Notes on Second Chronicles
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes

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2Ch 1:1

1:1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God [was] with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

The Argument - This second book contains in brief the contents of the two books of the kings: that is, from the reign of Solomon to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity. In this story some things are told in more detail than in the books of the kings and therefore help greatly in the understanding of the prophets. Three things are chiefly to be considered here: First, that when the godly kings saw the plagues of God prepared against their country for sin, they turned to the Lord and by earnest prayer were heard, and the plagues removed. Secondly, while the good rulers always loved the prophets of God and were zealous to set forth his religion throughout their dominions, it offended God greatly that the wicked hated his ministers, deposed them and set up idolatry and attempted served God according to the fantasy of men. Thus we have the chief acts from the beginning of the world to the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the 32nd year of Darius, in total 3568 years and six months.

2Ch 1:2

1:2 Then Solomon {a} spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

(a) That is, he proclaimed a solemn sacrifice and commanded that all should attend.

2Ch 1:3

1:3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that [was] at {b} Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle {c} of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

(b) Read 1Ki 3:4.
(c) So called, because by it God showed signs of his presence to the congregation.

2Ch 1:5

1:5 Moreover the {d} brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

(d) Which was for the burnt offerings, Ex 27:1.

2Ch 1:9

1:9 Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be {e} established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

(e) Perform your promise made to my father concerning me.

2Ch 1:10

1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may {f} go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, [that is so] great?

(f) That I may govern this people, 1Ch 27:1, 1Ki 3:7.

2Ch 1:11

1:11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the {g} life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

(g) That is, to be avenged on your enemies.

2Ch 1:14

1:14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the {h} chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

(h) Which were cities appointed to keep and maintain the chariots.

2Ch 1:15

1:15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem [as plenteous] as {i} stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that [are] in the vale for abundance.

(i) He caused so great plenty that it was valued no more than stones.

2Ch 1:16

1:16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: {k} the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

(k) Read 1Ki 20:28.

2Ch 2:2

2:2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and {a} six hundred to oversee them.

(a) Which is to be understood of all sorts of officers and overseers: for else the chief officers were but 3300 as in 1Ki 5:16.

2Ch 2:6

2:6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who [am] I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn {b} sacrifice before him?

(b) That is, to do the service which he has commanded, signifying that no one is able to honour and serve God in the perfection his majesty deserves.

2Ch 2:8

2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and {c} algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants [shall be] with thy servants,

(c) Some take it for Brazil, or the wood called Ebenum, others for coral.

2Ch 2:10

2:10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty {d} thousand baths of oil.

(d) Of "bath" read 1Ki 7:26. It is also called ephah, but an ephah measures dry things as a bath is a measure for liquids.

2Ch 2:12

2:12 Huram said moreover, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a {e} wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

(e) The very heavens confessed that it was a singular gift of God when he gave to any nation a king that was wise and of understanding, though it appears that this Hiram had the true knowledge of God.

2Ch 2:14

2:14 The son of a woman of the {f} daughters of Dan, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.

(f) It is also written that she was of the tribe of Naphtali, 1Ki 7:14 which may be understood that by reason of the confusion of tribes which then began to be, they married in various tribes so that by her father she might be of Dan and by her mother of Naphtali.

2Ch 3:1

3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount {a} Moriah, where [the LORD] appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

(a) Which is the mountain where Abraham was thought to have sacrificed his son, Ge 22:2.

2Ch 3:3

3:3 Now these [are the things wherein] Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first {b} measure [was] threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.

(b) According to the whole length of the temple,

2Ch 3:4

3:4 And the porch that [was] in the front [of the house], the length [of it was] according to the {c} breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height [was] an {d} hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.

(c) It contained as much as the breadth of the temple did, 1Ki 6:3.
(d) From the foundation to the top: for in the book of the kings mention is made from the foundation to the first stage.

2Ch 3:6

3:6 And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold [was] gold of {e} Parvaim.

(e) Some think it is Peru.

2Ch 3:14

3:14 And he made the {f} vail [of] blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

(f) Which separated the temple from the most holy place.

2Ch 3:15

3:15 Also he made before the house two pillars of {g} thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that [was] on the top of each of them [was] five cubits.

(g) Every one was eighteen cubits long, but the half cubit could not be seen, for it was hid in the roundness of the chapiter, and therefore he gives to every one only 17 and a half.

2Ch 3:16

3:16 And he made chains, [as] in the oracle, and put [them] on the heads of the pillars; and made an {h} hundred pomegranates, and put [them] on the chains.

(h) For every pillar a hundred, read 1Ki 7:20.

2Ch 4:2

4:2 Also he made a molten {a} sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

(a) A great vessel of brass, so called because of the great quantity of water which it contained, 1Ki 7:24.

2Ch 4:3

4:3 And under {b} it [was] the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: {c} ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen [were] cast, when it was cast.

(b) Meaning, under the brim of the sea, 1Ki 7:24.
(c) In the length of every cubit were ten heads or knops which in all are 300.

2Ch 4:5

4:5 And the thickness of it [was] an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; [and] it received and held {d} three thousand baths.

(d) In the first book of the kings, 1Ki 7:26 , mention is only made of 2000, but the lesser number was taken there, and here according as the measures proved afterwards, is declared.

2Ch 4:7

4:7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to {e} their form, and set [them] in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

(e) Even as they should be made.

2Ch 4:9

4:9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great {f} court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

(f) Called also the porch of Solomon, Ac 3:11. It is also taken for the temple where Christ preached, Mt 21:23.

2Ch 4:16

4:16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram {g} his father make to king Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass.

(g) Whom Solomon reverenced for the gifts that God had given him, as a father; he had the same name as Huram the king of Tyrus, his mother was a Jewess, and his father a Tyrian. Some read, for his father, the author of this work.

2Ch 4:19

4:19 And Solomon made all the vessels that [were for] the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the {h} shewbread [was set];

(h) In Hebrew, the bread of the faces because they were set before the ark, where the Lord showed his presence.

2Ch 4:22

4:22 And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, [of] pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy [place], and the doors of the house of the temple, [were {i} of] gold.

(i) That is, covered with plates of gold.

2Ch 5:2

5:2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the {a} city of David, which [is] Zion.

(a) Read 2Sa 6:12.

2Ch 5:3

5:3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the {b} feast which [was] in the seventh {c} month.

(b) When the things were dedicated and brought into the temple.
(c) Called in Hebrew Ethanim, containing part of September and part of October, 1Ki 8:2 , which moves the Jews called the first month, because they say that the world was created in that month, and after they came from Egypt, they began at March: but because this opinion is uncertain, we always make March the first as the best writers do.

2Ch 5:10

5:10 [There was] nothing in the ark save {d} the two tables which Moses put [therein] at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

(d) For Aaron's rod and manna were taken from there before it was brought to this place.

2Ch 5:11

5:11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place]: (for all the priests [that were] present were {e} sanctified, [and] did not [then] wait by course:

(e) Were prepared to serve the Lord.

2Ch 5:13

5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers [were] {f} as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up [their] voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, [saying], {g} For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: that [then] the house was filled with a cloud, [even] the house of the LORD;

(f) They all played the same tune.
(g) This was the effect of their songs, Ps 118:1,136:1.

2Ch 6:1

6:1 Then {a} said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

(a) After he had seen the glory of the Lord in the cloud.

2Ch 6:11

6:11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein [is] the {b} covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.

(b) Meaning the two tables, in which is contained the effect of the covenant that God made with our fathers.

2Ch 6:12

6:12 And {c} he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:

(c) On a scaffold that was made for that purpose, that he praying for the whole people might be heard by all, as in 1Ki 8:22.

2Ch 6:13

6:13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and {d} spread forth his hands toward heaven,

(d) Both to give thanks for the great benefits of God bestowed on him, and also to pray for the perseverance and prosperity of his people.

2Ch 6:20

6:20 That thine {e} eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.

(e) That you may declare in effect that you have a continual care over this place.

2Ch 6:22

6:22 If a man sin against his {f} neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;

(f) By retaining anything from him, or by denying that which he has left him to keep, or do him any wrong.

2Ch 6:23

6:23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way {g} upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

(g) Meaning, to give him that which he has deserved.

2Ch 6:30

6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose {h} heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)

(h) He declares that the prayers of hypocrites cannot be heard, nor of any but of them who pray to God with a true faith and in true repentance.

2Ch 6:32

6:32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and {i} pray in this house;

(i) He shows that before God there is no deception of person, but all people who fear him and work righteousness are accepted, Ac 10:35.

2Ch 6:34

6:34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that {k} thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;

(k) Meaning, that no one should enterprise any war, but at the Lord's command, that is, which is lawful by his word.

2Ch 6:41

6:41 Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy {l} resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with {m} salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

(l) That is, into your temple.
(m) Let them be preserved by your power, and made virtuous and holy.

2Ch 6:42

6:42 O LORD God, turn not away the face of {n} thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

(n) Hear my prayer, I who am your anointed king.

2Ch 7:1

7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the {a} fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

(a) By this God declared that he was pleased with Solomon's prayer.

2Ch 7:8

7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept {b} the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

(b) The feast of the tabernacles which was kept in the seventh month.

2Ch 7:9

7:9 And in the eighth day they {c} made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

(c) They assembled to hear the word of God, after they had remained seven days in the booths or tabernacles.

2Ch 7:10

7:10 And on the {d} three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

(d) They had permission to depart on the 22nd day, 1Ki 8:66 but they did not leave till the next day.

2Ch 7:14

7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will {e} heal their land.

(e) I will cause the pestilence to cease and destroy the beasts that hurt the fruit of the earth, and send rain in due season.

2Ch 7:20

7:20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have {f} sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it [to be] a proverb and a byword among all nations.

(f) Declaring that God had more concern for their salvation than for the advancement of his own glory: and where men abuse those things which God has appointed to set forth his praise, he withdraws his graces.

2Ch 8:1

8:1 And it came to pass at the end of {a} twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,

(a) Signifying that he was 20 years in building them.

2Ch 8:2

8:2 That the cities which Huram had {b} restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

(b) That is, which Hiram gave again to Solomon because they did not please him and therefore called them Cabul, that is, dirt or filth, 1Ki 9:13.

2Ch 8:4

8:4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the {c} store cities, which he built in Hamath.

(c) Meaning of munitions and treasures for the war.

2Ch 8:5

8:5 Also he built {d} Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

(d) That is, he repaired and fortified them, for they were built long before by Sherah a noble woman of the tribe of Ephraim, 1Ch 6:68,7:24.

2Ch 8:10

8:10 And these [were] the chief of king Solomon's officers, [even] {f} two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.

(f) For in all there were 3300 but here he means of them who had the principal charge, 1Ki 9:23.

2Ch 8:13

8:13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, {g} three times in the year, [even] in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

(g) Read Le 23:1-44.

2Ch 8:16

8:16 Now all the {h} work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. [So] the house of the LORD was perfected.

(h) Both for the matte and also for the workmanship.

2Ch 8:17

8:17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the {i} sea side in the land of Edom.

(i) Meaning, the Red Sea.

2Ch 8:18

8:18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence {k} four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought [them] to king Solomon.

(k) Which is thought to amount to 3,600,000 crowns, for here mention is made of 30 more than are spoken of, 1Ki 9:28.

2Ch 9:1

9:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to {a} prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

(a) To know whether his wisdom was as great as the report was.

2Ch 9:2

9:2 And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was {b} nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.

(b) There was no question so hard that he did not resolve.

2Ch 9:8

9:8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his {c} throne, [to be] king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.

(c) Meaning, that the Israelites were God's peculiar people, and that kings are the lieutenants of God, who ought to grant to him the superiority and administer justice to all.

2Ch 9:10

9:10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought {d} algum trees and precious stones.

(d) Read 2Ch 2:8,1Ki 10:11.

2Ch 9:11

9:11 And the king made [of] the algum trees {e} terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

(e) Or pillars: meaning the garnishing and trimming of the stairs or pillars.

2Ch 9:12

9:12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, {f} beside [that] which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.

(f) That is, which the king gave her for recompense of the treasure which she brought.

2Ch 9:15

9:15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets [of] beaten gold: {g} six hundred [shekels] of beaten gold went to one target.

(g) Which amounts to 2400 crowns of the sun.
(h) Or pounds, called mina, of which every one seemed to make a hundred shekels.

2Ch 9:18

9:18 And [there were] six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, [which were] {i} fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the {k} stays:

(i) That is, the steps and the footstool were fastened to the throne.
(k) Upon the pommels or knops.

2Ch 9:21

9:21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of {l} Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

(l) Which is thought by the best writers to be Cilicia, 1Ki 10:22.

2Ch 9:25

9:25 And Solomon had {m} four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

(m) That is, ten horses in every stable, which in all amounts to 40,000 as in 1Ki 4:26.

2Ch 9:27

9:27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem {n} as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that [are] in the low plains in abundance.

(n) The abundance of those temporal treasures in Solomon's kingdom is a figure of the spiritual treasures which the elect will enjoy in the heavens under the true Solomon, Christ.

2Ch 9:29

9:29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, [are] they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer {o} against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?

(o) That is, who prophesied against him.

2Ch 10:1

10:1 And Rehoboam {a} went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.

(a) After the death of Solomon.

2Ch 10:4

10:4 Thy father {b} made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

(b) That is, handled us rudely, it seems that God hardened their hearts, so that they murmured without cause, which declares also the inconstancy of the people.

2Ch 10:8

10:8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that {c} stood before him.

(c) Or, that stood by him, that is, which were of his counsel and secrets.

2Ch 10:10

10:10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou [it] somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My {d} little [finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins.

(d) Or, little finger, meaning that he was of far greater power than his father was.

2Ch 10:15

10:15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the {e} cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

(e) God's will overrides all so that nothing can be done but according to the same, and yet man's will works by itself, so that he cannot use the excuse that his deed was of God's ordinance.

2Ch 11:1

11:1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and {a} Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen [men], which were warriors, to fight against {b} Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

(a) That is, the half tribe of Benjamin for the other half went after Jeroboam.
(b) Meaning the ten tribes who rebelled.

2Ch 11:5

11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and {c} built cities for defence in Judah.

(c) Or, repaired them and made them strong to be more able to resist Jeroboam.

2Ch 11:15

11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the {d} devils, and for the calves which he had made.

(d) Meaning idols, Isa 44:15.

2Ch 11:16

11:16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their {e} hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

(e) Who were zealous of true religion and feared God.

2Ch 11:17

11:17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they {f} walked in the way of David and Solomon.

(f) As long as they feared God, and set forth his word, they prospered.

2Ch 11:22

11:22 And Rehoboam made {g} Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make him king.

(g) Called also Abijam, who reigned three years, 1Ki 15:2.

2Ch 11:23

11:23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he {h} desired many wives.

(h) He gave himself to have many wives.

2Ch 12:1

12:1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and {a} all Israel with him.

(a) For such is the inconstancy of the people, that for the most part they follow the vices of their governors.

2Ch 12:3

12:3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people [were] without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the {b} Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.

(b) Who were a people of Africa called the Troglodytes because they lived in holes.

2Ch 12:5

12:5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and [to] the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and {c} therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.

(c) Signifying that no calamity can come to us unless we forsake God, and that he never leaves us till we have cast him off.

2Ch 12:6

12:6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD [is] {d} righteous.

(d) Therefore he justly punishes you for your sins.

2Ch 12:8

12:8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my {e} service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

(e) He shows that God's punishments are not to utterly destroy his, but to chastise them, to bring them to the knowledge of themselves, and to know how much better it is to serve God than tyrants.

2Ch 12:12

12:12 And when he {f} humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy [him] altogether: and also in Judah things went well.

(f) Which declares that God does not seek the death of a sinner, but his conversion, Eze 18:32.

2Ch 12:13

12:13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam [was] one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned {g} seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name [was] Naamah an Ammonitess.

(g) That is, twelve years after he had been overcome by Shishak, 2Ch 12:2.

2Ch 13:1

13:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over {a} Judah.

(a) He means Judah and Benjamin.

2Ch 13:2

13:2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] {b} Michaiah the daughter of {c} Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

(b) Or Maacah, 1Ki 15:2.
(c) Called also Absalom, for Absalom was her grandfather, 1Ki 15:2.

2Ch 13:4

13:4 And Abijah stood up upon mount {d} Zemaraim, which [is] in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;

(d) Which was one of the peaks of mount Ephraim.

2Ch 13:5

13:5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to {e} David for ever, [even] to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

(e) Therefore whoever usurps it or takes it from that stock transgresses the ordinance of the Lord. Thus like a hypocrite he alleges the word of God for his advantage.

2Ch 13:7

13:7 And there are gathered unto him {g} vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was {h} young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

(g) This word in the Chaldee tongue is Racha, which our saviour uses, Mt 5:22.
(h) Meaning, in heart and courage.

2Ch 13:9

13:9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of [other] lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a {i} young bullock and seven rams, [the same] may be a priest of [them that are] no gods.

(i) He shows the nature of idolaters who take no trial of the calling, life and doctrine of their ministers, but think the most vile and greatest beasts sufficient to serve their turn.

2Ch 13:11

13:11 And they burn unto the LORD every {k} morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also [set they in order] upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

(k) As it was appointed in the law, Ex 29:39.

2Ch 13:12

13:12 And, behold, God himself [is] {l} with us for [our] captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

(l) Because their cause was good and approved by the Lord, they did not doubt the success and victory.

2Ch 13:13

13:13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment {m} to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment [was] behind them.

(m) Contemning the good counsel which came from the Spirit of God, he thought to have overcome by deceit.

2Ch 13:18

13:18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, {n} because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.

(n) He shows that the stay of all kingdoms and assurance of victories depends on our trust and confidence in the Lord.

2Ch 14:3

14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the {a} groves:

(a) Which were planted contrary to the Law, De 16:21.

2Ch 14:5

14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was {b} quiet before him.

(b) He shows that the rest and quietness of kingdoms stands in abolishing idolatry and advancing true religion.

2Ch 14:7

14:7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about [them] walls, and towers, gates, and bars, [while] the land [is] yet {c} before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought [him], and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

(c) While we have the full government of it.

2Ch 14:9

14:9 And there came out against them Zerah the {d} Ethiopian with an host of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came unto {e} Mareshah.

(d) The king of Ethiopia, or Egypt.
(e) Which was a city in Judah, Jos 15:44 where Michaiah the prophet was born.

2Ch 14:11

14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; {f} let not man prevail against thee.

(f) Thus the children of God neither trust in their own power or policy, nor fear the strength and subtilty of their enemies, but consider the cause and see whether their enterprises tend to God's glory, and thereupon assure themselves of the victory by him, who alone is Almighty and can turn all flesh into dust with the breath of his mouth.

2Ch 14:14

14:14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the {g} fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

(g) The Lord had stricken them with fear.

2Ch 15:1

15:1 And the Spirit of God came upon {a} Azariah the son of Oded:

(a) Who was called Obed as his father was, 2Ch 15:8.

2Ch 15:3

15:3 Now for a long season Israel [hath been] without the {b} true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

(b) For the space of twelve years under Rehoboam, and three years under Abijah, religion was neglected, and idolatry planted.

2Ch 15:4

15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he {c} was found of them.

(c) He shows that despite the wickedness of tyrants and their rage, yet God has his whom he hears in their tribulation as he delivered his from Zerah king of the Ethiopians, 2Ch 14:9,12 and out of all other dangers, when they called upon the Lord.

2Ch 15:7

15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your {d} work shall be rewarded.

(d) Your confidence and trust in God will not be frustrated.

2Ch 15:10

15:10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the {e} third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

(e) Called Shiuam, containing part of May and part of June.

2Ch 15:11

15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the {f} spoil [which] they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

(f) Which they had taken of the Ethiopians.

2Ch 15:13

15:13 That {g} whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

(g) These were the words of their covenant, which commanded all idolaters be put to death, according to the law of God, De 13:5,9,15.

2Ch 15:15

15:15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was {h} found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

(h) As long as they served him correctly, so long did he preserve and prosper them.

2Ch 15:16

15:16 And also [concerning] Maachah the {i} mother of Asa the king, he removed her from [being] queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped [it], and burnt [it] at the brook Kidron.

(i) Or grandmother, and in this he showed that he lacked zeal, for she should have died both by the covenant, as 2Ch 15:13 and by the law of God, but he gave place to foolish pity and would also seem after a sort to satisfy the law.

2Ch 15:17

15:17 But the high places were not {k} taken away out of {l} Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was {m} perfect all his days.

(k) Which was partly because of lack of zeal on his part, partly through the negligence of his officers and partly by the superstition of the people that all were not taken away.
(l) Because God was called the God of Israel, by reason of his promise to Jacob, therefore Israel is sometimes taken for Judah, because Judah was his chief people.
(m) In respect to his predecessors.

2Ch 16:1

16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa {a} Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built {b} Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

(a) Who reigned after Nadab the son of Jeroboam.
(b) He fortified it with walls and ditches: it was a city in Benjamin near Gibeon.

2Ch 16:3

16:3 [There is] a league between me and thee, as [there was] between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, {c} break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

(c) He thought to repulse his adversary by an unlawful means, that is, by seeking help from infidels, as they who seek the help of Turks, thinking by it to make themselves stronger.

2Ch 16:10

16:10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for [he was] {d} in a rage with him because of this [thing]. And Asa oppressed [some] of the people the same time.

(d) Thus instead of turning to God in repentance, he disdained the admonition of the prophet, and punished him, as the wicked do when they are told of their faults.

2Ch 16:12

16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease [was] {e} exceeding [great]: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the {f} physicians.

(e) God plagued his rebellion and by this declared that it is nothing to begin well, unless we continue to the end, that is, zealous of God's glory and put our whole trust in him.
(f) He shows that it is useless to seek the physicians unless we first seek God to purge our sins, which are the chief cause of all our diseases, and later use the help of the physicians as a means by which God works.

2Ch 17:3

17:3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the {a} first ways of his father David, and sought not unto {b} Baalim;

(a) That is, his virtues meaning before he had committed with Bathsheba, and against Uriah.
(b) Did not seek help from strange Gods.

2Ch 17:6

17:6 And his heart was {c} lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

(c) He gave himself wholly to serve the Lord.

2Ch 17:7

17:7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, [even] to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to {d} teach in the cities of Judah.

(d) He knew it was in vain to profess religion, unless such were appointed who could instruct the people in the same, and had authority to put away all idolatry.

2Ch 17:10

17:10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that [were] round about Judah, so that they {e} made no war against Jehoshaphat.

(e) Thus God prospers all who with a pure heart seek his glory, and keeps their enemies in fear, so that they are not able to execute their rage against them.

2Ch 17:16

17:16 And next him [was] Amasiah the son of Zichri, {f} who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

(f) Meaning, who was a Nazarite.

2Ch 17:19

17:19 These {g} waited on the king, beside [those] whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

(g) That is, they were at his ordinary guard.

2Ch 18:1

18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined {a} affinity with Ahab.

(a) For Joram Jehoshaphat's son married Ahab's daughter.

2Ch 18:2

18:2 And after [certain] {b} years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that [he had] with him, and persuaded him to go up [with him] to {c} Ramothgilead.

(b) That is, the third year, 1Ki 22:2.
(c) To recover it out of the hands of the Syrians.

2Ch 18:4

18:4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the {d} word of the LORD to day.

(d) Hear the advise of some prophet to know whether it is God's will.

2Ch 18:5

18:5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of {e} prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver [it] into the king's hand.

(e) Who were the prophets of Baal, signifying that the wicked esteem none but liars and such as will bear with their inordinate affections.

2Ch 18:7

18:7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, [There is] yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I {f} hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same [is] Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say {g} so.

(f) Yet the true ministers of God should not cease to do their duty, even though the wicked magistrates cannot abide them speaking the truth.
(g) Meaning, that he should not refuse to hear any that was from God.

2Ch 18:9

18:9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in [their] {h} robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

(h) That is, in their majesty and royal apparel.

2Ch 18:10

18:10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him {i} horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

(i) Read 1Ki 22:11.

2Ch 18:12

18:12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one {k} assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

(k) Thinking, that since four hundred prophets had agreed in one thing, that he being but one man and in least estimation, did not dare to go against it.

2Ch 18:14

18:14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, {l} Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

(l) He spoke this in derision of the false prophets as the king well knew.

2Ch 18:16

18:16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, {m} These have no master; let them return [therefore] every man to his house in peace.

(m) He prophesied of how the people would be scattered and Ahab slain.

2Ch 18:18

18:18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the {n} host of heaven standing on his right hand and [on] his left.

(n) Meaning his angels.

2Ch 18:21

18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And {o} [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [even] so.

(o) That is, the Lord.

2Ch 18:22

18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a {p} lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

(p) To those who would not believe the truth, God sent a strong delusion, that they would believe lies, 2Th 2:10.

2Ch 18:23

18:23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the {q} cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

(q) By this cruelty his ambition and hypocrisy was discovered; thus the hypocrites boast of the Spirit which they do not have, and declare their malice against them on whom the true Spirit is.

2Ch 18:26

18:26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of {r} affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

(r) Keep him in prison, and let him feel hunger and thirst.

2Ch 18:29

18:29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will {s} disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

(s) Thus the wicked think by their own subtilty to escape God's judgments which he threatens by his word.

2Ch 18:31

18:31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It [is] the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat {t} cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them [to depart] from him.

(t) He cried to the Lord by acknowledging his fault in going with this wicked king to war against the word of the Lord by his prophet and also by desiring mercy for the same.

2Ch 18:34

18:34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel {u} stayed [himself] up in [his] chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

(u) He disguised his wound that his soldiers might fight more courageously.

2Ch 19:2

19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, {a} Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon thee from before the LORD.

(a) He declares that the wrath of God is over everyone who supports the wicked and does not show in their actions that they are enemies to everyone that hates the Lord.

2Ch 19:4

19:4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again {b} through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.

(b) He visited all his country and brought his people from idolatry to the knowledge of the true God.

2Ch 19:6

19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who [is] {c} with you in the judgment.

(c) Both to preserve you if you do justly or to punish you, if you do the contrary.

2Ch 19:7

19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do [it]: for [there is] no {d} iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

(d) He will declare by the sharpness of the punishment that he hates all iniquity.

2Ch 19:8

19:8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and [of] the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they {e} returned to Jerusalem.

(e) The priests and Levites who should judge matters according to the word of the Lord.

2Ch 19:10

19:10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between {f} blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and [so] {g} wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.

(f) That is, to decide whether or not the murder was done on purpose, Nu 35:11,De 4:41.
(g) Meaning, that God would punish them most sharply if they would not execute justice correctly.

2Ch 19:11

19:11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest [is] over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the {h} king's matters: also the Levites [shall be] officers {i} before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the {k} good.

(h) Shall be chief overseer of the public affairs of the realm.
(i) They will have the handling of inferior causes.
(k) God will assist them that do justice.

2Ch 20:1

20:1 It came to pass after this also, [that] the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them [other] beside the {a} Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

(a) That is, who copied the Ammonites in language and apparel. The Hebrews thought that they were the Amalekites, but as it appeared by 2Ch 20:10 they were the Idumeans of mount Seir.

2Ch 20:2

20:2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the {b} sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they [be] in Hazazontamar, which [is] Engedi.

(b) Called the Dead sea, where God destroyed the five cities because of their sin.

2Ch 20:3

20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself {c} to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

(c) This declares what the fear of the godly is, which is the prick to stir them to prayer and to depend on the Lord, while it moves the wicked either to seek after worldly means and policies or else to fall into despair.

2Ch 20:7

20:7 [Art] not thou our God, [who] didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and {d} gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

(d) He grounds his prayer on God's power, by which he is able to help and also on his mercy, which he will continue toward his, as he has once chosen them and began to show his graces toward them.

2Ch 20:9

20:9 If, [when] evil cometh upon us, [as] the {e} sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name {f} [is] in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

(e) Meaning war which comes by God's just judgments for our sins.
(f) That is, it is here called on and you declared your presence and favour.

2Ch 20:12

20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes {g} [are] upon thee.

(g) We only put our trust in you, and wait for our deliverance from heaven.

2Ch 20:13

20:13 And all Judah stood {h} before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

(h) That is, before the ark of the covenant.

2Ch 20:14

20:14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came {i} the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;

(i) Who was moved by the Spirit of God to prophecy.

2Ch 20:15

20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the {k} battle [is] not yours, but God's.

(k) They fight against God and not against you, therefore he will fight for you.

2Ch 20:18

20:18 And Jehoshaphat {l} bowed his head with [his] face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

(l) Declaring his faith and obedience to the word of the Lord, and giving thanks for the deliverance promised.

2Ch 20:20

20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his {m} prophets, so shall ye prosper.

(m) Give credit to their words and doctrine.

2Ch 20:21

20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, {n} Praise the LORD; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

(n) This was a psalm of thanksgiving which they used commonly to sing when they praised the Lord for his benefits, and was made by David, Ps 136:1-26.

2Ch 20:22

20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and {o} mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

(o) Meaning, the Idumeans who dwelt in mount Seir.

2Ch 20:23

20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy [them]: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to {p} destroy another.

(p) Thus the Lord according to Jehoshaphat's prayer declared his power, when he delivered his by causing their enemies to kill one another.

2Ch 20:26

20:26 And on the fourth day they {q} assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.

(q) To give thanks to the Lord for the victory: and therefore the valley was called Berachah, that is, blessing or thanksgiving, which was also called the valley of Jehoshaphat, Joel 3:2,12 because the Lord judged the enemies according to Jehoshaphat's prayer.

2Ch 20:29

20:29 And the {r} fear of God was on all the kingdoms of [those] countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.

(r) He declares by this that the works of God always bring comfort or deliverance to his, and fear or destruction to his enemies.

2Ch 20:32

20:32 And he walked in the way of {s} Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD.

(s) Meaning, in his virtues, and those ways in which he followed God.

2Ch 20:33

20:33 Howbeit the high places were {t} not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

(t) If the great care and diligence of this good king was not able to utterly abolish all the superstition of this people, but they still retained it, how much less are they able to reform evil, who either have little zeal, or not as he had: though here he was not to be excused?

2Ch 20:37

20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast {u} joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

(u) Thus God would not have his join in company with idolaters and wicked men.

2Ch 21:2

21:2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these [were] the sons of Jehoshaphat king of {a} Israel.

(a) Read 2Ch 15:17 how by Israel he meant Judah.

2Ch 21:4

21:4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and {b} slew all his brethren with the sword, and [divers] also of the princes of {c} Israel.

(b) Because the wicked always live in fear, and also are ambitious, they become cruel and spare not to murder them, whom by nature they ought most to cherish and defend.
(c) Meaning, of Judah and Benjamin.

2Ch 21:6

21:6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to {d} wife: and he wrought [that which was] evil in the eyes of the LORD.

(d) So that we see how it cannot be that we should join with the wicked and serve God.

2Ch 21:10

21:10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time [also] did {e} Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.

(e) Read 2Ki 8:22.

2Ch 21:11

21:11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit {f} fornication, and compelled Judah [thereto].

(f) Meaning, idolatry because the idolater breaks promise with God as the adulteress does to her husband.

2Ch 21:12

21:12 And there came a writing to him from {g} Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

(g) Some think that this was Elisha so called because he had the Spirit in abundance, as had Elijah.

2Ch 21:15

21:15 And thou [shalt have] great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until {h} thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.

(h) We see this example daily practised on them who fall away from God, and become idolaters and murderers of their brethren.

2Ch 21:16

21:16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that [were] near the {l} Ethiopians:

(l) There were other Arabians in Africa southward toward Egypt.

2Ch 21:17

21:17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save {k} Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

(k) Called also Ahaziah, as in 2Ch 22:1 or Azariah in 2Ch 22:6.

2Ch 21:20

21:20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, {l} and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

(l) That is, as some write, he was not regarded but deposed for his wickedness and idolatry so that his son reigned 22 years (his father yet living) without honour, and after his father's death he was confirmed to reign still, as in 2Ch 22:2.

2Ch 22:1

22:1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the {a} Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

(a) Meaning the Philistines.

2Ch 22:2

22:2 {b} Forty and two years old [was] Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned {c} one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Athaliah the daughter {d} of Omri.

(b) Read 2Ch 21:20.
(c) That is, after the death of his father.
(d) She was Ahab's daughter, who was the son of Omri.

2Ch 22:4

22:4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his {e} counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.

(e) He shows that it follows that the rulers are as their counsellors are and that there cannot be a good king who allows wicked counsellors.

2Ch 22:7

22:7 And the destruction of Ahaziah {f} was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

(f) By this we see that nothing can come to any but by God's providence and as he has appointed, and therefore he causes everything to serve his purposes.

2Ch 22:9

22:9 And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he [is] the son of {g} Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.

(g) This was the just plague of God because he joined himself with God's enemies: yet God to declare the worthiness of Jehoshaphat his grandfather moved them to give him the honour of burial.

2Ch 22:10

22:10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and {h} destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

(h) So that there would be no one to claim the crown and so she might usurp the government.

2Ch 22:12

22:12 And he was with them hid in the {i} house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the {k} land.

(i) Meaning, in the chamber where the priests and Levites slept, who kept their courses weekly in the temple.
(k) That is, of Judah.

2Ch 23:1

23:1 And {a} in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.

(a) Of the reign of Athaliah or after the death of Ahaziah.

2Ch 23:2

23:2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the {b} chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

(b) Meaning of Judah and Benjamin. To see why they are called Israel, see Geneva (l) "2Ch 15:17"

2Ch 23:5

23:5 And a third part [shall be] at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the {c} foundation: and all the people [shall be] in the courts of the house of the LORD.

(c) Which was the chief gate of the temple toward the east.

2Ch 23:7

23:7 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever [else] cometh {d} into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.

(d) Meaning to make any tumult, or to hinder their enterprise.

2Ch 23:8

23:8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that {e} were to go [out] on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.

(e) Who had finished their course on the Sabbath and so the other part entered to keep their turn.

2Ch 23:10

23:10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the {f} temple, by the king round about.

(f) Meaning the most holy place where the ark stood.

2Ch 23:11

23:11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and [gave him] the {g} testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.

(g) That is, the book of the law or as some read they put on him his royal apparel.

2Ch 23:13

23:13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, {h} Treason, Treason.

(h) Declaring her vile impudency who having unjustly and by murder usurped the crown would still have defeated the true possessor and therefore called true obedience treason.

2Ch 23:14

23:14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso {i} followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.

(i) To join with her party and to maintain her authority.

2Ch 23:16

23:16 And Jehoiada made a {k} covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.

(k) That they would only serve him and renounce all idolatry.

2Ch 23:17

23:17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and {l} brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew {m} Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

(l) According to their covenant made to the Lord.
(m) As the Lord commanded in his law both for the person and also the city, De 13:9,15.

2Ch 23:20

23:20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the {n} high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.

(n) Which was the principal gate that the king might be seen by all the people.

2Ch 23:21

23:21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, {o} after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

(o) For where a tyrant and an idolater reigns there can be no peace for the plagues of God are always among such people.

2Ch 24:2

24:2 And Joash did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD all the days of {a} Jehoiada the priest.

(a) Who was a faithful counsellor and governed him by the word of God.

2Ch 24:5

24:5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all {b} Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened [it] not.

(b) He does not mean the ten tribes but only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

2Ch 24:6

24:6 And the king called for Jehoiada the {c} chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, [according to the commandment] of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?

(c) For he was the high priest.

2Ch 24:7

24:7 For the sons of Athaliah, that {d} wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.

(d) The scriptures call her wicked because she was a cruel murderer and a blasphemous idolater.

2Ch 24:11

24:11 Now it came to pass, that at what time {e} the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that [there was] much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

(e) Such as were faithful men whom the king had appointed for that matter.

2Ch 24:12

24:12 And the king and {f} Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.

(f) Signifying that this was done by advise and counsel and not by any one man's desire.

2Ch 24:14

24:14 And when they had finished [it], they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made {g} vessels for the house of the LORD, [even] vessels to minister, and to offer [withal], and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

(g) For the wicked kings, his predecessors and Athaliah had destroyed the vessels of the temple, or turned them to the use of their idols.

2Ch 24:16

24:16 And they buried him in the city of David among the {h} kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.

(h) Signifying that they could not honour him too much, who had so excellently served in the work of the Lord, and in the affairs of the commonwealth.

2Ch 24:17

24:17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the {i} princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.

(i) Who were liars and knew now that the king was destitute of him who watched over him as a father, and therefore brought him to most vile idolatry.

2Ch 24:19

24:19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they {k} testified against them: but they would not give ear.

(k) They took heaven and earth and all creatures to witness that unless they returned to the Lord, he would most grievously punish their infidelity and rebellion, Ne 9:26.

2Ch 24:20

24:20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood {l} above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

(l) In a place above the people, to the intent that he might be heard.

2Ch 24:21

24:21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the {m} commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.

(m) There is no rage so cruel and beastly as of them whose hearts God has hardened, and who delight more in superstition and idolatry than in the true service of God and pure simplicity of his word.

2Ch 24:22

24:22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD {n} look upon [it], and require [it].

(n) Avenge my death and require my blood at your hands: or he speaks this by prophecy because he knew that God would do it. This Zachariah is also called the son of Barachias, Mt 23:35 because his progenitors were Iddo, Berachiah, Jehoiada.

2Ch 24:24

24:24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they {o} executed judgment against Joash.

(o) That is, reproved and checked him, and handled him rigorously.

2Ch 24:25

24:25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the {p} sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.

(p) Meaning Zachariah, who was one of Jehoiada's sons and a prophet of the Lord.

2Ch 24:27

24:27 Now [concerning] his sons, and the greatness of the burdens [laid] upon him, and the {r} repairing of the house of God, behold, they [are] written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

(r) Or, foundation.

2Ch 25:2

25:2 And he did [that which was] {a} right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

(a) Meaning, in respect to his predecessors, though he had his imperfections.

2Ch 25:4

25:4 But he slew not their children, but [did] as [it is] written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the {b} children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.

(b) That is, for the fault the child is punished for unless he is guilty of the same.

2Ch 25:5

25:5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of [their] fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from {c} twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice [men, able] to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

(c) So many as were able to bear weapons and go to war.

2Ch 25:6

25:6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour {d} out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.

(d) That is, out of the ten tribes who had separated themselves before both from God and their true king.

2Ch 25:7

25:7 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD [is] not {e} with Israel, [to wit, with] all the children of Ephraim.

(e) Therefore to think to have help from them, whom the Lord does not favour, is to cast off the help of the Lord.

2Ch 25:8

25:8 But {f} if thou wilt go, do [it], be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

(f) If you will not give credit to my words.

2Ch 25:9

25:9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to {g} give thee much more than this.

(g) He shows that if we depend only on God, we will not need to be troubled by these worldly things, for he will give at all times that which will be necessary if we obey his word.

2Ch 25:11

25:11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of {h} Seir ten thousand.

(h) For the Idumeans whom David had brought to subjection rebelled under Jehoram Jehoshaphat's son.

2Ch 25:12

25:12 And [other] ten thousand [left] alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the {i} rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.

(i) In 2Ki 14:7 this rock is called the city Sela.

2Ch 25:13

25:13 But the soldiers of the {k} army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.

(k) That is, the 100,000 of Israel.

2Ch 25:14

25:14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up [to be] his gods, and {l} bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

(l) That where he should have praised God for his benefits and great victory, he fell from God and most vilely dishonoured him.

2Ch 25:15

25:15 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not {m} deliver their own people out of thine hand?

(m) He proves that whatever cannot save himself nor his worshipper is no god but an idol.

2Ch 25:16

25:16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that {n} [the king] said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be {o} smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

(n) Meaning the king.
(o) So hard it is, for the carnal man to be admonished for his fault, that he condemns, mocks and threatens him who warns him: yea, imprisons him and puts him to death, 2Ch 16:10,18:26,24:21.

2Ch 25:17

25:17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, {p} let us see one another in the face.

(p) That is, let us try the matter hand to hand: for he was offended, that the army of the Israelites whom he had in wages and dismissed by the counsel of the prophet, had destroyed certain of the cities of Judah.

2Ch 25:20

25:20 But Amaziah would not hear; for {q} it [came] of God, that he might deliver them into the hand [of their enemies], because they sought after the gods of Edom.

(q) Thus God often plagues by those means on which men must rely, to teach them to seek help only from him, and to show his judgments, he moves their hearts to follow that which will lead to their destruction.

2Ch 25:24

25:24 And [he took] all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with {r} Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

(r) Meaning, the successors of Obededom: for the house bore the name of the chief father.

2Ch 26:1

26:1 Then all the people of Judah took {a} Uzziah, who [was] sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

(a) Called also Azariah.

2Ch 26:2

26:2 He built {b} Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

(b) He fortified it and made it strong: this city was also called Elath and Elanon near the Red sea.

2Ch 26:5

26:5 And he sought God in the days of {c} Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as {d} he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

(c) This was not the Zechariah that was the son of Jehoiada, but some other prophet of that name.
(d) For God never forsakes any who seek him, and therefore man is the cause of his own destruction.

2Ch 26:8

26:8 And the Ammonites gave {e} gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad [even] to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened [himself] exceedingly.

(e) That is, they paid tribute in a sign of subjection.

2Ch 26:9

26:9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the {f} turning [of the wall], and fortified them.

(f) Where the wall or tower turns.

2Ch 26:10

26:10 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen [also], and vine dressers in the mountains, and in {g} Carmel: for he loved husbandry.

(g) That is, in mount Carmel, or as the word signifies in the fruitful field, it is also taken for a green ear of corn when it is full, Le 2:14.

2Ch 26:12

26:12 The whole {h} number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour [were] two thousand and six hundred.

(h) Of the chief officers of the king's house, or of the captains and sergeants for war.

2Ch 26:16

26:16 But when he was strong, his heart {i} was lifted up to [his] destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

(i) Thus prosperity causes men to trust in themselves and by forgetting him who is the author of it, procure their own punishment.

2Ch 26:18

26:18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, [It appertaineth] not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: {k} go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither [shall it be] for thine honour from the LORD God.

(k) Though his zeal seemed to be good and also his intention, yet because they were not governed by the word of God, he did wickedly and was therefore both justly resisted and also punished.

2Ch 26:21

26:21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a {l} several house, [being] a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son [was] over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

(l) According to the commandment of the Lord, Le 13:46.

2Ch 26:23

26:23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which [belonged] to the kings; for they said, He {m} [is] a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

(m) Therefore was buried apart in the same field but not in the same sepulchre with his predecessors.

2Ch 27:2

27:2 And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the {a} temple of the LORD. And the people did yet {b} corruptly.

(a) That is, to offer incense against the word of God, which is spoken of in the commendation of Jotham.
(b) They were not completely purged from idolatry.

2Ch 27:3

27:3 He built the high {c} gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.

(c) Which was 60 cubits high and was for the height called Ophel: it was at the east gate and mention is made of it in 2Ch 3:4.

2Ch 27:6

27:6 So Jotham became mighty, {d} because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.

(d) He shows that all prosperity comes from God, who never fails when we put our trust in him.

2Ch 28:2

28:2 For {a} he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for {b} Baalim.

(a) He was an idolater like them.
(b) As the idolaters have certain chief idols, who are as patrons (as were these Baalim) so have they others who are inferior and represent the great idols.

2Ch 28:6

28:6 For {c} Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, [which were] all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

(c) Who was king of Israel.

2Ch 28:8

28:8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren {d} two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

(d) Thus by the just judgment of God, Israel destroyed Judah.

2Ch 28:9

28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name [was] Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, {e} because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage [that] reacheth up unto heaven.

(e) For they thought they had overcome them by their own valiantness, and did not consider that God had delivered them into their hands, because Judah had offended him.

2Ch 28:10

28:10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: [but are there] not with you, even with you, {f} sins against the LORD your God?

(f) May not God also punish you for your sins as he has done these men for theirs, seeing that yours are greater?

2Ch 28:12

28:12 Then certain of the heads of the children of {g} Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,

(g) Which tribe was now greatest and had most authority.

2Ch 28:13

28:13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have {h} offended against the LORD [already], ye intend to add [more] to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and [there is] fierce wrath against Israel.

(h) God will not allow this sin which we commit against him, to go unpunished.

2Ch 28:15

28:15 And the men which were {i} expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and {k} anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their {l} brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

(i) Whose name were rehearsed before, 2Ch 28:12.
(k) Either for their wounds or weariness.
(l) To them of the tribe of Judah.

2Ch 28:16

28:16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the {m} kings of Assyria to help him.

(m) To Tiglath Pileser and those kings who were under his dominion, 2Ki 16:7.

2Ch 28:19

28:19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of {n} Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.

(n) He means Judah, because Ahaz forsook the Lord and sought help from the infidels. See Geneva (l) "2Ch 15:17" for when Judah was called Israel.

2Ch 28:23

28:23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which {o} smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may {p} help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

(o) As he falsely supposed.
(p) Thus the wicked measure God's favour by prosperity and adversity: for if idolaters prosper, they make their idols gods, not considering that God often punishes them whom he loves and gives his enemies good success for a time whom afterward he will destroy.

2Ch 28:27

28:27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, [even] in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the {q} sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

(q) They did not bury him in the city of David, where the sepulchres of the kings were.

2Ch 29:3

29:3 He in the first year of his reign, in the {a} first month, opened the {b} doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.

(a) This is a notable example for all princes, first to establish the pure religion of God and to procure that the Lord may be honoured and served correctly.
(b) Which Ahaz had shut up, 2Ch 28:24.

2Ch 29:5

29:5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth {c} the filthiness out of the holy [place].

(c) Meaning, all the idols, altar groves and whatever was occupied in their service and with which the temple was polluted.

2Ch 29:8

29:8 {d} Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

(d) He shows that the contempt of religion is the cause of all God's plagues.

2Ch 29:10

29:10 Now [it is] in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may {e} turn away from us.

(e) He proves by the judgments of God on those who have contemned his word, that there is no way to avoid his plagues, but by conforming themselves to his will.

2Ch 29:16

29:16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to {f} cleanse [it], and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took [it], to carry [it] out abroad into the brook Kidron.

(f) From the pollution and filth that Ahaz had brought in.

2Ch 29:17

29:17 Now they began on the first [day] of the {g} first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.

(g) Which contained part of March and part of April.

2Ch 29:20

29:20 Then Hezekiah the king {h} rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.

(h) By this manner of speech the Hebrews mean a certain diligence and speed to do a thing: and when there is no delay.

2Ch 29:22

29:22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and {i} sprinkled [it] on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.

(i) For without sprinkling of blood nothing could be sanctified, He 9:21, Ex 24:8.

2Ch 29:23

29:23 And they brought forth the he goats [for] the sin offering before the king and the congregation; {k} and they laid their hands upon them:

(k) That is, the king and the elders, as in Le 4:15 for they who offered a sin offering must lay their hands on it, to signify that they had deserved that death, and also that they consecrated it to God to be sanctified by it, Ex 29:10.

2Ch 29:25

29:25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for [so was] the {l} commandment of the LORD by his prophets.

(l) This thing was not appointed by man, but it was the commandment of God.

2Ch 29:27

29:27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the {m} LORD began [also] with the trumpets, and with the instruments [ordained] {n} by David king of Israel.

(m) The psalm which David had appointed to be sung for thanksgiving.
(n) Which David had appointed to praise the Lord with.

2Ch 29:30

29:30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the {o} words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

(o) With the psalm mentioned in 1Ch 16:8.

2Ch 29:33

29:33 And the {p} consecrated things [were] six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.

(p) That is, for the holy offerings.

2Ch 29:34

29:34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the [other] priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites [were] {q} more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

(q) Meaning, were more zealous to set forth the religion.

2Ch 29:36

29:36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had {r} prepared the people: for the thing was [done] suddenly.

(r) He shows that religion cannot proceed unless God touches the heart of the people.

2Ch 30:1

30:1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to {a} Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

(a) Meaning, all Israel, whom Tiglath Pilesar had not taken away into captivity, 2Ki 15:29.

2Ch 30:2

30:2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the {b} second month.

(b) Though they should have done it in the first month, as in Ex 12:18, Nu 9:3 , yet if any were not clean or else had a long journey, they could delay it to the second month, as in Nu 9:10,11.

2Ch 30:5

30:5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from {c} Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done [it] of a long [time in such sort] {d} as it was written.

(c) From one end of the land to the other, north and south.
(d) In such sort and perfection as God had appointed.

2Ch 30:6

30:6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and {e} he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

(e) He will have compassion on them and preserve them.

2Ch 30:8

30:8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers [were, but] {f} yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

(f) Submit yourselves to the Lord, and rebel no more.

2Ch 30:9

30:9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children [shall find] compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall {g} come again into this land: for the LORD your God [is] gracious and merciful, and will not turn away [his] face from you, if ye return unto him.

(g) God will not only preserve you, but through your repentance restore your brethren, who for their sins he gave into the hands of the enemies.

2Ch 30:10

30:10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they {h} laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

(h) Though the wicked mock the servants of God, by whom he calls them to repentance, as in Ge 19:14 , yet the word does not cease to ripen in the hearts of God's elect.

2Ch 30:12

30:12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one {i} heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.

(i) He shows the reason why some obey and some mock God's calling, that is, because his Spirit is with the one sort and moves in their heart, and the others are left to themselves.

2Ch 30:14

30:14 And they arose and took away the {k} altars that [were] in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast [them] into the brook Kidron.

(k) Which declares that we must put away those things with which God is offended, before we can serve him correctly.

2Ch 30:15

30:15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were {l} ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.

(l) Seeing their own negligence (who should have been most prompt) and the readiness of the people, 2Ch 29:36.

2Ch 30:16

30:16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the {m} blood, [which they received] of the hand of the Levites.

(m) That is, of the lamb of the passover.

2Ch 30:18

30:18 For a multitude of the people, [even] many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The {n} good LORD pardon every one

(n) He knew that faith and sincerity of heart were more agreeable to God than the observation of the ceremonies and therefore he prayed to God to pardon this fault to the people who did not offend out of malice, but out of ignorance.

2Ch 30:20

30:20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and {o} healed the people.

(o) That is, accepted them as purified.

2Ch 30:24

30:24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a {p} thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.

(p) This great liberality declares how kings, princes and all they to whom God has given, should be ready to bestow it in the setting forth of God's glory.

2Ch 30:27

30:27 Then the priests the Levites arose and {q} blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came [up] to his holy dwelling place, [even] unto heaven.

(q) According to that which is written in Nu 6:23 when they should dismiss the people.

2Ch 31:1

31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and {a} brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the {b} children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

(a) According to the commandment of the Lord, De 7:25, Jos 7:12.
(b) That is, all they who came to the passover.

2Ch 31:2

31:2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the {c} tents of the LORD.

(c) That is, in the temple where they assembled as in a tent.

2Ch 31:4

31:4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the {d} portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be {e} encouraged in the law of the LORD.

(d) The tithes and firstfruits for the maintenance of the priests and Levites.
(e) That their minds might not be entangled with provision of worldly things, but that they might wholly and cheerfully serve the Lord.

2Ch 31:6

31:6 And [concerning] the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things {f} which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid [them] by {g} heaps.

(f) Which they had dedicated to the Lord by a vow.
(g) For the relief of the priests, Levites, widows, pupils, fatherless, strangers, and such as were in need.

2Ch 31:8

31:8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they {h} blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

(h) They praised the Lord and prayed for all prosperity to his people.

2Ch 31:10

31:10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since [the people] began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have {i} had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left [is] this great store.

(i) He shows that this plenteous liberality is expedient for the maintenance of the ministers and that God therefore prospers his people and increases by his blessing that which is given.

2Ch 31:16

31:16 Beside their genealogy of males, {k} from three years old and upward, [even] unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

(k) Who had also a portion and allowance in this distribution.

2Ch 31:18

31:18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their {l} set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

(l) Meaning, that either by the faithful distribution of the officers, everyone had their part in the things that were offered, or else that their wives and children were relieved, because the Levites were faithful in their office, and so depended on them.

2Ch 32:5

32:5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired {a} Millo [in] the {b} city of David, and made {c} darts and shields in abundance.

(a) He made a double wall.
(b) Read 2Sa 5:9.
(c) Some read, swords or daggers.

2Ch 32:8

32:8 With him [is] an {d} arm of flesh; but with us [is] the {e} LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

(d) That is, the power of man.
(e) This declares that Hezekiah always put his trust in God, and yet made himself strong and used lawful means, lest he should seem to tempt God.

2Ch 32:9

32:9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] {f} against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying,

(f) While he besieged Lachish.

2Ch 32:12

32:12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his {g} altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

(g) Thus the wicked put no difference between true religion and false, God and idols: for Hezekiah only destroyed idolatry and replaced it with true religion. Thus the papists slander the servants of God: for when they destroy idolatry, they say that they abolish religion.

2Ch 32:14

32:14 Who [was there] among all the {h} gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

(h) This is his blasphemy that he will compare the living God to vile idols.

2Ch 32:15

32:15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of {i} mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

(i) When man has prosperity, he swells in pride, and thinks himself able to resist and overcome even God himself.

2Ch 32:16

32:16 And his servants spake yet [more] against the LORD God, and against his {k} servant Hezekiah.

(k) In this we see that when the wicked speak evil of the servants of God, they care not to blaspheme God himself for if they feared God, they would love his servants.

2Ch 32:18

32:18 Then they {l} cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that [were] on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

(l) Their words are written, 2Ki 18:19.

2Ch 32:19

32:19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the {m} work of the hands of man.

(m) Which were invented, made and authorized by man.

2Ch 32:20

32:20 And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, {n} prayed and cried to heaven.

(n) This shows what the best refuge in all troubles and dangers is.

2Ch 32:21

32:21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and {o} captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his {p} own bowels slew him there with the sword.

(o) To the number of 185,000 as in 2Ki 19:35,36.
(p) Meaning, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons.

2Ch 32:23

32:23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was {q} magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

(q) Thus after trouble God sends comfort to all them who patiently wait on him, and constantly put their trust in his mercies.

2Ch 32:24

32:24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him {r} a sign.

(r) To confirm his faith in God's promise, who declared to him by his prophet that his life would be prolonged fifteen years.

2Ch 32:25

32:25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit [done] unto him; for his heart {s} was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

(s) He was lifted up with the pride of his victory and treasures, and shows them for an ostentation to the ambassadors of Babylon.

2Ch 32:30

32:30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of {t} Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

(t) Which also was called Shiloh, of which mention is made in Isa 8:6, Joh 9:7.

2Ch 32:31

32:31 Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was [done] in the land, God left him, to {u} try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart.

(u) Here we see the reason why the faithful are tempted, which is to determine whether they have faith or not, and that they may feel the presence of God who does not allow them to be overcome by temptations, but in their weakness administers strength.

2Ch 33:6

33:6 {a} And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

(a) Read 2Ki 16:3.

2Ch 33:8

33:8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the {b} hand of Moses.

(b) By the charge given to Moses.

2Ch 33:10

33:10 And the LORD spake {c} to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

(c) Meaning by his prophets, but their hearts were not touched to believe and repent, without which the preaching of the word has no effect.

2Ch 33:13

33:13 And prayed unto him: and he was {d} intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he [was] God.

(d) Thus affliction gives understanding: for he that hated God in his prosperity now in his misery seeks him.

2Ch 33:14

33:14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of {e} Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about {f} Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.

(e) Read 2Ch 32:30.
(f) Read 2Ch 27:3.

2Ch 33:16

33:16 And he repaired the {g} altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.

(g) Which Solomon had caused to be made.

2Ch 33:17

33:17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, [yet] unto the {h} LORD their God only.

(h) Thus by ignorance they were deceived, thinking it nothing to keep the altars, so that they worshipped God: but it is idolatry to worship God any other way than he has appointed.

2Ch 33:18

33:18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his {i} prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they [are written] in the book of the kings of Israel.

(i) Which although it is not contained in the Hebrew, yet because it is here mentioned and is written in the Greek, we have placed it in the end of this book.

2Ch 33:20

33:20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own {k} house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

(k) Because he had so horribly offended against the Lord, they did not bury him in the sepulchres of the kings, but in the garden of the king's house.

2Ch 34:2

34:2 And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of {a} David his father, and declined [neither] to the right hand, nor to the left.

(a) He followed David in all points that he followed the Lord.

2Ch 34:3

34:3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet {b} young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

(b) When he was but sixteen years old he showed himself zealous of God's glory, and at twenty years old he abolished idolatry and restored the true religion.

2Ch 34:4

34:4 And they brake down {c} the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that [were] on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust [of them], and strowed [it] upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

(c) Which shows that he would see the reformation with his own eyes.

2Ch 34:5

34:5 And he burnt the {d} bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

(d) Read 2Ki 23:16.

2Ch 34:7

34:7 And when he had {d} broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

(d) This great zeal of this godly king the Holy Spirit sets forth as an example and pattern to other kings and rulers, to teach them what God requires of them.

2Ch 34:10

34:10 {e} And they put [it] in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:

(e) Meaning Shaphan, etc.

2Ch 34:11

34:11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they [it], to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the {f} houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

(f) For there were many portions and pieces annexed to the temple.

2Ch 34:12

34:12 And the men did the work {g} faithfully: and the overseers of them [were] Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set [it] forward; and [other of] the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.

(g) Meaning that they were in such credit for their fidelity that they made no accounts of that which they received, 2Ki 22:7,9.

2Ch 34:14

34:14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a {h} book of the law of the LORD [given] by Moses.

(h) Read 2Ki 22:8.

2Ch 34:16

34:16 And Shaphan carried the book to {i} the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do [it].

(i) For the king was commanded to continually have a copy of this book and to read in it day and night, De 17:18.

2Ch 34:19

34:19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he {k} rent his clothes.

(k) For sorrow that the word of God had been so long suppressed and the people kept in ignorance, considering also the curses contained in it against the transgressors.

2Ch 34:21

34:21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great [is] the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our {l} fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

(l) Thus the godly not only lament their own sins, but also that their fathers and predecessors have offended God.

2Ch 34:22

34:22 And Hilkiah, and [they] that the king [had appointed], went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the {m} wardrobe;
(now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the {n} college:) and they spake to her to that [effect].

(m) Meaning, either of the priests apparel or the kings.
(n) Read 2Ki 22:15.

2Ch 34:23

34:23 And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye {o} the man that sent you to me,

(o) That is, to the king.

2Ch 34:25

34:25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their {p} hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

(p) This she speaks in contempt of the idolaters, who contrary to reason and nature call a god that which they have made and framed with their own hands.

2Ch 34:27

34:27 Because thine heart was {q} tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard [thee] also, saith the LORD.

(q) This declares the end of God's threatenings, to call his to repentance, and to assure the unrepentant of their destruction.

2Ch 34:28

34:28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this {r} place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.

(r) It may appear that very few were touched with true repentance, seeing that God spared them for a time only for the king's sake.

2Ch 34:30

34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and {s} small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

(s) Though neither young nor old could be exempted from the curses contained in it, if they did transgress, he knew it pertained to all and was his duty to see it read to all sorts, that everyone might learn to avoid those punishments by serving God correctly.

2Ch 34:33

34:33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that [pertained] to the children of Israel, and made all {t} that were present in Israel to serve, [even] to serve the LORD their God. [And] all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

(t) Because he had charge over all, and must answer for everyone that perished: he thought it his duty to see that all should make profession to receive the word of God.

2Ch 35:1

35:1 Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the {a} passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.

(a) The scripture in various places calls the lamb the "passover" even though it is only the sign of the passover for in all sacraments the signs have the names of the things signified.

2Ch 35:3

35:3 And said unto the Levites that {b} taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; [it shall] not [be] a {c} burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,

(b) So that the Levites charge was not only to minister in the temple, but also to instruct the people in the word of God.
(c) As it was before the temple was built: therefore your office is to teach the people and to praise God.

2Ch 35:6

35:6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and {d} prepare your brethren, that [they] may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

(d) Exhort everyone to examine themselves to ensure that they are not unfit to eat the passover.

2Ch 35:9

35:9 {e} Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand [small cattle], and five hundred oxen.

(e) So that every one and of all sorts gave of what they had, a liberal portion to the service of God.

2Ch 35:11

35:11 And they killed the passover, and the priests {f} sprinkled [the blood] from their hands, and the Levites flayed [them].

(f) Meaning, of the lamb, which was called the passover, for only the priests could sprinkle, and in necessity the Levites could kill the sacrifice.

2Ch 35:12

35:12 And they removed the {g} burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as [it is] written in the book of Moses. And so [did they] with the oxen.

(g) They reserved for the people that which was not expedient to be offered, that every man might offer peace offerings, and so have his portion.

2Ch 35:15

35:15 And the singers the sons of Asaph [were] in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's {h} seer; and the porters [waited] at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.

{h} Meaning, by this his prophet, because he appointed the psalms and prophecies which were to be sung.

2Ch 35:19

35:19 In {i} the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.

(i) Which was in his 26th year.

2Ch 35:20

35:20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against {k} Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.

(k) Which was a city of the Assyrians and Josiah fearing lest in passing through Judah he would have taken his kingdom, made war against him and did not consult the Lord.

2Ch 35:22

35:22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but {l} disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

(l) That is, armed or disguised himself so that he would not be recognized.

2Ch 35:24

35:24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in [one of] the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem {m} mourned for Josiah.

(m) The people so lamented the loss of this good king that after when there was any great lamentation this was spoken of as a proverb, Zec 12:11.

2Ch 35:25

35:25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: 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: and, behold, they [are] written in the {n} lamentations.

(n) Which some think Jeremiah wrote, in which he laments the state of the church after this king's death.

2Ch 36:2

36:2 Jehoahaz [was] twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three {a} months in Jerusalem.

(a) Three months after the death of Josiah, Necho came to Jerusalem, and so the plagues began, which Huldah and the prophets forewarned would come on Jerusalem.

2Ch 36:3

36:3 And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an {b} hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

(b) To pay this as a yearly tribute.

2Ch 36:5

36:5 Jehoiakim [was] twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did [that which was] {c} evil in the sight of the LORD his God.

(c) Because he and the people did not turn to God by his first plague, he brought a new one on him, and at length rooted them out.

2Ch 36:8

36:8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and {d} that which was found in him, behold, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

(d) He means superstitious marks which were found on his body when he was dead, which declared how deeply idolatry was rooted in his heart, seeing he bore the marks in his flesh.

2Ch 36:9

36:9 Jehoiachin [was] {e} eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD.

(e) That is, he began his reign at eight years old, and reigned ten years when his father was alive, and after his father's death, which was in his eighteenth year, he reigned alone three months and ten days.

2Ch 36:15

36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, {f} rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

(f) By this phrase the scripture means often and diligently as in Jer 11:7,25:3,26:5,32:33.

2Ch 36:16

36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no {g} remedy.

(g) Till God could no longer allow their sins, but must punish them.

2Ch 36:17

36:17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword {h} in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he {i} gave [them] all into his hand.

(h) Where they fled, thinking to have been saved for the holiness of it.
(i) Which is not because God approves him, who yet is the minister of his justice, but because God would by his just judgment punish this people: for this king was led with ambition and vain glory, to which were joined fury and cruelty: therefore his work was condemnable, even though it was just and holy on God's part, who used this wicked instrument to declare his justice.

2Ch 36:20

36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of {k} Persia:

(k) When Gyrus king of Persia had made the Babylonians subject.

2Ch 36:21

36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the {l} mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: [for] as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

(l) Who threatened the vengeance of God and 70 years captivity, which he called the sabbaths or rest of the land, Jer 25:11.

2Ch 36:22

36:22 Now in the {m} first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD [spoken] by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,

(m) In the first year that he reigned over the Chaldeans, Ezr 1:1.

2Ch 36:23

36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath {n} charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. Who [is there] among you of all his people? The LORD his God [be] with him, and let him go up.

(n) God had so forewarned by his prophet over 100 years before Cyrus was born, Isa 44:28 that Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt by Cyrus his anointed: so called because God used his service for a time to deliver his Church.

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