Jehu dies after reigning B. C. 884. CHAPTER XI. A. M. 3120 30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 31 But Jehu 14 took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from "the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. could easily part with that worship, and labour to destroy it; but the worship of the calves was a politie idolatry, begun and kept up for reasons of state, to prevent the return of the ten tribes to the house of David, and therefore Jehu clave to it. But true religion is not only a conversion from those sins which are hostile to our secular interests, but from those that appear to be friendly to them; in forsaking which is the great trial, whether we can deny ourselves for God, and trust in him. twenty and two years. B. C. 884. 33 From Jordan 16 eastward, all the A. M. 3120. land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, 17 even Gilead and Bashan. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35 And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead. 36 And 18 the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years. about a hundred and twenty years: for no services Verse 31. But Jehu took no care to walk in the Verse 30. The Lord said unto Jehu-By some Verse 32. In those days—In the time of Jehu's life and reign, verse 34. The Lord began to cut Israel short-Either to diminish the number of the people by cutting them off, or to straiten their borders. Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel—In their borders, or the outermost part of their land, beyond Jordan, as it is explained verse 33; and at this time, probably, he executed the cruelties predicted by Elisha, chap. viii. 12. CHAPTER XI. Athaliah destroys all the seed royal, except Joash, who is saved by Jehosheba, and hid six years in the house of God, 1–3. Joash escapes the A. M. 3120. B. C. 884. II. KINGS. AND b destruction of Athaliah. B. C. 878. B. C. 878. ND when a Athaliah the mother || the LORD six years. And Athaliah A. M. 3126. of Ahaziah saw that her son was did reign over the land. dead, she arose and destroyed all the 'seed royal. 4 And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over 2 But 2 Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jo-hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and ram, sister of Ahaziah, took 3 Joash the son of brought them to him into the house of the Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's LORD, and made a covenant with them, and sons which were slain; and they hid him, even took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, him and his nurse, in the bed-chamber, from and showed them the king's son. Athaliah, so that he was not slain. 5 And he commanded them, saying, This is 3 And he was with her hid in the house of the thing that ye shall do: A third part of you a 2 Chron. xxii. 10.- b Chapter viii. 26.1 Heb. seed of the kingdom. NOTES ON CHAPTER XI. || Verse 1. And destroyed all the seed royal-All of the royal family that had not been cut off by Jehu and others, except one, mentioned verse 2. To this wickedness she was impelled by many motives: 1st, By rage to see Ahab's family destroyed, which made her resolve that the family of David should share the same fate. 2d, By ambition and desire of rule, to make way for which many persons have destroyed their nearest relations. 3d, By her zeal for idolatry || and the worship of Baal, which she intended to establish, and to which she knew the house of David were implacable enemies. 4th, By a regard to her own defence, that, by getting into the throne, which she could not do without destroying the royal family, she might secure herself from Jehu's fury, who, she understood, was resolved utterly to destroy all the branches of Ahab's house, of which she was one. Possibly those whom she slew were Jehoram's children by another wife. This was the fruit of Jehoshaphat's marrying his son to a daughter of that idolatrous house of Ahab: and this dreadful judg-|| ment God permitted to come upon him and his, to show how much he abhors all such affinities. "The consideration of the fate," says Dr. Dodd, "which attended these royal families, is sufficient to make one thankful to God for having been born of meaner parentage. The whole offspring of Jeroboam, Baasha, and Ahab, was cut off for their idolatry; and the kings of Judah, having contracted an affinity with the house of Ahab, and being by them seduced into the same crime, were so destroyed, by three successive massacres, that there was but one left: for first Jehoram slew all his brethren, then Jehu all his brother's children, and now Athaliah destroys all the rest that her executioners can meet with." Verse 2. But Jehosheba-Called Jehoshabeath, 2 Chron. xxii. 11; the daughter of King JoramNamely, by another wife, and not by this Athaliah: for Athaliah would not have suffered her daughter to be married to the high-priest of the true God, nor would he, in all likelihood, have married the daughter of such an idolatrous woman. Stole him from among the king's sons, &c.-Either took him from among the slain, he happening not to be quite despatched; or else secretly conveyed him away, before the execution was done. And they hid him—Je || 22 Chron. xxii. 11, Jehoshabeath. - Or, Jehoash.- - 2 Chron. xxiii. 1, &c. hosheba and her husband Jehoiada. And his nurse, in the bed-chamber-Which, according to the next verse, was in the house of the Lord: so that it was one of those chambers adjoining to the temple, that were for the uses of the priests and Levites only, which made it more proper for this purpose. Now was the promise made to David bound up in one life, and yet it did not fail. Thus to the son of David will God, according to his promise, secure a spiritual seed; which, though sometimes reduced to a small number, brought very low, and seemingly lost, yet will be preserved to the end of time. It was a special providence, that Joram, though a king, a wicked king, married his daughter to Jehoiada, a priest, a holy priest: this some might think a disparagement to the royal family, but it saved the royal family from ruin; for Jehoiada's interest in the temple gave her an opportunity to preserve the child, and her interest in the royal family gave him an opportunity of setting him on the throne. See what blessings they lay up in store for their families, who marry their children to those that are wise and good. Verse 3. He was hid with her six years-Probably Athaliah thought they were dead; or, if she suspected this child was preserved, she supposed an infant could do her no great harm; and that she could so well establish herself in the possession of the kingdom within a few years, that she need not fear any such weak competitor. And Athaliah did reign over the land-Which she had the better opportunity of doing, because she was not only the late king's wife, but also, probably, made queenregent upon Joram's going to Ramoth-gilead. Verse 4. With the captains and the guard-The chief commanders of the soldiery, and those that had been the former king's guard; for it is not likely that he would dare to call the guard of the present queen: and it is probable that the former could not well brook the dominion of a woman, and that woman a foreigner. And brought them into the house of the Lord-Into the courts of that house; for into the house itself, strictly speaking, none but the priests or Levites might enter. And showed them the king's son-He discovered to them the true heir of the crown, and they entered into a covenant to restore him, which they confirmed with an oath. Verses 5, 6. A third part of you-Of the Levites, Joash is made king by B. C. 878. B. C. 878. A. M. 3126. that enter in on the sabbath shall || with them that should go out on the A. M. 3126. even be keepers of the watch of the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. king's house; who were distributed into twenty-four courses, to minister in turns, each course consisting of about a thousand men for a week. That enter in, &c. That come into the temple to attend your ministry. Shall be keepers of the king's house-Of that part which led to the king's palace, which Athaliah now possessed. A third part shall be at the gate of Sur --The chief gate of the temple, called the high gate, 2 Kings xv. 35; the foundation gate, 2 Chron. xxiii. 5; the east gate, Jer. xix. 2; the middle gate, Jer. Xxx. 3; and the gate of entrance, Ezek. xl. 15. A third part at the gate behind the guard-Either, 1st, The king's guard: or, 2d, The guard of the temple; this gate was in the south side. So shall ye keep, &c.-So you shall guard all the gates or entrances into the temple, that neither Athaliah nor any of her soldiers may break in. Heb. let the king live. 1 Samuel x. 24. 82 Chron. xxiii. 12, &c. defensive weapons, both for themselves and for all their soldiers; for they had all come into the temple unarmed, to prevent suspicion. These are called David's, either because they were such as he had taken from his enemies, and had dedicated to God, and laid up in the temple as monuments of God's goodness to him; or because he had made a sacred armory in the temple, whence arms might be taken upon extraordinary occasions, for the defence of the temple or city of God. Verse 11. The guard stood from the right to the left corner of the temple-From the south-east to the north-east side. Along by the altar-Of burnt-offerings, which was by the great eastern gate of the temple. The meaning is, they defended the temple on all sides. Verse 12. And put the crown upon him-Having Verses 7, 8. Two parts that go forth on the sab-produced Joash, he put the crown on his head, bath-Who, having finished their course, should have which, it is likely, was kept in the sanctuary. And gone home, but were detained, 2 Chron. xxiii. 8. gave him the testimony-The book of the law, Stall keep-While the rest guard the entrances into which he put into the king's hand to remind him of the temple, these shall have a special care of the his duty at his entrance upon his kingdom, which King's person. Ye shall compass the king, &c.— was to read and write out that holy book, (Deut. When you have set your watches and guards, all xvii. 18,) and to govern himself and his kingdom by the rest of you shall draw near to the king, to pre- it; the law of God being frequently and most proserve his royal person from all assaults and dangers. perly called a testimony, because it is a witness of He that cometh within the ranges-Or fences, the God's will, and man's duty. They made him king, walls wherewith the courts of the temple were envi- and anointed him-As was wont to be done in roned; or your ranks. If any of Athaliah's guard doubtful cases, when there was any competition or shali attempt to break in upon you, or come within question about the crown, as now there was. Your bounds. As he goeth out, and as he cometh in -Whether the king shall go out of the temple to assault and subdue his enemies, or retire hither to defend himself, do you always accompany him. Verse 10. To the captains did the priest give King David's spears and shields-Offensive and Verse 13. She came to the people-To inquire into the cause of this great noise; being hitherto kept in deep ignorance, because the affair was managed with so much secrecy, and in the temple; and because the people universally hated her, and wished her downfall. Into the temple of the Lord-That is, Jehorada restores B. C. 878. II. KINGS. B. C. 878. the worship of God. A. M. 3126. 14 And when she looked, behold, || 18 And all the people of the land A. M. 3126. the king stood by a pillar, as the went into the 'house of Baal, and manner was, and the princes and the trumpet- brake it down; his altars and his images ers by the king, and all the people of the land brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew rejoiced, and blew with trumpets. And Athaliah || Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, treason! And the priest appointed officers over the 15 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the house of the LORD. captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the || ranges and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD. 16 And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain. 17¶And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD's people; tween the king also and the people. be Chapter xxiii. 3; 2 Chron. xxxiv. 31.- 1 Chron. xxiii. 16. k 2 Sam. v. 3.- Chap. x. 26. 19 And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. 20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house. 21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign. ni Deut. xii. 3; 2 Chron. xii. 17.- 2 Chron. xxiii. 18, &c. 9 Heb. offices.2 Chron. xxiv. 1. into the courts, into which, being a queen, she was Lord, &c.-A sacred covenant, whereby he solemnpermitted to enter, though contrary to the generally engaged both the king and people, that they order, verse 8. She seems, in her fright, to have come alone, or with but few attendants. and should be the Lord's people-That they should renounce and root out all idolatry, and set up maintain God's true worship. Between the king also and the people-This was a civil covenant, whereby the king engaged himself to rule them justly, and in the fear of God; and the people obliged themselves to defend and obey him. Compare 2 Sam. v. 3. Verse 18. All the people went into the house of Verse 14. Behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was-It is generally supposed that the royal throne was erected near one of the pillars, described 1 Kings vii. 15, 21, unless we may suppose that what is here called a pillar was that brazen scaffold five cubits long, &c., which Solomon made at first on his dedicating the temple, (2 Chron. vi. 13,) and which was afterward continued for the king|| Baal-They began immediately to make good their to appear upon on solemn occasions, and where, doubtless, there was a throne of state. See Calmet. Verse 15. Jehoiada commanded the officers of the host-Of those companies of Levites, who are elsewhere called the Lord's host, and now were the king's host. Have her forth without the ranges— Through which they had suffered her to come. she will not go out of them of her own accord, force her out of them. And him that followeth her, kill with the sword—If any of the people that shall come hither on this occasion, shall stand up for her help, let them be slain. Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord-That is, in the court of the temple, lest it be polluted with her blood. If Verse 16. They laid hands on her―The Hebrew, On 1, Jashimu lah jadaim, may be properly rendered, Then they gave her room, or left her a free passage to depart out of the temple. Thus Houbigant, after the Chaldee. And she went by the way, &c.-By the great public road, by which horses and chariots went to the palace. And there was she slain-In an ignominious place and manner, as her mother Jezebel had been. Verse 17. Jehoiada made a covenant between the covenant in part, by destroying the worship of Baal, which had been introduced in Judah by Jehoram, (chap. viii. 18,) and was continued by Ahaziah, verse 27. And slew the priest of Baal before the altars— To which possibly he fled for refuge, or rather he was brought thither as a fit sacrifice to his god. The priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord-To see that the service was regularly performed by the proper persons, in due time, and according to the instituted manner. See the margin. Verses 19, 20. He took the rulers over hundreds, &c.-Brought them out of the temple, that they might conduct the king in state to the royal palace. By the way of the gate of the guard-By the gate of the royal palace, where the king's guard stood. And he sat on the throne of the kings-Which was the accomplishment of his inauguration. And all the people rejoiced-Josephus says, they kept a feast of joy many days; making good Solomon's observation: When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth, and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. Verse 21. Seven years old was Jehoash, &c.-Being so very young, he was very unfit for so weighty Jehoash reigns well CHAPTER XII. all the days of Jehoiaaa. a charge; but he was under the direction of so ex- was seduced by some great men about him to idolcellent a counsellor, that, while Jehoiada lived, all || atry, (2 Chron. xxiv. 17,) which shows him to have things went well, and the nation was prosperous been a weak prince, who wanted judgment in things and happy. But after that good man was dead, hell of the greatest moment. A. M. 3126. CHAPTER XII. a IN the seventh year of Jehu, * Jeho- || ash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. е d B. C. 856. Jehash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada, 1-3. He gives orders for repairing the temple, 4-16. Diverts Hazael from 2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. NOTES ON CHAPTER XII. Verse 2. Jehoash did what was right, &c.-Having, 1st, such a good director as Jehoiada was, so wise, experienced, and faithful: and, 2d, so much wisdom as to hearken to him, and be directed by him. Here we learn of what advantage it is to princes, especially while they are young, and indeed to young people in general, to have good instructers and counsellors about them. And they then act wisely for themselves, when they are willing to be counselled and ruled by such. Verse 3. But the high places were not taken away -The people were so much and so strangely addicted to these private altars, (on which they sacrificed to the true God,) that the preceding kings, though men of riper years and greater power and Courage than Jehoash, and firmly established on their thrones, were not able to remove them. And, therefore, it is not strange that Jehoiada could not now take them away, when the king was young, and not well settled in his kingdom, and when the people were more corrupt and disorderly through Athaliah's mal-administration. the temple. As it appears from 2 Chron. xxiv. 5, Verse 5. Let the priests take it to them, &c.-Let see 2 Chron. xxiv. 7. Verses 6-8. In the three and twentieth year of Jehoash, the priests had not repaired, &c.—They were |