_ATHALIAH DESTROYING THE ROYAL FAMILY, JEHOSHEBA SECRETES JOASH, THE SON OF AHAZIAH; WHOM, AFTER SIX YEARS, JEHOIADA THE PRIEST APPOINTS TO THE THRONE: ATHALIAH COMES TO THE TEMPLE, AND IS SLAIN BY THE COMMAND OF JEHOIADA._ _Before Christ 878._... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ATHALIAH, THE MOTHER OF AHAZIAH, &C.— The consideration of the fate which attended these royal families, is sufficient to make one thankful to God for having been born of meaner parentage. The whole offspring of Jeroboam, Baasha, and Ahab, kings of Israel, were cut off for their idolatry; and t... [ Continue Reading ]
A THIRD PART OF YOU THAT ENTER, &C.— The captains, and other officers who were admitted to the knowledge of Jehoiada's design, came into the temple unarmed, that they might give no suspicion: but as David had erected a kind of sacred armoury in one of the apartments of the temple, wherein were depos... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP THE WATCH OF THE HOUSE, THAT IT BE NOT BROKEN DOWN— In the Hebrew מסח הבית _habbaiith massach,_ which the Vulgate and LXX render _the house Messah,_ supposing the original to be a proper name. Houbigant renders it, _the court of casting away;_ supposing it to mean that part of the temple where... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE HIM THE TESTIMONY— Both here and in the parallel place, 2 Chronicles 23:11 there is nothing for _gave him;_ and therefore as the word _put_ refers to to _testimony_ as well as _crown,_ it is very doubtful what is the meaning of the word in this place; but as the word certainly denotes additiona... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE KING STOOD BY A PILLAR, AS THE MANNER WAS— It is generally supposed, that the royal throne was erected near one of those pillars, whereof we have an account 1 Kings 15:21 unless we may suppose that עמוד _ammud,_ that what is here called _a pillar,_ was that brazen scaffold five cubits lo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY LAID HANDS ON HER— _Then they gave her room,_ or, They left her a free passage to depart out of the temple; so Houbigant, after the Chaldee.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOIADA MADE A COVENANT, &C.— "This could be no other than of protection and justice on his part, and of obedience on theirs; however, it makes it evident that kings may covenant with their people, contrary to Mr. Hobbes's doctrine.... [ Continue Reading ]