_Seventy sons, as he had many wives. Gedeon had 70. (Calmet) --- Grand-children might also be included. (Du Hamel) --- But this is not necessary. (Calmet) --- City, Hebrew, "of Jezrahel," a word which has probably been substituted instead of "Israel," which is more conformable to the Septuagint and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Master. Jehu would lead them into a snare, and insultingly challenges them to battle, shewing how little he feared their power. (Calmet) --- He speaks ironically. (Du Hamel)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Morning, that all the people might see them. (Calmet) --- Jehu did not choose to admit the Samaritans into the city during the night. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Just executioners of the divine wrath. (Du Hamel) --- You know what is right. (Menochius) --- You are now in the same predicament with myself. (Haydock) --- All the chief men had thus rendered themselves odious to the people, who could not choose them for leaders. He captiously infers, from his ast... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chief men, probably including those perfidious wretches, who had so basely betrayed their trust, and slain the 70 sons of Achab, "the nobles of the kingdom, his kinsmen, and friends." (Chaldean; Arabic) --- Friends. Some copies of the Septuagint have connoisseurs, of magicians, Leviticus xix. 31. -... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cabin. Hebrew Beth-heked, (Haydock) a term which the Septuagint do not translate. It means, "house of tying," as the sheep were tied to be shorn. (Menochius) --- Eusebius places it in the great plain, 15 miles from Legion. (Calmet) --- It was not a despicable hut, (Haydock) but like the houses wher... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brethren. The Arabs had destroyed all his brothers by the same mother; (2 Paralipomenon xxii. 1.) but these were near relations, and they durst not deny the fact. (Menochius) --- In 2 Paralipomenon xxii. 8., they are styled princes of Juda, and sons of the brethren of Ochozias. Jehu must have used... [ Continue Reading ]
_Alive. That they might not attempt to defend themselves, (Menochius) as they might hope that Jehu would, at least, spare their lives. (Haydock) --- Of them, as they were in some degree related to Achab, (Menochius) or might endeavour to obstruct his dominion. (Tirinus)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jonadab, a holy personage, Jeremias xxxv. 6. The Rechabites were a sort of religious, descended from Jethro and the Cinites. (Calmet) --- They dwelt in the country, and fed sheep, &c., Numbers x. 29. (Tirinus) --- John of Jerus.[Jerusalem?] (c. 25.) says that Jonadab was a disciple of Eliseus, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will worship him more. Jehu sinned in thus pretending to worship Baal, and causing sacrifices to be offered to him: because evil in not to be done, that good may come of it, Romans iii. 8. (Challoner) (Worthington) --- St. Jerome, &c., excuse him from mortal sin, as his intention was good. (Tirin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Servants. The number had greatly decreased under Joram. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Proclaim. Literally, "sanctify (Hebrew) a prohibition" to work, or to be absent, (Calmet) "and they proclaimed it. "_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Other. Literally, "from top to top." Hebrew, "from mouth to mouth," (Haydock) like a vessel brimfull. (Calmet) --- Every corner was filled. All the priests and prophets made their appearance, through zeal to re-establish the honour of their idol, and for fear of death. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wardrobe, of vestments used in the service of Baal. The worship chiefly consisted in such outward pomp. The priests were probably adorned like those at the pillars of Hercules, who were from the same country. Sil. Ital. iii., velantur corpora lino, &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Life. These 80 were stationed at the doors, while the rest slaughtered the unhappy idolaters, (Menochius) who were all by themselves, like the reprobate separated from the elect, at the last day. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Soldiers. Hebrew, "runners, (or foot-guards, 3 Kings i. 5,) and chief officers," Exodus xiv. 7. --- Out. Hebrew, "cast out" their carcasses, or "rushed out (themselves) into the city," which was styled "the temple of Baal;" or "penetrated into the fortress" and inmost recesses of that structure. (O... [ Continue Reading ]
_A jakes, or necessary [latrine]. (Haydock) --- See 1 Esdras vi. 11., and Daniel ii. 5._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dan. This wicked policy, which was designed to prevent his subjects from submitting again to the kings of Juda, proved his ruin._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Generation. So Joachaz, Joas, Jeroboam II, and Zacharias, succeeded to the throne. This small temporal reward he obtained for the little good which he had done; while, on the other hand, he was punished for his manifold transgressions. Osee (i. 4,) reproaches him even for the blood which he had spi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Weary. Hebrew, "to retrench or destroy." Hazael took occasion, from the absence of Jehu (Calmet) from Galaad, and the disturbances on the west of the Jordan, to dismember the provinces on the east, and to commit the horrid ravages foretold by Eliseus, chap. viii. 12. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aroer. See Josue xiii. 25. This was a most severe scourge, (Menochius) as all the eastern tribes were lost to Israel. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER X.... [ Continue Reading ]