2 Kings 1 - Introduction
_ELIJAH SENDS FIRE FROM HEAVEN UPON THE MESSENGERS OF KING AHAZIAH, AND DENOUNCES HIS DEATH. AFTER AHAZIAH, HIS BROTHER JEHORAM REIGNS IN ISRAEL._ _Before Christ 896._... [ Continue Reading ]
_ELIJAH SENDS FIRE FROM HEAVEN UPON THE MESSENGERS OF KING AHAZIAH, AND DENOUNCES HIS DEATH. AFTER AHAZIAH, HIS BROTHER JEHORAM REIGNS IN ISRAEL._ _Before Christ 896._... [ Continue Reading ]
AHAZIAH FELL DOWN THROUGH A LATTICE IN HIS UPPER CHAMBER— _Through the lattice into his upper chamber,_ Houbigant; who thinks that as he was walking on the top of the house the wooden lattice gave way, and he fell through. See Calmet's Dissertation upon the buildings of the ancient Hebrews. _BAAL-ZE... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT COME DOWN FROM THAT BED, &C.— At one end of each chamber in the eastern buildings there is a little gallery raised three, four, or five feet above the floor, having a ballustrade in the front, with a few steps likewise leading up to it. There they placed their beds; a situation freque... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE MESSENGERS TURNED BACK UNTO HIM, &C.— It may seem something strange, that Ahaziah's messengers should stop their journey to Ekron at Elijah's command. But he was a man of such a venerable presence, and spake to them with such authority in the name of the Lord, that they were over-awed there... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS AN HAIRY MAN— Elijah being a _hairy man_ may either denote his wearing long hair on his head and his beard, according to the manner of the ancient Greek philosophers, or it may denote his habit, which was made of skins, rough, and with the hair on; as the ancient heroes were clothed with the... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I BE A MAN OF GOD, THEN LET FIRE COME DOWN, &C.— We have before observed, that many of these prophetical denunciations might be rendered with equal propriety in the future; by which means they would no longer retain the appearance of revengeful imprecations, but be seen in their true light of pro... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE AROSE, AND WENT DOWN WITH HIM UNTO THE KING— This is a great instance of Elijah's faith and obedience to God, in whom he trusted, that he would deliver him from the wrath of the king, and the malice of Jezebel. He had ordered, not long before, all the prophets of Baal to be slain; had sent a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHORAM REIGNED IN HIS STEAD, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF JEHORAM THE SON OF JEHOSHAPHAT— His brother Jehoram reigned in his stead, because he had no son. To avoid confusion, the reader should take notice, that in the course of this history there is mention made of two Jehorams; one, the second son of... [ Continue Reading ]