2 Chronicles 35

2 Chronicles 35:3

By whose. Sept. “the powerful in Israel, that they might be sanctified to the Lord; and they put,” &c. Heb. “who instructed all Israel, the holy people of the Lord: Put,” &c. H. — No more. Heb. adds, “upon your shoulders;” (H.) whence it is inferred, that it had been carried about the cities of Juda, under the impious kings, who would not suffer it in the temple. C. — Some believe that it was kept in the house of Sellum, the uncle of Jeremias, and husband of Olda. S. Jerom, Trad. T.

2 Chronicles 35:5

Families. Heb. adds, “according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren, the people, (H.; or laics. C.) and the division of the families of the Levites.” All were placed, with great order, in the temple.

2 Chronicles 35:6

Which. Heb. “of the Lord, by the hand of Moses,” which ordinances he has written down. M.

2 Chronicles 35:7

In. Heb. “for the Passover-offerings, from the flock, lambs and kids, in number 30,000.” Et reliqui pecoris, is not expressed. H. — The small cattle might be intended for other sacrifices. M.

2 Chronicles 35:8

Offered. Heb. “gave to the people.” H. — Rulers: the first alone was high priest. C. — Small cattle: literally, cattle of different sorts;" commixtim. Protestants supply, “small cattle,” which is not in Hebrew. H. — Syriac and Arabic have, “sheep;” but we had best follow (C.) the Sept. “sheep, both lambs and kids.” Either would suffice, Ex. xii. 5.

2 Chronicles 35:9

Cattle. Protestants again supply these words. Sept. have, “sheep.” H.

2 Chronicles 35:11

Blood is expressed in the Sept. and understood in Hebrew. H. — With. Heb. and Sept. “from their hands;” (H.) receiving it from the officers, who might slay their own victims, (C.) unless they were unclean, C. xxx. 17. H. — Holocausts. Heb. and Sept. speak of the paschal lambs. H. — Holocausts were regularly to be flayed by priests, Lev. i. 6. The hurry of the solemnity, (C.) and necessity, here excused the Levites, (M.) if we understand proper holocausts. H.

2 Chronicles 35:12

\i Separated.\i0 Sept. “prepared the holocaust to give; having taken notice to whom the victims belonged, before they took off the skin, (M.) or rather, separating these from the other peace-offerings. Tournemine.\pa

2 Chronicles 35:13

Victims. Heb. and Sept. “but the holy offerings they boiled.” See Ex. xii. 9. H.

2 Chronicles 35:15

Prophets. Heb. “seer.” But Sept., &c. read in the plural. These were “prophets of the king,” (H.) or masters of music. C. — Vulgate might insinuate that these three gave orders, as well as David. But they were in office under him, as people of the same name were, probably, under Josias. H.

2 Chronicles 35:18

As Josias kept. He displayed greater liberality (Estius. See 4 K. xxiii. 20.) and devotion; and the festival had also been neglected for some time. W.

2 Chronicles 35:20

Charcamis belonged to the Assyrian monarch, (Isaias x. 9.) who subdued the empire of Babylon, C. xxxiii. 11.

2 Chronicles 35:21

With me. Grotius thinks that Jeremias had given the order; and the author of Hebrew Traditions, supposes that he forbade Josias to oppose Pharao, who, it seems, was assured of victory. C. — But this is uncertain; and Josias might justly suspect that the king of Egypt spoke without authority. H. — The augurs of the latter might declare the truth, (M.) though they could not dive into futurity. H. — Herodotus (i.) informs us, that Nechos fought against the Syrians, (or Israelites) in Magdelum, and took Cadythis, a city as large as Sardis, of Lydia; probably Jerusalem, (D.) or Cades. C.

2 Chronicles 35:22

Prepared. Heb. “disguised himself,” like Achab; (C.) or set his army in array. Sept. “he was bent on fighting him.” H. — He supposed that Pharao intended to invade his dominions, and God would withdraw him from the world. W.

2 Chronicles 35:24

After the manner of kings, is not in Hebrew, &c. H. — Curtius (iv.) informs us, that the Persian monarch had always a horse behind his chariot, to be ready in case of any accident.

2 Chronicles 35:25

Lamentations. Some think that we have them in the Bible. Josephus, &c. — Others believe that they are lost. Salien, the year of the world 3425. — Law, on the anniversary; (M.) or when any calamity occurs, the lamentations of Jeremias are used. T. — There were collections of such poems, as well as of canticles, for victory and marriages. C.

2 Chronicles 35:27

Israel is placed first in Heb. and Sept. H. — The kings of Juda assumed the title, as the kingdom had been subverted above a century; and the wretched remains of Israel had retreated into the territories, (C.) or acknowledged their dominion. H.

2 Chronicles 35:33

CHAPTER XXXV.