled to Samaria, where he was found, and thence brought back to Megiddo and ſlain there.

So the houſe of Ahaziah had no power to keep ſtill the kingdome.] That is, there was none of his children of years to maintain their right to the kingdome againſt p. 719ſuch as would uſurpe the regall power as Athaliah immediately did.

Verſ. 10. She aroſe, and deſtroyed all the ſeed royall of the houſe of Judah.] See the Annotations for this and the following verſes, in 2. Kings 11.1, 2.

CHAP. XXIII.

Verſ. 1. ANd in the ſeventh yeare Jehoiada ſtrengthened himſelf, &c.] See 2. Kings 11.4. &c.

Verſ. 4. A third part of you entring on the ſabbath of the prieſts and of the Levites, ſhall be porters of the doores.] This third part here ſpoken of ſeems to be the ſame that in 2. Kings 11.6. are ſaid to have had the charge of the gate behind the guard, which was the ſouth-gate. Whereas therefore it is here ſaid, that they were porters of the doores, it is either becauſe this gate was called the gate of the doores or threſholds (for ſome cauſe unknown to us;) or elſe becauſe beſides the charge of the keeping of the gate behind the guard, mentioned in the book of the Kings, they were alſo appointed to be porters of the doores of the Temple. See the notes on 2. Kings 11.5.

Verſ. 5. And a third part at the gate of the foundation.] That is the eaſt-gate called alſo the gate of Sur, 2 Kings 11.6. it was happely called the gate of the foundation, becauſe it ſtood lower than the reſt, and from thence they went up by an aſcent into the great court.

And all the people ſhall be in the courts of the houſe of the Lord.] That is, in the court of the people which was divided into ſeverall courts; for we cannot think that the people were appointed to be in the prieſts court.

Verſ. 6. Let none come into the houſe of the Lord, ſave the prieſts, &c.] That is, into the prieſts court.

But all the people ſhall keep the watch of the Lord.] That is, ſhall guard the holy place, that no man enter it, or they ſhall obſerve to do in this ſervice of the Lord what is given them in charge.

Verſ. 8. And took every man his men that were to come in on the ſabbath, &c.] That is, every man that was the head of the family took thoſe that belonged to them.

For Jehoiada the prieſt diſmiſſed not the courſes.] See 2. Kings 11.5.

Verſ. 9. Moreover, Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds, ſpears, &c.] See 2. Kings 11.10. where alſo are many ſeverall notes for the following paſſages of this chapter.

Verſ. 11. And Jehoiada and his ſonnes anointed him, and ſaid, God ſave the king.] Zechariah therefore the ſonne of Jehoiada, that was afterwards ſlain at the command of this king, chap. 24.21. had now an hand in ſetting the crowne upon his head.

Verſ. 13. Alſo the ſingers with inſtruments of muſick, and ſuch as taught to ſing praiſe.] That is, that lead the ſong, as being the moſt skilfull, and at other times teachers of the younger ſort.

Verſ. 16. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, &c.] That is, between the Lord (of whom mention was made before, verſ. 14. and again in the laſt words of this verſe) and the king and the people, as it is expreſſed, p. 7202. Kings 11.17. or betwixt himſelf and the king and the people, to wit, in Gods behalf.

Verſ. 20. And they came through the high gate into the kings houſe.] That is, the chief gate of the kings houſe, called the gate of the guard, 2. Kings. 11.19.

CHAP. XXIV.

Verſ. 4. ANd it came to paſſe after this, that Joaſh was minded to repair the houſe of the Lord.] See 2. Kings 12.4, 5.

Verſ. 5. Howbeit, the Levites haſtened it not.] For in the three and twentieth yeare of his reigne they had done nothing to the repairing of the houſe, 2. Kings 12.6.

Verſ. 6. Why haſt thou not required of the Levites to bring out of Judah and out of Jeruſalem, the collection, according to the commandment of Moſes, &c.] By this collection may be meant either the half ſhekel, which every man paid when they were numbred, Exod. 30.12.13. which is called the money of every one that paſſeth account, 2. Kings 12.14. or elſe the voluntary contributions which the people were to give after the manner as they did for the building of the tabernacle at the commandment of Moſes, Exod. 35.5. an order which it ſeems was obſerved in future times, Neh. 10, 32. Alſo we made ordinances for us, to charge our ſelves yearely with the third part of a ſhekel, for the ſervice of the houſe of our God.

Verſ. 7. For the ſonnes of Athaliah that wicked woman, had broken up the houſe of God, &c.] To promote the worſhip of Baalim they robbed the Temple; and ſo there was not in the treaſuries of the Temple any competent ſumme of money, whereby the decayes thereof might be repaired. Indeed the ſonnes of Joram by Athaliah were all ſlain by the Arabians, ſave onelyonly Ahaziah, chap. 21.17. But this might be done before that.

Verſ. 8. And at the kings commandment they made a chest.] The Levites being forbidden by Joaſh to meddle any more with the collection of the money, becauſe of their former neglect, 2. Kings 12.7.

And ſet it without the gate of the houſe of the Lord.] To wit, by the gate whereby they went out of the great court, and on that ſide the gate where the altar ſtood, 2. Kings 12.9.

Verſ. 14. They brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made veſſels for the houſe of the Lord, &c.] See 2. Kings 12.13.

Verſ. 16. And they buried him in the citie of David amongst the kings, becauſe he had done good in Iſrael, both towards God, and towards his houſe.] That is, the houſe and family of David; or rather the Temple the houſe of God.

Verſ. 17. Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeyſance to the king, &c.] In the moſt fawning and flattering manner they preſented themſelves before him, and withall petitioned him, that every one might worſhip God as they pleaſed themſelves, namely, in the high places, after the manner of their fathers; to wit, becauſe it was burthenſome to go up from all places to the Temple; or becauſe every one deſired to have his own proper place of devotion. Now this requeſt is implyed, though not expreſſed in the following words, then the king hearkned to them: and they left the houſe of the Lord God of their fathers.

Verſ. 18. And wrath came upon Judah and Jeruſalem for this their treſpaſſe.] p. 721For Hazael king of Syria (as it is related, 2. Kings 12.17.) invaded the land, and having taken Gath addreſſed himſelf to Jeruſalem, having ſufficient pretence for what he did (if his ambition cared for pretence) becauſe the kings of Judah had formerly aſſiſted the Iſraelites againſt the Syrians at Ramoth Gilead: and ſo formidable to Joaſh was this approch of Hazael towards Jeruſalem, that he took all the hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treaſures of the Temple, and in his own houſe, and with that preſent purchaſed his peace. Some conceive that this invaſion of Hazael (mentioned in the Kings) is the ſame with that inrode of the Syrians ſpoken of, verſ 23. of this chapter, but that cannot be: for this was before the ſlaying of Zachariah, verſ. 20. that after it, verſ. 23. in this the matter was compounded without a battel, in that a battel was fought to Joaſh his great loſſe, verſ. 24. in this Hazael was preſent, 2. Kings 12.11. in that the Syrians ſent the ſpoil they took to their king at Damaſcus, verſ. 23. And laſt of all, in this the Syrians had great forces (elſe Joaſh would not have been afraid of them) in that they came with a ſmall band of men, verſ. 24.

Verſ. 20. And the ſpirit of God came upon Zechariah the ſonne of Jehoiada the priest, &c.] It is a great queſtion amongſt Expoſitours, whether this were that Zechariah of whom our Saviour ſpake, Matth. 23.35. From the bloud of righteous Abel unto the bloud of Zacharias ſonne of Barachias, whom ye ſlew, &c. Moſt conceive it is, and that becauſe this Zechariah was ſlain by the Jews, and that (as is expreſſed in the following verſe) in the court of the houſe Lord: nor do we reade in Scripture of any other Zechariah that was ſo ſlain: for though this was the ſonne of Jehoiada, and that Zachariah of whom Chriſt ſpeaks, is expreſſely called there the ſonne of Barachias; yet to this it may be anſwered, that Jehoiada was ſo called Barachias; or that he is called Barachias, which ſignifies the bleſſed of the Lord, becauſe he was in his time ſuch a bleſſed inſtrument of ſo much good to the people of God: and it may well be the drift of Chriſts words, to ſhew that the bloud of all that were long ago ſlain, ſhould be charged upon that generation, and ſo in that regard this Zechariah is joyned there with Abel. But now others hold that it is not this Zechariah of whom our Saviour ſpeaks there, but that Zachariah which is laſt but one of the ſmall Prophets, that was raiſed up of God to encourage the people that were come back from Babylon to rebuild the Temple. And indeed, firſt, becauſe that Zachariah is expreſſely called the ſonne of Barachiah, Zach. 1.1. as it were purpoſely to diſtinguiſh him from this Zechariah the ſonne of Jehoiada. And ſecondly, becauſe the words of our Saviour ſeem rather to imply that all the bloud of Gods righteous ſervants, ſlain in former times, from the firſt to the laſt, ſhould be charged upon them; and ſo Abel is mentioned as the firſt, and Zachariah as the laſt, I cannot ſee but that very probably it may be underſtood of that Zachariah, and that he after the reedifying of the Temple, flying to the altar for Sanctuary, when the Jews were for ſome cauſe enraged againſt him, was there ſlain, as our Saviour ſaith, between the Temple and the altar.

Verſ. 25. For they left him in great diſeaſes.] To wit, by reaſon of wounds received in the fight, or ſome exquiſite tortures, which happely the Syrians had put him to.

His own ſervants conſpired againſt him, for the bloud of the ſonnes of Jehoiada p. 722the prieſt, &c.] Hereby it may appear, that having ſlain Zechariah, they ſlew alſo his brethren the ſonnes of Jehoiada; perhaps leſt they ſhould avenge his death; yet ſome conceive that the plurall number is put for the ſingular, ſonnes for ſonne, as it is alſo in many other places.

CHAP. XXV.

Verſ. 1. AMaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reigne, &c.] To wit, in the ſecond yeare of Joaſh king of Iſrael. See the notes for this chapter, 2. Kings 14.1. &c.

Verſ. 13. But the ſouldiers of the army which Amaziah ſent back, that they ſhould not go with him to battel, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Beth-horon.] Beth-horon was one of the cities of Ephraim, Joſh. 15.3. but becauſe ſome of the Iſraelites cities had been taken by the kings of Judah, in the warres betwixt thoſe two kingdomes, therefore it is here ſaid, that in their return from Samaria, they fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon.

Verſ. 23. And Joaſh the king of Iſrael took Amaziah king of Judah the ſonne of Joaſh, the ſonne of Jehoahaz, &c.] That is, the ſonne of Ahaziah; for Ahaziah was alſo called Jehoahaz, chap. 21.17. and 22.1.

Verſ. 24. And he took all the gold and ſilver, and all the veſſels that were found in the houſe of God with Obed-Edom.] That is, with the poſterity of Obed-Edom. See 1. Chron. 20.15.

CHAP. XXVI.

Verſ. 1. THen all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was ſixteen years old, and made him king, &c.] To wit, in the ſeven and twentieth yeare of Jeroboam the ſecond king of Iſrael, 2. Kings 14.21. See the notes for this chapter, 2. Kings 15.1. &c.

Verſ. 5. And he ſought God in the dayes of Zechariah, who had understanding in the viſions of God.] That is, who was a Prophet, one that was accuſtomed to ſee the viſions of God; or elſe, it is meant that he was one that had ſingular underſtanding in the writings of Moſes, and David, and other the Prophets and ſervants of God, that had written in former times; and conſequently, an able inſtructour and councellour to Uzziah in thoſe things that concerned the knowledge of God and of his Laws; or that was skilfull to interpret the dreams, and nightly viſions of other men, as Joſeph and Daniel had, Gen. 41.15. Dan. 1.17. and 2.19.

Verſ. 9. Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jeruſalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, &c.] It is likely that the repairing of that great breach which Joaſh king of Iſrael had made in the wall, chap. 25.23. from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, was the firſt occaſion that put the king upon theſe buildings.

Verſ. 19. And while he was wroth with the prieſts, the leproſie even roſe up in his forehead.] See the 2. Kings 15.5. Though he were leprous happely all over his body, yet it appeared in his face onelyonly.

Before the priests in the houſe of the Lord, from beſide the incenſe altar.] For there ſtanding, he was ſtricken with the leproſie.

Verſ. 22. Now the reſt of the acts of Uzziah firſt and laſt, did Iſaiah the prophet p. 723the ſonne of Amos write.] We find nothing of his hiſtory in the propheſie of Iſaiah which we have; this therefore may relate to ſome part of the book of Kings written by Iſaiah, or ſome other hiſtory which he wrote that is not now extant.

CHAP. XXVII.

Verſ. 1. JOtham was twenty and five years old when he began to reigne, and he reigned ſixteen years, &c.] See 2. Kings 16.2. &c. and 15.33.

Verſ. 2. And he did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did.] That is, he did that which was right, but not with a perfect heart: and therefore it follows in the next words (to ſhew that yet he was not altogether ſo ill as his father) that he entered not into the Temple, to wit, to offer incenſe, and to incroach upon the prieſts office, as his father did.

And the people did yet corruptly.] That is, they ſacrificed, and burnt incenſe ſtill in the high places, 2. Kings 15.35.

Verſ. 3. He built the high gate of the houſe of the Lord, &c.] See 2. Kings 15.35.

And on the wall of Ophel he built much.] This Ophel was a tower on the outſide of the citie. See chap. 35.15. Neh. 3.26.27. and 11.21. and was (as is there noted) the place where in thoſe times the Nethinims dwelt.

CHAP. XXVIII.

Verſ. 1. AHaz was twenty years old when he began to reigne, and he reigned ſixteen years in Jeruſalem, &c.] See many ſeverall notes for this chapter in 2. Kings 16.2. &c.

Verſ. 10. But are there not with you, even with you, ſinnes againſt the Lord your God?] That is, ſince God hath delivered the men of Judah into your hands becauſe of their ſinnes, and that you cannot but know that you alſo have given the Lord as juſt cauſe to have puniſhed you, the conſideration hereof ſhould have moved you to ſhew them mercy, and not to have exerciſed ſuch horrible cruelty againſt them, as you have done.

Verſ. 16. At that time did king Ahaz ſend unto the kings of Aſſyria to help him.] That is, the king of Aſſyria that had many kings under him. After that Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Iſrael had ſeverally made inrodes into the land of Judah, as is above related, verſ: 5, 6. &c. and had made great ſpoil in the countrey, not content with this they reſolved to joyn their forces together, and to go up againſt Ahaz again, and beſiege Jeruſalem, as is related, 2. Kings 16.5. and this combination of theſe two kings it was, accompanied with the loſſe he ſuſtained at the ſame time by the Edomites and Philiſtines, verſ. 17, 18. that made him ſend to the king of Aſſyria for help; of which ſee 2. Kings 16.7.

Verſ. 19. For the Lord brought Judah low, becauſe of Ahaz king of Iſrael, &c.] That is, king of Judah. See the note on chap, 21.2.

Verſ. 20. And Tilgath-pilneſer king of Aſſyria came unto him, and diſtreſſed him, but strengthened him not.] It is manifeſt that this king of Aſſyria, as on the behalf of Ahaz went up againſt Damaſcus, and took it, and ſlew Rezin, 2. Kings 16.9. as likewiſe that at the ſame time he invaded the land of Iſrael, and made great havock there, 2. Kings 15.29. yet becauſe Rezin and Pekah had raiſed the ſiege of p. 724Jeruſalem, as the prophet Iſaiah had foretold, Iſaiah 7.4. Fear not, neither be faint-hearted for the two tailes of theſe ſmoking fire-brands, &c. before the king of Aſſyria ſtirred forth to help him, Rezin in his departure taking Elath, which Uzzah the grandfather of Ahaz had wonne from the Syrians, 2. Kings 16.6. And ſecondly, becauſe when he did come forth to his help, though he did indeed ſorely afflict both the Syrians and the Iſraelites, yet he reſtored not to Ahaz any of the cities which his enemies had taken from him, nor did him any other good in recompence of the great treaſures which Ahaz had given him, but perhaps did other wayes diſtreſſe him, therefore it is here ſaid, he diſtreſſed him, but helped him not. As for that phraſe, he made Judah naked, ſee the note, Exod. 32.35.

Verſ. 23. For he ſacrificed to the gods of Damaſcus, which ſmote him, &c.] The occaſion whereof was a journey he took to Damaſcus to meet with Tiglath-pilneſer king of Aſſyria, and to congratulate his vanquiſhing of Rezin: for there he took up that reſolution of ſacrificing to the gods of Damaſcus which ſmote him, to wit, in that expedition of Rezin king of Damaſcus againſt Judah, whereof mention is made before, verſ. 5. and to that end ſent the pattern of an altar he had ſeen there to Uriah the prieſt, according to which he built an altar, which was placed in the Temple, and thereon did Ahaz ſacrifice to theſe heathen gods, 2. Kings 16.10—16.

CHAP. XXIX.

Verſ. 1. HEzekiah began to reigne when he was five and twenty years old, &c.] Viz. in the third yeare of Hoſhea. See the notes, 2. Kings 18.1, 2.

Verſ. 3. He in the firſt yeare of his reigne, in the first monethmonth, opened the doores of the houſe of the Lord.] And in the firſt day of the monethmonth: for then preſently they began to cleanſe the Temple, verſ. 17.

Verſ. 4. And gathered them together in the eaſt-ſtreet.] That is, the ſtreet before the eaſt-gate, the chief gate of the Temple.

Verſ. 6. And have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs.] That is, they have openly, baſely, and opprobriouſly forſaken the worſhip of God in his Temple. The like expreſſion we have Jer. 2.27. They have turned their back unto me, and not their face.

Verſ. 17. And on the eighth day of the monethmonth came they to the porch of the Lord, &c.] That is, in eight dayes they purged and ſanctified the Temple it ſelf, the moſt holy, and the holy place, and the porch before the holy place they began with, or came to on the eighth day; and then in eight dayes more they purged the courts and chambers thereof, and ſo made an end on the ſixteenth day of the firſt monethmonth: and all this is noted to imply, what a deal of idolatrous traſh Ahaz had brought into the Temple, when they were ſo many dayes imployed in the removing and caſting it out, and ſetting all things in order as they were in former times.

Verſ. 21. And they brought ſeven bullocks and ſeven rammes, &c.] That is, they brought all kind of clean beaſts appointed for ſacrifice, ſome for the conſecrating of the Temple, &c. ſome for ſinne offerings, ſome for burnt offerings, and ſome for peace offerings; and ſeven they brought of each ſort, to ſignifie the generality of the ſacrifice, that it was for the whole kingdome, the prince, and all the people.

p. 725Verſ. 23. And they brought forth the he-goats for the ſinne offering, &c.] To wit, the ſeven he-goats mentioned verſ. 21. In Levit. 4.13. the law enjoyneth a young bullock to be offered for a ſinne-offering for the congregation; but that was for the expiation of ſome one particular ſinne, whereof through ignorance the whole congregation might be guilty; and now the expiation was to be made for all the many ſinnes, whereof the whole land, both king and people were guilty; in which caſe they were not tyed to that law, in Levit. 4.

Verſ. 24. And they made reconciliation with their bloud upon the altar, to make an attonement for all Iſrael.] That is, not onelyonly for the kingdome of Judah, but alſo for the brethren of the ten tribes, who had been ſorely of late oppreſſed by the Aſſyrians; which was the reaſon why Hezekiah gave expreſſe charge concerning this.

Verſ. 31. Now ye have conſecrated your ſelves unto the Lord, come near and bring ſacrifices, &c.] That is, Let the people now bring in their ſacrifices, or do you, O prieſts, bring in the peoples ſacrifices.

Verſ. 33. And the conſecrated things were ſix hundred oxen, and three thouſand ſheep.] That is, the other ſacrifices of ſeverall ſorts, to wit, peace-offerings, and free-will-offerings, were ſix hundred oxen, and three thouſand ſheep.

Verſ. 34. But the prieſts were too few, ſo that they could not ſlay all the burnt-offerings.] Which was properly the work of the prieſts onelyonly, Levit. 1.5, 6.

For the Levites were more upright in heart to ſanctifie themſelves, then the prieſts.] That is, they were more forward to ſanctifie themſelves then the prieſts were; and ſo there were more of them ſanctified.

Verſ. 35. And alſo the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and the drink-offerings, &c.] That is, theſe things (beſides the burnt-offerings) were to be offered on the altar; ſo that the prieſts being but few, had not leaſure to ſlay all the ſacrifices.

Verſ. 36. For the thing was done ſuddenly.] It was evident that God had extraordinarily enclined the hearts of the people to this reformation, becauſe it was done ſo ſuddenly.

CHAP. XXX.

Verſ. 1. ANd Hezekiah ſent to all Iſrael and Judah, and wrote letters alſo to Ephraim and Manaſſeh, &c.] That is, to the remainder of the ten tribes that were not yet carried away by Tiglath-pilneſer king of Aſſyria, as many of their brethren were, 2. Kings 15.29.

Verſ. 2. The king had taken counſel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jeruſalem, to keep the paſſeover in the ſecond monethmonth.] See Numb. 9.10, 11.

Verſ. 3. For they could not keep it at that time, becauſe the prieſts had not ſanctified themſelves ſufficiently, &c.] To wit, when they ſhould have kept it; that is, the foureteenth day of the firſt monethmonth: for the Temples purgation was not finiſhed till the ſixteenth day, chap. 29.17. And in the ſixteenth day of the firſt monethmonth they made an end.

Verſ. 6. He will return to the remnant of you, that have eſcaped out of the hand of the king of Aſſyria.] To wit, out of the hands of Pul, and Tiglath-pilneſer, p. 726for both theſe kings already carryed away many of the ten tribes into captivity; but the laſt captivity under Shalmaneſer, (as is moſt likely) had not yet been.

Verſ. 14. And they aroſe, and took away the altars that were in Jeruſalem, &c.] To wit, by the kings encouragement, and at this time alſo the braſen ſerpent which Moſes made was broken in pieces, 2. ſee Kings 18.4. This was done in Jeruſalem before they kept the Paſſeover: how they proceeded afterwards after the ſame manner in other places, we ſee chap. 3.11. Now when all this was finiſhed, all Iſrael that were preſent, went out to the cities of Iudah, and brake the images in pieces, &c.

Verſ. 15. And the priests and the Levites were aſhamed, and ſanctified themſelves, &c.] That is, the prieſts and Levites that had been hitherto remiſſe, were aſhamed of their own negligence, when they ſaw the forwardneſſe of the people, and ſo ſanctified themſelves, &c.

Verſ. 16. The prieſts ſprinkled the bloud, which they received of the hands of the Levites.] To wit, the bloud of the ſacrifices upon the altar, as was accuſtomed in all ſacrifices, Levit. 1.5. And he ſhall kill the bullocks before the Lord, and the prieſts Aarons ſonnes, ſhall bring the bloud, and ſprinkle the bloud round about, &c.

Verſ. 17. For there were many in the congregation that were not ſanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the paſſeover, &c. By the paſſeovers here are meant (as I conceive) the ſacrifices which by the law were to be offered at the feaſt of the Paſſeover, and did accompany the eating of the Paſchall lambe, as Deut. 16.2. Thou ſhalt therefore ſacrifice the paſſeover unto the Lord thy God of the flock and heard, called elſewhere the paſſeover-offerings, chap. 35.7, 8. And Joſiah gave to the people of the flock lambes and kids for the paſſeover-offerings, &c. Theſe ſacrifices were to be killed according to the rule of the law by the prieſts onelyonly, Levit. 1.5. Here therefore a reaſon is given why at this time the Levites had the charge of killing them, namely, becauſe there were ſo many of the people that were not ſanctified but were unclean; and conſequently, there were ſo many ſacrifices to be offered for their purifying and cleanſing, that the prieſts alone could not do the work, and therefore the Levites were imployed therein.

Verſ. 18. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manaſſeh, Iſſachar, and Zebulun had not cleanſed themſelves, &c.] That is, though the Levites did help the prieſts, as is before ſaid, yet very many of the Iſraelites did eat the Paſſeover being not purified from their uncleanneſſe.

Verſ. 20. And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.] That is, he ſanctified them by his ſpirit in an extraordinary way; or, he did not puniſh them, but forgive them that their infirmity, and accepted them as if they had been purified.

Verſ. 22. And Hezekiah ſpake comfortably to all the Levites, that taught the good knowledge of the Lord.] That is, he encouraged them in their work, and gave them hope of Gods mercy to the people, as concerning thoſe that had eaten the Paſſeover and were not cleanſed according to the Law.

Verſ. 24. And a great number of the priests ſanctified themſelves.] To wit, that were not before ſanctified, ſee verſ. 3. and chap. 29.34.

Verſ. 26. For ſince the time of Solomon the ſonne of David king of Iſrael, p. 727there was not the like in Jeruſalem.] That is, ſince the Iſraelites were divided from Judah and Benjamin.

Verſ. 27. Then the prieſts the Levites aroſe, and bleſſed the people, and their voice was heard, &c.] That is, the Lord heard their prayer, and bleſſed them as was promiſed, Numb. 6.27. And they ſhall put my name upon the children of Iſrael, and I will bleſſe them.

CHAP. XXXI.

Verſ. 1. NOw when all this was finiſhed, all Iſrael that were preſent, went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, &c.] See chap. 30.14.

In Ephraim alſo and Manaſſeh, untill they had utterly destroyed them all.] To wit, in thoſe cities of Ephraim and Manaſſeh that had been taken in the warres by the kings of Judah from the kings of Iſrael: for all this was done by the authority and command of Hezekiah. See 2. Kings 18.4.

Verſ. 2. And Hezekiah appointed the courſes of the priests, and the Levites, &c. to minister, and to give thanks, and to praiſe in the gates of the tents of the Lord.] That is, in the Temple, called the tents of the lord, becauſe there the prieſts and Levites (who for their ſeverall functions number and order are called an army or hoſt, Levit. 4.3.) kept the watch of the Lord, and there the people aſſembled together in troops as ſouldiers in the camp, and that to pray unto the Lord, which is the chief ſervice of our ſpirituall warfare.

Verſ. 3. He appointed alſo the kings portion of his ſubſtance, for the burnt-offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt-offerings, &c.] All the particular ſacrifices here mentioned as is written in the law of the Lord, that is, which in the law were ſeverally preſcribed for every feaſt, and for the daily ſacrifice, Num. 28. they were ordinarily provided by the people in generall, as it was alſo afterward, Nehem. 10.32, 33. Alſo we made ordinances for us to charge our ſelves yearely with the third part of a ſhekel, for the ſervice of the houſe of our God, for the ſhew-bread, and for the continuall meat-offering, and for the continuall burnt-offerings of the Sabbaths, and of the new moons, &c. but now it ſeems to eaſe the people in their poverty, Hezekiah appointed a portion for and toward theſe ſervices out of his own ſubſtance.

Verſ. 4. He commanded the people that dwelt in Jeruſalem, to give the portion of the prieſts, and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.] That is, that they might not be diſtracted with worldly cares of providing for themſelves, nor follow their callings heavily for want of maintenance, but might chearfully bend themſelves wholly to the ſervice of the Lord.

Verſ. 5. The children of Iſrael brought in abundance the firſt fruits of corn, wine, and oyle, &c.] To wit, thoſe in and about Jeruſalem, where the commandment was firſt given: for of the Iſraelites inhabiting the other cities of Judah the following verſe ſpeaks: or elſe in this verſe there is mention of the tithes and firſt-fruits of ſuch as grew out of the earth, and in the following verſe of the tithes of cattell and ſuch other things. And concerning the children of Iſrael and Judah that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they alſo brought in the tythes of oxen and ſheep, and p. 728the tithe of holy things, that is, all other tithes that were by the Law of God due; which are here called the tithe of holy things, becauſe the tithes were to be ſet apart from the reſt of their goods, as things conſecrated and holy to the Lord: yet happely theſe words are ſpecially intended of thoſe ſecond tithes, which were not given for the maintenance of the Levites, but ſeparated for other holy uſes, for which ſee Deut. 14.22. and Levit. 27.30.

Verſ. 7. In the third monethmonth they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finiſhed them in the ſeventh monethmonth.] For in the third monethmonth was their harveſt, and therefore the feaſt of Pentecoſt, which was in that monethmonth, was called the feaſt of harveſt, and in the ſeventh monethmonth they gathered all other fruits of the land, and therefore the feaſt of Tabernacles which was in that monethmonth, was called the feaſt of in gathering in the end of the yeare, Exod. 23.16.

Verſ. 9. Then Hezekiah questioned with the prieſts and the Levites concerning the heaps.] That is, he demanded how it came to paſſe that they had ſpent no more of that proviſion that was brought in for them.

Verſ. 10. And Azariah the chief prieſt of the houſe of Zadok, anſwered him, &c.] There were ſtill two chief prieſts of the two ſeverall families of Eleazar and Ithamar, that had the chief command in the Temple under the high prieſt, of which it ſeems this Azariah was one, who is therefore alſo called, verſ. 13. the ruler of the houſe of God.

For the Lord hath bleſſed his people; and that which is left is this great ſtore.] That is, ſince they brought in their firſt fruits and tithes, God hath ſo abundantly bleſſed the people, that their offerings have yielded us ſufficient proviſion, and this overplus which is left beſides.

Verſ. 12. And brought in the offerings and the tithes, and the dedicate things faithfully, over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, &c.] To wit, to ſee the offerings and the tithes, and the dedicate things ſafely ſtored up, and carefully preſerved in the ſeverall garners or chambers appointed for them, and to keep an account, both of what was brought in, and what was delivered forth, according to the order eſtabliſhed, 1. Chron. 26.20.

Verſ. 14. And Kore the ſonne of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the eaſt, was over the free-will-offerings of God, &c.] As theſe before mentioned, verſ. 12, 13. had the charge of keeping the offerings and tithes and dedicate things; ſo Kore and thoſe under him, mentioned, verſ. 15. had the charge of diſtributing them to the prieſts and Levites, to whom they belonged.

Verſ. 16. Beſide their genealogie of males, from three years old and upward, &c.] Here is expreſſed more particularly who they were to whom theſe holy things were diſtributed; to wit, (beſides the males of three years old and upward, but under the age of twenty years, who had alſo their portion allotted to them, verſ. 18.) they give both to the prieſts and Levites, from twenty years old and upwards, as they came in their courſes to do their ſervice in the houſe of the Lord; yea, and beſides, verſ. 18. they gave to all that were regiſtred in the genealogies of the prieſts and Levites, even to their little ones, their wives, and their ſonnes, and their daughters through all the congregation.

Verſ. 18. For in their ſet office they ſanctified themſelves in holineſſe.] That is, p. 729in this their office, to which they were ſanctified and ſet apart, they did faithfully, and in an holy manner diſcharge that truſt that was repoſed in them, and were carefull to keep themſelves from pollution, that ſo they might be capable of eating theſe holy things.

Verſ. 19. Alſo the ſonnes of Aaron the prieſts, which were in the fields of the ſuburbs of their cities, &c.] That is, beſides thoſe mentioned before, verſ. 14, 15. that were to diſtribute the holy things to thoſe that dwelt in Jeruſalem, or that came up thither in their ſeverall courſes for the ſervice of the Temple; there were others alſo choſen, who were then expreſſed by name of the prieſts that dwelt in the other cities of the kingdome, that were to give portions to the prieſts and Levites that were then abiding in thoſe places, and not attending in Jeruſalem upon the ſervice of God in the Temple.

CHAP. XXXII.

Verſ. 1. SEnnacherib king of Aſſyria came, and entred into Judah, and encamped againſt the fenced cities, &c.] See the notes, 2. Kings 18.13. &c. for many ſeverall paſſages in this chapter.

And thought to winne them for himſelf.] That is, reſolved to take them for himſelf, and indeed accordingly he took many of them, 2. Kings 18.13.

Verſ. 3. He took counſel with his princes, and his mighty men, to ſtop the waters of the fountains, which were without the citie.] That is, to fill up the fountains and ſprings with earth, and to carry the waters by pipes under ground into the citie, that ſo the Aſſyrians if they came againſt Jeruſalem might be diſtreſſed for want of water, whileſt they within the citie were abundantly ſupplyed.

And they did help him.] That is, his Princes and his mighty men aided him in this work.

Verſ. 4. Who ſtopt all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, &c.] That is, the brook Gihon, of which verſ. 30. that ranne through the midſt of the countrey where Jeruſalem ſtood. See 1. Kings 1.33.

Verſ. 10. Whereon do ye truſt, that ye abide in the ſiege in Jeruſalem?] That is, being thus ſhut up without hope of help, yet notwithſtanding ye ſtill refuſe to yield up the citie?

Verſ. 17. He wrote alſo letters to rail on the Lord God of Iſrael, &c.] To wit, upon Rabſhakeh his return to Sennacherib at Libnah, and the report of the approch of Tirhakah the king of Ethiopia. See 2. Kings 19.8, 9.

Verſ. 18. To affright them, and to trouble them, that they might take the citie.] That is, to ſow the ſeeds of diſcord amongſt them, whileſt ſome ſhould deſire to have the citie yielded up, and others ſhould oppoſe them.

Verſ. 20. For this Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Iſaiah the ſonne of Amos, prayed and cried to heaven.] See 2. Kings 19.14, 15. and at the ſame time Iſaiah ſent a comfortable meſſage to Hezekiah, wherein he propheſied of the deſtruction of Sennacherib, and the good of Sion.

Verſ. 21. And the Lord ſent an angel which cut off all the mighty men of valour, &c.] A hundred foureſcore and five thouſand in all, and that in one night. See the note, 2. Kings 19.35,

p. 730They that came forth of his own bowels, ſlew him there with the ſword.] That is, his own ſonnes Adramelech, and Sherezer. 2. Kings 19.27.

Verſ. 22. Thus the Lord ſaved Hezekiah, &c. and guided them on every ſide.] He governed them and took care of them all as a ſhepheard doth of his flock.

Verſ. 24. In thoſe dayes Hezekiah was ſick to the death, and prayed unto the Lord.] The prophet Iſaiah having viſited him, and told him that he ſhould die and not live. See the notes. 2. Kings 20.1, 2, 3.

And he ſpake unto him, and he gave him a ſigne.] That is, he aſſured him that he ſhould recover, and confirmed that promiſe with a ſigne from heaven; but withall he gave him alſo direction to lay a lump of figgs to the boil. See the 2. Kings 20.5. &c.

Verſ. 25. For his heart was lifted up.] And this he manifeſted in ſhewing his riches to the Babylonian Embaſſadours, for which he was reproved and threatned by the prophet Iſaiah. See 2. Kings 20.12, 19.

Verſ. 27. And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour. &c.] This is added to ſhew what it was for which his heart was lifted up, as was ſaid before, v. 25.

Verſ. 30. This ſame Hezekiah alſo ſtopped the upper water-courſe of Gihon, &c.] The brook Gihon divided it ſelf into two ſtreams, one of which Hezekiah turned from the uſuall channell, and brought it ſtrait down into the weſt ſide of the city of David.

Verſ. 31. Howbeit, in the buſineſſe of the embaſſadours of the princes of Babylon, &c.] To wit, the Embaſſadours which Beſodach-Baladan king of Babylon by the advice of his princes ſent unto him, ſee 2. Kings 20.12. God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. See Gen. 22.1.

CHAP. XXXIII.

Verſ. 1. MAnaſſeh was twelve years old when he began to reigne.] See 2. Kings 21.1. &c. many ſeverall notes for the explanation of this chapter.

Verſ. 6. And he cauſed his children to paſſe through the fire, in the valley of the ſonne of Hinnom,] See 2. Kings 16.3.

Verſ. 10. And the Lord ſpake to Manaſſeh, and to his people.] To wit, by his ſervants the prophets: the ſumme of their propheſies is expreſſed, 2. Kings 21.11—15.

Verſ. 11. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the hoſt of the king of Aſſyria, which took Manaſſeh among the thorns.] It ſeems he thought to hide himſelf in ſome woods and thickets, and therefore it is ſaid here, that he was taken among the thorns. The like is ſaid concerning the Iſraelites, when they were affraid of the Philiſtines that were come into their land, 1. Sam. 13.6. When the men of Iſrael ſaw they were in a ſtrait, then they did hide themſelves in caves and in thickets.

Verſ. 14. Even to the entring in of the fiſh-gate, &c.] So called, becauſe there they uſed to ſell fiſh.

Verſ. 15. And he took away the strange gods, and the idols out of the houſe of the Lord.] That idol mentioned verſ. 7.

Verſ. 20. And they buried him in his own houſe.] To wit, in the garden of his houſe, called the garden of Ʋzza, 2. Kings 21.18.

p. 731CHAP. XXXIIII.

Verſ. 2. ANd he did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord, &c.] See many ſeverall notes for this chapter, 2. Kings 22.2. &c. and 23.1. &c.

Verſ. 11. And to floor the houſes, which the kings of Judah had deſtroyed.] That is, the chambers of the prieſts and Levites which joyned to the Temple.

Verſ. 12. And the overſeers of them were Jahath, &c and other of the Levites, all that could skill of inſtruments of muſick.] Thoſe being purpoſely it ſeems choſen to overſee the work, that might alſo at ſet times praiſe the Lord, whileſt the work went forward, with inſtruments of muſick.

CHAP. XXXV.

Verſ. 3. ANd ſaid unto the Levites that taught all Iſrael, which were holy unto the Lord, Put the holy ark in the houſe, which Solomon the ſonne of David king of Iſrael did build.] It ſeems that in his father Ammons reigne, either the ark had been put out of the moſt holy place, that ſome idol might be ſet up in the place thereof, and ſo was ſet aſide in ſome other place of the Temple; or perhaps quite removed out of the Temple; or elſe it had been purpoſely carried out by the prieſts, that it might not ſtand there amongſt thoſe heatheniſh idols that were brought into the Temple: and therefore now Joſiah calls upon the Levites to reſtore the ark to its own place again in the Temple, where formerly it ſtood. Indeed the Levites might not enter the holy place; but they might bring it to the entrance of the Temple, and there the prieſts might receive it of them: and perhaps by the Levites here are meant all the tribe of Levi, both prieſts and Levites.

It ſhall not be a burden upon your ſhoulders.] That is, the ark the teſtimony of Gods preſence muſt abide in the Temple his dwelling place, and muſt not be carried from one place to another upon your ſhoulder, as it was before the Temple was built.

Verſ. 5. And stand in the holy place according to the diviſions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, &c.] It ſeems the ſeverall families of the Levites were ſeverally appointed to attend upon the ſacrifices and offerings of the ſeverall families of each tribe; ſome to be employed in that holy ſervice for ſuch and ſuch families, and other for others: and hence it is that they are here appointed to ſtand in the holy place, that is, to attend the ſervice that was to be done, according to the diviſions of the families of the people, and after the diviſion of their own families.

Verſ. 11. And they killed the paſſeover, and the prieſts ſprinkled the bloud, &c.] See chap. 30.17.

Verſ. 12. And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the diviſions of the families of the people, &c.] That is, of thoſe cattell that were given both for ſacrifices of all kinds and for the paſſeover, they ſet apart ſuch cattell as ſhould be for burnt offerings, which were wholly to be offered upon the altar, that ſo then of the reſt they might give unto the people, partly for paſchall lambs, partly for peace offerings, whereof both prieſts and people had their ſhare; p. 732or elſe it may be meant of removing from the peace offerings, the fat, the kidnies, &c. that were to be burnt upon the altars.

Verſ. 13. But the other holy offerings ſod they in pots, &c.] To wit, ſo much of the peace offerings, as was to be prepared for the offerers to eat before the Lord.

Verſ. 18. And there was no paſſeover like to that, &c.] See 2. Kings 23.22. where are alſo many other notes for the following part of this chapter.

Verſ. 25. And all the ſinging-men and the ſinging-women ſpake of Joſiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Iſrael, &c.] The meaning of this may be, that it grew to a cuſtome which they obſerved as a law; or elſe that it was indeed eſtabliſhed for an ordinance, that in all the mournfull ditties which were ſung upon occaſion of any publick calamitie, they ſhould ſtill mention the mourning that was at the death of Joſiah, which accordingly the ſinging-men and the ſinging-women did upon all ſuch occaſions conſtantly obſerve. As for that following clauſe, And behold they are written in the Lamentations, thereby may be meant ſome volume of mournefull ditties extant in thoſe times, wherein it was evident how this was practiſed amongſt the people; or elſe it may be referred to Jeremiahs Lamentations for the death of Joſiah.

CHAP. XXXVI.

Verſ. 5. THen the people of the land took Jehoohaz the ſonne of Joſiah, and made him king, &c.] See 2. Kings 23.30.

2. And he reigned three moneths in Jeruſalem.] In which time he ſet up Idolatry again, and did evil according to all that his fathers had done. See 2. Kings 23.32.

Verſ. 3. And the king of Egypt put him down at Jeruſalem.] That is, he depoſed him from being king at or in Jeruſalem, to wit, that he ſhould no more reigne as king in that citie: but at Riblah this was done; for thither the king of Egypt ſent for him, and there he depoſed him and put him in bands: or elſe it may be that he was depoſed at Jeruſalem, and put in bands at Riblah, as is expreſſed, 2. Kings 23.33. concerning which ſee the note there.

And condemned the land in an hundred talents of ſilver, and a talent of gold.] which accordingly Eliakim exacted of the people, and then paid it to Pharaoh, 2. Kings 23.35.

Verſ. 4. And turned his name to Jehoiakim.] As a memoriall that he was his vaſſall, and that he had made him king.

And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.] Where he died. 2. Kings 23.34.

Verſ. 5. Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reigne &c.] See 2. Kings 23.36.37.

Verſ. 6. Againſt him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, &c.] See 2 Kings 24.1, 2.

Verſ. 8. His abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, &c.] To wit, his rebellion againſt Nebuchadnezzar and other things which he did, 2. Kings 24.1, 2, &c,

p. 733Verſ. 9. Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reigne, &c.] See 2. Kings 24.8, 9.

Verſ. 10. When the yeare was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar ſent, &c.] That is, when the new yeare came in, Nebuchadnezzar ſent his ſervants, as is related, 2. Kings 24.10. who beſieged Jeruſalem: whereupon Jehoiachin by the advice of Jeremiah yielded up himſelf and his into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, who carried him to Babylon, 2. Kings 24.15. together with ten thouſand captives of the people, verſ. 12, 13, 14.

And made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jeruſalem.] That is, his uncle, his fathers brother by the father, but the brother of Jehoahaz both by father and mother, ſee 2. Kings 24.17, 18.

Verſ. 13. And he alſo rebelled againſt king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him ſwear by God.] Which did greatly aggravate his ſinne, Ezek. 17.15, 16. But he rebelled againſt him in ſending his Embaſſadours into Egypt, that they might give him horſes and much people; ſhall he proſper? ſhall he eſcape that doth ſuch things? or ſhall he break the covenant and be delivered? As I live, ſaith the Lord God, ſurely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whoſe oath he deſpiſed, and whoſe covenant he brake, even with him, in the middeſt of Babylon he ſhall die: See 2. Kings 24.20.

Verſ. 17. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, &c.] See 2. Kings 25.2. The city was beſieged a full yeare and a half, and was at length taken by force, and the people expoſed to the rage of their mercileſſe enemies; Zedekiah indeed by a ſecret way eſcaped with his wives, children, and principall ſervants to the plaines of Jericho; but being there overtaken, was carried back to Nebuchadnezzar, where his children being firſt ſlain before his face, his eyes were put out, and ſo being bound in fetters of braſſe, he was carryed to Babylon, ſee 2. Kings 25.1—7.

Verſ. 20. And them that had eſcaped from the ſword, carried he away to Babylon.] To wit, by Nebuzar-adan captain of his guard; ſome immediately after the taking of Jeruſalem, and ſome in after times: indeed ſome of the poorer people, together with ſome that had followed the partie of Nebuchadnezzar, were left behind to till the ground, and one Gedaliah was left to be their governour; but he being ſlain by Iſhmael, they all ſled for fear into Egypt, where they afterwards indured all kind of miſery.

Where they were ſervants to him and his ſonnes, untill the reigne of the kingdome of Perſia.] That is, to Nebuchadnezzar and Evilmerodach his ſonne, 2. Kings 25.27. and Belſhazzar his grand-child, ſonne of Evilmerodach, according to that Jer. 27.6.7. And now have I given all theſe lands into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, &c. and all nations ſhall ſerve him, and his ſonne, and his ſonnes ſonne: in which times doubtleſſe the miſeries of the Jewes were many and great; though withall the bitterneſſe thereof was ſomewhat allayed, partly by the prophecying of Ezekiel amongſt them, partly through the favour they might find by means of Jechoniah, Eſther, Mordecai, Daniel and others, that were in their times much reſpected and honoured by theſe Babylonian kings.

Verſ. 21. To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, untill the land had enjoyed her ſabbaths, &c.] That is, the citie of Jeruſalem being thus deſtroyed, p. 734the people carried away, the land lay deſolate ſeventy years, which was ten ſabbaths of years as Jeremiah had prophecyed, Jer. 25.11. This whole land ſhall be a deſolation, and an aſtoniſhment; and theſe nations ſhall ſerve the king of Babylon ſeventy years: and 29.10. After ſeventy years be accompliſhed at Babylon, I will viſit you, And ſo that came to paſſe which God threatned, Levit. 26.34, 35. Then ſhall the land enjoy her ſabbaths, as long as it lies deſolate, and you be in your enemies land, &c. becauſe it did not rest in your ſabbaths, when you dwelt upon it. Some indeed do begin the ſeventy years captivity from the carrying away of Jechoniah, 2. Kings 24.12. and that firſt, becauſe Jeremiah writing to thoſe that were carried away with him, tells them, that after ſeventy years the Lord would viſit them, Jer. 29.10. ſecondly, becauſe Ezekiel doth uſually reckon the years of the Babylonian captivity from that of Jechoniah, Ezek. 1.2. and the 8—1. and the 20.1. &c. yea and doth diſtinguiſh it from the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, Ezek. 40.1. In the five and twentieth yeare of our captivity, in the beginning of the yeare, in the tenth day of the monethmonth, in the fourteenth yeare after the city was ſmitten, in the ſelf ſame day the hand of the Lord was upon me: thirdly, becauſe that captivity was moſt notable, both for the number and for the quality of thoſe that were then carryed away; to wit, the king, his mother, his ſervants, princes and officers, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thouſand captives, &c. 2. Kings 24.12, 13, 14. But yet I conceive theſe ſeventy years are rather to be numbred from the deſtruction of Jeruſalem; firſt, becauſe Dan. 9.2. they are called the ſeventy years of the deſolations of Jeruſalem; ſecondly becauſe the ſame term of ſeventy years is ſet for the ſubjection of other neighbouring nations, Iſaiah 23.15. And it ſhall come to paſſe in that day that Tyre ſhall be forgotten ſeventy years, &c. and ſo alſo Jer. 25.11. and it is well known that Nebuchadnezzar did not ſubdue thoſe neighbouring nations and make himſelf the great monarch of thoſe parts of the world, till the time that Jeruſalem was taken and deſtroyed: and thirdly, becauſe here and elſewhere uſually the prophecy of the ſeventy years, is ſaid to be fulfilled in the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, and the following deſolation of that countrey.

Verſ. 22. Now in the firſt yeare of Cyrus king of Perſia, &c.] See Ezra 1.1