2 Chronicles 22

Notes on the verses

Ver. 11. In the mountains.—For mountains, the LXX., Vulgate, and 49 MSS. read, “cities.” The fornication here referred to is doubtless idolatry; but this also generally involved the literal crime. Ver. 12. A writing to him from Elijah.—But Elijah, it is calculated, must have died 13 years before this period. Our translators subjoin this note: “Which was writ before his assumption, (2 Kings 2:1).” Elijah might have known Jehoram before he came to the crown, and foreseeing his character and conduct, might have left this warning to be delivered to him after he became. Ver. 14. Smite thy people.—Many of the people had concurred in Jehoram’s idolatry: and some of them must have been instruments in his base, unnatural murders: they were therefore joined in his punishment, and he suffered by the loss of his subjects.

—Bagster. Ver. 15. Disease of bowels.—This is supposed to have been a violent dysentery, a disease which is often attended with symptoms similar to those described in the text, (Dr. Mead;) by the same death perished Antiochus, Epiphanes, and Herod Agrippa.—Bagster. Ver. 18. An incurable disease.—An inflammation, probably, that ended in Ver. 19. Like the burning of his fathers.—Dr. John Edwards was of opinion that when the Jews embalmed the bodies of their kings for burial, they usually extracted the bowels, and burned them with a quantity of spices: but the bowels having already been brought away by disease, therefore they made no burning for him. Ver. 20. Without being desired.—(That is, without being regretted: no one wished him to live any longer.

He was hated while he lived, and neglected when he died. (2 Chronicles 22:21). (Proverbs 10:7). (Jeremiah 22:18, 28).)—Bagster. (2 Chronicles 22)—The facts of this chapter may be found, (2 Kings 8:24-29).; ix. 10—27.; xi. 1—3. Ver. 2. Forty and two.—(2 Kings 8:26). we read, “Twenty and two,” which must doubtless be the true reading, as the reading here makes him two years older than his father, for he died at 40; (2 Kings 8:17). The Syriac and Arabic, and one Heb. MS. read 22. Of the LXX., the Vatican and Alexandrian copies read, “twenty;” the Aldine, 22. Ver. 6. Azariah.—This appears to be another mistake of the copyists; everywhere else he is called Ahaziah, or Jehoahaz, which last was provably the name he bore before he came to the crown.

17 MSS., LXX., Syriac, &c. read Ahaziah in this place.—De Rossi. Ver. 9. They brought him to Jehu.—The account in the parallel passage is somewhat different. “The current of the story at large is this,” says Dr. Lightfoot, “Jehu slayeth Joram in the field of Jezreel, as Ahaziah and Joram were together: Ahaziah seeing this, flies, and gets into Samaria, and hides himself there. Jehu marcheth to Jezreel, and makes Jezebel dog’s meat: from thence sends to Samaria for the heads of Ahab’s children and posterity; which are brought him by night, and showed to the people in the morning. Then he marches to Samaria, and, by the way, slayeth forty-two of Ahab’s kinsmen; and findeth Jebonadab, the father of the Rechabites.

Coming into Samaria, he maketh search for Ahaziah: they find him hid, bring him to Jehu, and he commands to carry him towards Gur, by [ ] They do so: smite him in his chariot, and giddo before he dies.” —Bagster. Chap. XXII This chapter is a repetition of (2 Kings 11)ver. 4 to the end, with some variation of order and circumstances. Ver. 2. Fathers of Israel.—Houdigant omits the words of Israel. Bp. Patrick, however, is of opinion, that Judah is here called by the general name of Israel: but it is probable, that these “chief of the fathers of Israel” were the descendants of those priests and Levites, and other pious persons of the ten tribes, who left their cities and possessions, and joined themselves to Judah, in the days of Jeroboam.—Bagster.

Ver. 9. Which were in the house of God.—When the soldier retired from the tumults of war, to the bosom of his family, he frequently hung up his arms in the temple, as a grateful acknowledgment of the protection he had received, and of the victories he had won. Ovid more than once alludes to this custom: “The battered soldier, worn out with age and the toils of war, devotes the arms which he formerly bore to his ancient household gods.” It is highly probable, therefore, that the arms of David which Jehoiada delivered to the captains of hundreds, “which were in the house of God,” were laid up in the tabernacle by David when he resigned the command of his armies to his generals; and there is reason to believe that his conduct, in this respect, was followed by many of his companions in arms.

—Bagster. Ver. 11. The crown.—The Rabbins say, that this was the crown of the king of the Ammonites, which David wore, and which was preserved in the house of Judah. See (2 Samuel 20:30-31). Ver. 14. Of the ranges.—The Vulgate has here, and in the parallel place, “Take her out beyond the precincts of the temple.” These were walls erected in parallel lines, and forming an extensive range of buildings around the sacred edifice.—Bagster. Ver. 15. Horse gate—This gate was in the eastern wall of the city, towards the brook Kidron, ((Jeremiah 31:40).) at which the king’s horses probably went out from the stables at Millo. It was near the temple; and some Rabbins suppose that, in order to go to the temple, a person might go on horseback to this place, but was then obliged to alight.

—Bagster. Ver. 18. Ordained by David.—For the regulations of David relative to the priests, the singers, and the porters, see (1 Chronicles 23:6), &c. and following (2 Chronicles 24)This chapter, in like manner, corresponds to 2 Kings ch. xii. throughout, with some variations as noticed below. Ver. 1. Joash.—As Joash was hidden six years in the temple, and was but seven when he came to the throne, he could have been but one year old when secreted by his aunt.—Bagster. Ver. 3. Took for him two wives.—(Not for himself, as the Jewish expositors suppose, but for Joash: for Jehoiada’s advanced age renders it highly im-