2 Kings 12

A. M. B, C. 884. k shields, that were in the temple of the over Edem. 8 Amaziah, provoking Jehoash, is overcome and spoiled. 15 Jer

Notes on the verses

Chap. XIL. Ver. 10. Put wp in bags.—(Sir J. Chardin, in a MS. note on ere in- “itis a custom of Persia always to Tobit ix. 5. cited hy Harmer, informs us, é seal up bags of money; and the money of the king’s treasure is not told, but is received by bags sealed up.”’ These are what are called in the Fast purses; each of which, as Maillet informs us, contains money to the amount of 1500 thus collected for the re- So Pitts relates, that in some of 00 of our money. ‘The mone livres, or about $290 none ave been reckoned in bags paration of the temple, seems, In like manner, to as we can scarcely imagine the placing it in of equal value to each other; 1 bags would otherwise bave been mentioned. The value of a Jewish purse 18 unknown; but the bags mentioned in Chap.

vy. 23. amounted to a talent. J— Yet this seems not peculiar to Joash succeedeth him. A. M. Elisha dying prophesieth to Joash three victories over the Syrians. 20’The Moabites invading the land, Elisha’s bones raise up a dead man. 22 Hazael dying, Joash getteth three victories over Ben-hadad. N *the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper 2? Because ye have forsaken him, he hath forsaken you.” Upon this, they stoned him with stones “at the commandment of the king,” m the court of the Lord’s house. “Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son!”

How base the ingratitude! yet still more base his apostacy from the God of Israel, in whose service he had been trained and instructed from his earliest years. The murdered priest, in his last hours, according to the severity of the dispensation under which he lived (for he had not the example of a Saviour, who in the hour of death prayed for his murderers !)—the murdered priest imprecated on them the justice of heaven—“ The Lord look upon it and require it !”” ((2 Chronicles 24:15-22).) It was required: for, at the end of the same year, the Ver. 13. Were not made.—{That is, there were no vessels made for the service of the temple till all the outward repairs were completed; hut, when this was done, ‘‘ they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels of gold and silver, ((2 Kings 24:14).) to replace those which had been taken away by Athaliah and her sons. ]—Bagster, Ver. 18. Jehoash took the hallowed things.—-[He dearly bought, by. such unhallowed means, a peace which was of short duration; for the next year Ha- | rect sense. a battle, which he lost, and the principal part of his nobility, so that Judah was totally ruined, and Jehoash soon after slain in his bed by his own servants. |—Bagster. Ver. 21. Jozachar.—{This person is called Zabad -in Chronicles, and Shimeath his mother is said to be an Ammonitess; and Jehozabad is snid to be the son, not of Shomer, but of Shimrith, a Moabitess. Who the Suthers of these two persons were we know not; they were probably Soreigners and aliens.

Some suppose that they belonged to the king’s chamber, and therefore could have easy access to him. }|— Bagster. Chap. XII. Ver. 1. Inthe three and twentieth (or 23d) year of Joash king of Judah.—This Joash (also frequently called Jehoash) must be distinguished rom Joash king of Israel. The kings of Israel and Judah sometimes bearing the same name, great care is requisite to prevent “onfusion. Jehoahaz began his reign at the commencement of the 23d year of Jorsh king of Judah, and revened 17 years; i. e. 14 alone, and 3 with his son Joash, king of Israel. Ver. 3. Alt their dazs.—As the word their is notin the original, Scott would 12 And ? the rest of the acts of Joash, andall that he did, and his might wherewith he fought ‘against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the q 0.14.9, feo, 2 Ch.25, kings of Israel ?

1, &e. 13 And Joash slept with his fathers; and Syrians came up against them, and though with but ‘‘a small company of men,” the Lord “delivered a very great host into hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their ((2 Chronicles 24:23-24).) And, on this occasion, the king was compelled to give up the treasures of the house of the Lord into the ands of Hazael, to bribe him to return home. Judgment was also “executed against Joash” himself, for his own servants conspired against him, for the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, (where he and they buried him in ‘‘was in great disease,’’) and he died; the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.” ((2 Chronicles 24:25).)