Second Chronicles
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
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.