_Seed. What cruelties are occasioned by ambition! (Worthington) --- This is one of the most extraordinary proofs recorded in history. Agrippina was but a faint copy of the unnatural Athalia, (Calmet) who knew that she was destined for slaughter, if she should fall into the hands of Jehu. (Menochius)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sister. She had probably a different mother, as she consented to the death of Athalia. (Calmet) --- But the crimes of the latter require such a punishment; and even a daughter would have done wrong to screen her. (Haydock) --- Josabeth, as she is called in 2 Paralipomenon xxii. 11., was married to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord. The case was so extraordinary, that he high priest dispensed with a woman lodging in those apartments. --- Land, for six years, by usurpation. Women were commonly excluded, and she was not of the race of David, 4 Kings viii. 26. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Year, of the age of Joas, ver. 21. (Menochius) --- Centurions. Five in number of the tribe of Levi, (Menochius) commanding each 100 men. Hebrew adds "the rams," (Calmet) to denote "the captains (Protestants) and the runners," or guards. (Haydock) --- Joiada was a man of great authority, virtue and... [ Continue Reading ]
Sabbath. On this day the Levites replaced each other; so that many might assemble without suspicion. They guarded the king's apartments in the temple. --- The gate of Sur, or of the foundation, (2 Paralipomenon xxiii. 5.) and the western gate leading to the palace. (Calmet) --- Sur, or "the gate of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of you. Levites, who waited on the king's person alternately. (Calmet) --- They were divided into three parts, being in actual service, ver. 6. Those who went out of office were twice the number, and are here told what to do. Sa thinks that those who entered upon duty, and those who went out, forme... [ Continue Reading ]
_Temple, to cause confusion, Syriac, &c. The court of the priests, (Ezechiel xli 9.) and that of Israel, (Josephus, [Antiquities?] viii. 4.) were separated by walls, beyond which strangers were not allowed to pass. (Calmet) --- Slain, being first cast out, ver. 15. (Menochius) --- Great respect is d... [ Continue Reading ]
_David. There was a sort of arsenal in the temple, containing arms consecrated to the Lord by David and his valiant men, in memory of their victories, 2 Kings viii. 11., and 1 Paralipomenon xviii. 11. The usual band of Levites had proper arms, but more were employed on this occasion. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Right, or south, leading to the palace, (Menochius) whence the greatest danger was feared. (Calmet) --- Altar of holocausts, that it might not impede the sight of the king. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The testimony. The book of the law. (Challoner) --- So Job (xxxi. 35, 36.) wished to have the sentence pronounced by God as a crown upon his head. The Orientals still lift to their heads the letters which they have received from people whom they wish to honour. (Thevenot, 46.) --- Some think that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Going in. She must have been attended by a strong guard, to force the passage through the Levites at the door. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_A tribunal. A tribune, or place elevated above the rest. (Challoner) --- Hebrew, "on a pillar." Solomon had stood upon one of brass, three cubits high and five broad. See chap. xxiii. 3., and 2 Paralipomenon vi. 13._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Precinct. Hebrew sederoth, (untranslated by the Septuagint and (Haydock) improperly supposed by Josephus to be the torrent Cedron) means, "the ranks" of the guards, (Calmet) or, "ranges" of the sacred buildings, which her impure blood must not defile. (Haydock) --- Follow her, as an accomplice. (Me... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thrust. Hebrew, "and she went by the way by which the horses enter the king's house. When she was come within the horse-gate of the palace, they killed her there," 2 Paralipomenon xxiii. 15. Such was the ignominious end of this true daughter of Jezabel! (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_People. Joiada, as mediator (Calmet) between God, the king, and the people, engaged the two latter to be faithful to their common Lord, and to each other. They promised mutually to observe the laws, and, on that condition, the high priest gave them an assurance that God would protect them. (Haydock... [ Continue Reading ]
_Altar. Many of the sacred ornaments belonging to the temple had been transported to the house of Baal, probably on Mount Olivet, where Solomon had formerly erected such buildings, 3 Kings xi. 5., and 2 Paralipomenon xxiv. 7. The reform of the state justly, therefore, began with the destruction of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Phelethi. In the Hebrew of the books of Kings we read nothing of these bands after the reign of David. The same expressions occur here as [in] ver. 4., "the centurions, the rams, (or captains) and the runners," (Calmet) or guards. (Protestants) (Haydock) --- Gate, on the west. Athalia had probably... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XI.... [ Continue Reading ]