_Rebelled: literally, "prevaricated." (Haydock) --- The kings of
Israel kept some of the nations, which David had conquered, in
subjection, while the kings of Juda ruled over the others. In
consequence of the late disaster, these people began to throw off the
yoke. (Tirinus) --- Joram made war upon... [ Continue Reading ]
Lattices, by a skylight, (Haydock) or trap-door, designed to give
light to the room below, into which the king fell. The roofs are
generally flat in the East, and covered with earth mixed with straw,
with the light at the top, to prevent the excessive heats. --- Of.
Hebrew, &c., "into." (Calmet) ---... [ Continue Reading ]
_Away; probably to his usual abode, at Carmel, where the king sent to
seize him._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Messengers. They were perhaps citizens of Accaron, who had extolled
the sagacity of their god, but were totally unacquainted with Elias.
Yet as he shewed his knowledge of secret things, by telling them what
they were going about, (Salien) and spoke with such assurance,
(Haydock) they thought proper... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man. Hebrew ish bahal sehar, "a man lord of hair," or all covered
with it, having a long beard, like the ancient sages, (St. Jerome, in
Ezechiel xxxv.) and clothed with a skin, (Bochart) as the first
inhabitants of the earth, the heroes, prophets and St. John the
Baptist, are described, Hebrews xi.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Under him; his own guards. The captain was to request him to pray for
the king's recovery; (Calmet) or rather, (Haydock) to punish him for
what he had said to the messengers. (Calmet) --- Of God. Procopius and
others think that he spoke contemptuously, and was therefore punished.
(Menochius) --- Do... [ Continue Reading ]
Let fire, &c. Elias was inspired to call down fire from heaven upon
these captains, who came to apprehend him; not out of a desire to
gratify any private passion, but to punish the insult offered to
religion, to confirm his mission, and to shew how vain are the efforts
of men against God and his ser... [ Continue Reading ]
_Another, not knowing what was become of the first, or why he did not
return; as Ochozias was eager to have the prophet in his power.
(Menochius) --- If he were acquainted with his fate, (Haydock) this
second captain was guilty of greater insolence. But there are such
generally to be found at courts... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again. This third captain is commonly supposed to be Abdias, (3 Kings
xviii. 3.) though without much reason. (Calmet) --- John of Jerus, (c.
15) says he left the court, and became a disciple of Elias, and a
prophet. (Menochius) --- But he is very different from the prophet,
whose writings are still... [ Continue Reading ]
The second year of Joram, &c., counted from the time that he was
associated to the throne of his father Josaphat; (Challoner) so that
it is said that he reigned also in the 18th year of Josaphat, chap.
iii. 1. See also chap. viii. 16. To obviate there apparent
contradictions, chronologists suppose t... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER I.... [ Continue Reading ]