By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, [and into] the forest of his Carmel.

Ver. 23. And hast said.] Not in so many words that we anywhere read of; but it is said, in 2 Chronicles 32:16, that his messengers spake more than is expressed. Or, Thou hast said, that is, thou hast thought all this, and I will therefore justly punish thee and thine army wherein thou gloriest, and wherewith thou intendest to destroy Jerusalem and my temple there. Polybius, a heathen historian, could say that Antiochus came to an ill end, only for purposing to spoil the temple of Apollo at Delphos.

With the multitude of my chariots I am come up, &c.] We may say of this proud and arrogant speech, as the historian doth in a like case, No man could deliver so bad matter in better words and more quaint phrases.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising