Joash [was] seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Zibiah of Beersheba. Ver. 1. _And he reigned forty years._] See 2 Kings 12:1 . His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.] Whatever his mother was, his foster mother, his... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Joash did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest._ Ver. 2. _And Joash did that which was right all the days of Jehoiada._] Education doth something, as the boat moveth some little time upon the water by virtue of the former stroke. Nero, for his fir... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters. Ver. 3. _And Jehoiada took for him two wives._] What could his own father, if living, have done more for him?... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass after this, [that] Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD. Ver. 4. _Joash was minded to repair._] Hereby he showed his thankfulness to God, who in that house had so graciously preserved him, and done so great things for him. See 2 Kings 12:4,5 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened [it] not. Ver. 5. _Howbeit the Levites hastened... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, [according to the commandment] of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness? V... [ Continue Reading ]
For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim. Ver. 7. _For the sons of Athaliah._] This they might do before they were slain by the Arabians. 2Ch 21:17 Her son Ahaziah, who escaped... [ Continue Reading ]
And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. Ver. 8. And at the king's commandment.] See 2 Kings 12:9 . _ And set it without at the gate._] Near the altar, that men might be encouraged to it, as to an offering made to God, saith Wolphius... [ Continue Reading ]
And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection [that] Moses the servant of God [laid] upon Israel in the wilderness. Ver. 9. _The collection that Moses._] See on 2 Chronicles 24:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. Ver. 10-12. See 2 Kings 12:10,11 .... [ Continue Reading ]
So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it. Ver. 13. _And the work was perfected by them._] Heb., The healing went up upon the work. _Metaphora tracta a corporibus quae medicina curantur:_ so the sun is said in spring... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had finished [it], they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, [even] vessels to minister, and to offer [withal], and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the L... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old [was he] when he died. Ver. 15. _But Jehoiada waxed old._] And therefore, haply, had been the more remiss. 2Ch 24:6 _ And was full of days._] See on 1 Chronicles 23:1 . _ When he died._] The good people wer... [ Continue Reading ]
And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. Ver. 16. _And they buried him among the kings._] A great honour surely, the like whereunto was lately done here to that most reverend archbishop Ussher, _a_ who, thou... [ Continue Reading ]
Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. Ver. 17. _Came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king._] Rabbi Solomon saith that they persuaded him that he was more than a man, and gave him divine honours:... [ Continue Reading ]
And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. Ver. 18. _And wrath came upon Judah._] Let our church forsakers chew on this: let them see what good patriots they are.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. Ver. 19. _Yet he sent prophets to them._] As God loveth to foresignify; such is his pity and patience. And they testified against them: but they would not give ear.] The V... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. Ver. 20. _Zechariah the s... [ Continue Reading ]
And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. Ver. 21. _And stoned him with stones._] This is _mercis mundi:_ this is the lot of downright dealing prophets, even the same as of hares that will needs give laws to lion... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon [it], and require [it]._ Ver. 22. _Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness._] This was monstrous ingratitude, such as was that also of... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass at the end of the year, [that] the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus._ Ver. 23. _And it came to pass, &c._] _Agmina... [ Continue Reading ]
For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. Ver. 24. _So they executed judgment against Joash._] _Ignominiosa iudicia,_ saith... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings... [ Continue Reading ]
And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess. Ver. 26. _Zabad._] Slaves they were both, born of bondwomen, but God's executioners. He was just, though they were unjust.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now [concerning] his sons, and the greatness of the burdens [laid] upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they [are] written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 27. _And the greatness of the burdens._]. 2Ki 12:18 Not heavy enough t... [ Continue Reading ]