A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles

Philip Chapman Barker [d.1904] · 404,925 words · 452 reading sections

SECTION 361

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 361

ot.l1ers) that it we.s not until the sixth yoar of Hez!'kiah's reign, when Shalmn.neser had wrought his will with the sister kingdom, that the great Passover was held, the nwnsure taken by the pious king is still one of considerable vigour and of no little generosity. We learn tberefrom- 1. THAT A RIGHT OOURSE WILL …

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SECTION 362

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 362

Vere. 6-9.-Four reasons/or repentance. The letters which Hezekiah sent through- out the cities and villages of Israel contained an earnest exhortation to repentance ; they urged upon the inhabitants of that distressed land that, for the strongest reasons, they should return from their idolatrous ways, and worship the t…

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SECTION 363

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 363

Vers. 17-20.-The one essential thing. A very interesting and instructive incident occurred in the celebration of this great Passover. Many who presented themselves and ?ronght their l:i:mb had not gone thr?ugh ~he prescribed purifications before engaging m an act of sacn6ce, and they were d1squahficd to slay the lam…

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SECTION 364

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 364

very plee.sant, and they may be very profitable occasions; but they need to be rightly directed and well controlled, Of religious enthusiasm, we may consider- !. ITtl ONLY FIRM FIJUNDATION, This is a true sense of the Divine favour. Unless God be with us, grnnting us his own approval, intending to further us with his …

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SECTION 365

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 365

thnt of Unleavened Bread, or the Pllssover (Exod. xxiii. 14, 16); and that the Passover Bhould be "sRcrificed in the place which Jehovah should choose to set his Name there 11 (Dcut. xvi. 2). (2) '!'hat such a Passover had not been observed by them either ln great numbers (Redsed Version), en masse, by the whole bod…

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SECTION 366

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 366

Ing the religion prescribed by Moses (ver. 6). (b) Not to imitate the stubborn conduct of their fathers, who had been carried away captive (vers. 7, 8). (c) To res11me nttendnnoe nt tho sanctuary, which Jehovah had sanctified for ever as the central place of his worship (ver. 8). (2) A fourfold argument. (a) Duty. Jeho…

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SECTION 367

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 367

Vers. 13-27.-A national Passove,· at Je,rusalem. I. 'l'm: OELEDRATING ooNGREGA• TI?N· 1. LrJrge. "Much people;" "a very great congregl\tion" (ver, 13). Though this was uBual at the chief religious festivals of the nation, probably so Vl\st a con• course of people as assembled at Jerusalem in answer to the king's inv…

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SECTION 368

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 368

Judn.h n.ncl Ism.cl, among whom were many who did not immediately purify themselves from defilement as tboy ought to havo done on convening at Jerusalem. Most likely nt first hnlf-heal'ted in the business, aftenvards through beholdin~ tbe zeal of the people they were shamed into repairing their neglect. (2) Their disch…

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SECTION 369

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 369

Ver. 26.-An ideal city: Jerusalem in the.first days of Hezekiah. I. ITs GoD WAB GRAcrous. (Yer. 9.) Its people had a Divinity who was: 1. Propitious towards their persons. He had given them one heart (ver. 12). 2. Propitious towards their ,;acr1fices. He accepted them, although offered not in perfect accordance with…

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SECTION 370

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 370

Ver. 1.-As much ns the Inst verse of tho into the rnn,rgin, but on very insnflicient foregoing cho.ptor wo.s o.11 of fho religious title, as, while there is doubt n.s tn whether fervour of the occo.eion, this verse is all of the hnney of bees was l\'enernlly tithed, the.praolicnl honest work of the people o.nd there is…

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SECTION 371

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 371

were excepted because for themselves and ,;i~t;i of ver. 16, nud connects vers. 15 and their little ones, their de.ily present temple 17. (On the words, from twenty years old, l!ervire brought their de,ily maintenance as comp. l Chron. xxiii, 27. Bee also Numb, of course. The •• unto every one" of our iv. 8; viii. 2…

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SECTION 372

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 372

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-.After the excitement. And now what next? The services and the feasts are over; the temple door is closed; the tables are taken down; the musical instru• ments are laid aside in their places; the programme has been completed-the extended programme, What now shall that excited, enth…

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SECTION 373

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 373

Vers. 2-10.-The service of the consecrated life, and of the substance. Hezekiah, as soon as the excitement of the great Passover and of the subsequent destruction of all idolatrous symbols was over, made wise arrangements for the regular service of Jehovah. And this included- • I. THE SERVICE OF THE CONSECRATED LIF…

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SECTION 374

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 374

Vers. 20, 21.-Earnestness. Perhaps the characteristic of Hezekiah was moral earnestness. There was no hesitation or half-heartedness about him. What he did he did "with all bis heart," as is stated in the text. Under his direction everything was carried out and completed with a vigour and determination that showed that…

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SECTION 375

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 375

designed-each had his own work to attend to and perform. Jn the New Testament Ohurch Christ gives "to every men his work" (Mark xiii. 34). (3) The workR rlis- tribnted Rmongst them wero such as pertained to the temple-worship, viz. the offering of sacrifice, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, and the ministering, i.…

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SECTION 376

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 376

his own name and by his own anthority, but merely publishing the La,v of Jehovah for 1be maintenance of thn~e who conducted the temple service, Under the old economy JehoYah was t,be ~ole Bead of the Church, as Christ is under the new, For the Hebrew Church the exclusive source of legislation was not the sovereigns …

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SECTION 377

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 377

"a. porter towards the ea.st," i.e. keeper of the king's gate on the eaAt Aide of the temple. (2) 'l'he assistants, six in number, named Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariab, 11nd Shecaninh, resided in the cities of the priests in different parts of the country. 2. Tlte distribution. (1) Kore distributed to those …

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SECTION 378

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 378

and no 11dequate impression wh11tever of the le.nguage of the three vereea of the parnllel, great power of aome portiona of the parallel. and in consideration of the possible motivea I\B suggested above for our compiler omitting A close compariaon of the two places le11\"es the matter altogether, we inclino to tho us…

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SECTION 379

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 379

pllcitly snld thnt the broken four hundred Benne.eberib's exact idea. Ho epoko not of oubite of wnll, from the gnte of Ephraim to t~e literal technical thing siege, but of tho the corner gnto, were mu.de nbsolutely good distress and confinement th1>t the appreh~n- ag1\ln, nlthough in tho maUor of towers e.nd sion of th…

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SECTION 380

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 380

Ver. 21.-The exMt matter corresponding spirit in which he acted, displaying Wa wilh this one verse is embraced bv yers. trea.s\ll":ls, so that it was in the fullest sense 3fi-37 in the psrallel (2 Kings xix.). It a sin of " the heart." gfres the number of slain as a hundred and Ver. 26.-Hezekiah humbled himself. Pos…

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SECTION 381

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 381

ing formo.tion of o.ny cho.racter. The direction in which that trustfulness goes out to exercise itself, or goes iu quest of o.n object on which, in its lovingness, to lean, is watched often enough with trembling solicitude, and is a matter of intrinsic importance. It is undeniable tho.t the trustful disposition oft…

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SECTION 382

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 382

Vers. 24-26, 31.-Tlie shadow which Hezelct"ah casts on his own life's history. The great·commendation of Hezekiah, written in one word-hie" goodness "-in our thirty- i,~ond ~erse, but somewhat more expressly in the parallel (2 Kings xviii. 6), which raised him to the very first rank with David and Jehoshaphat, may w…

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SECTION 383

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 383

take indeed. So are civil words to our souls' tempters, and civil deedA to our great enemy Se.tan I J/ Hezekiah had known that "these men," and "the conntry whence they came" (2 Kings xx. 14), were going to be the capturers and the enforced home respoctively of God's people, whom he had been set jealously to guard and…

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SECTION 384

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 384

IJ. THAT IT SHOULD DE ME'•' WITH COURAGE, ENEnGY, INTRLLIGENOE, AND PIETY, These qnalities Hezekiah was now showing. He had given way to trepidation, and ho 1111d resorted to means which were unworthy of his position and his piety (see 2 Kings xviii. 9-16). But now he was in a nobler mood. His com·age rose to the oc…

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SECTION 385

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 385

Vera. 9-23.-Sennacheri'b and Hezekiah : abasement and exaltation. We have here brought out in very vivid contrast-- • I. Tm;i HISTORY OF THE HAUGHTY. 1. Appearances are all on its side. It bas apparently overwhelming numbers, superior military training antl equipments, the prestige of previous success and acknowledged…

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SECTION 386

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 386

WM a very small one when measured against the magnitude of that with which the p~eceding; ~erses <lee.I. It concerns the sickness and the recovery of one man, together with " v1s1t to the court at Jeruse.lem of a few ambassadors. But it was very much to Hezekiah himself, and it contains valuable lessons for us all. …

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SECTION 387

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 387

Hezokioh'e greatness. He was one of the greatest of the kings of Judah; not more tho.n two, or three at the most, can be named as being greater than he. 2. Or as to the excellency of his estate (see text, vers. 27.-29). He had all that his heart could wish, so far as temporal possessions were concerned. 3. Or as to the…

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SECTION 388

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 388

1). If this date be correct, the invasion referred to cannot have been that of Senna- chl'rib (B.c. 701), eighteen or nineteen years after the capture of the northern capital, or in Hezekiah's twenty-fourth year, but must have been an expedition of Sargon, who, ten years earlier (n.o. 711), marched against "the peop…

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SECTION 389

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 389

fight np:ninst Jerusalem," was applicable to both sovereigns, though only of Sargon was it true that Jerusalem was taken. Sennacherib besiegecl Hezekiah, shutting him up "like a caged bird in the midst of the city of his royalty" (' Records,' etc., vii. 62); but Jehovah,. put II hook into his nose, and a bridle into hi…

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SECTION 390

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 390

plRCe nt the east gate of the city (see on cb. xxix. 4), 6. The soldiers fflitably addressed. He encouraged them in their work of defence, as at the great Passover he had encouraged the Levites in their temple duties (eh. xxx. 32). (1) Spirited exhortations. (a) "Be strong." So the Philistine generals charged their …

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SECTION 391

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 391

Pndi their prince, who remained faithful to AssyriR, and whom they "placed in chains of iron, and unto Hezekiah King of Judah delivered," who "shut him up in dark- ness (or prison)." Before the allies could unite their forces, Sennacherib appeared upon the scene, having obtained a hint of the confederacy being formed a…

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SECTION 392

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 392

1,tand, and becoming alarmed, induce their rulers to submit. 'fhe points in Rl\h• shakeh's hRrangue, considerably shortl'ned by the Chronicler, were two. 1. That the J,ope of d.eliverarice held out by Hezekiah was a delusion. If their confidence was based upon expected 11.Ssist.ance from Egypt, they would soon know …

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SECTION 393

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 393

II. lIEZEIUAn AND ms PROPHET, Their supplications to the Goel of heaven (ver, 20). 1. The prayer nf Hezelciah. Recorded in 2 Kings xix. 14--19 and Isa. xxxvii. 16-19. (1) Where offered. "In the house of the Lord." Having read the A8syrian's letter, Hezekiah repaired to the temple and spread it before the Lord; in wh…

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SECTION 394

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 394

(' RichnrJ II.,' act iii. so. 2). Q-) Where Sennacherib wae murdered. "In hie own land," in "the house of hie god' (ver. 21); i.e. in Nineveh, in the house of Nieroch hia god (2 Kings xix. 37; !Ra. xxxvi. 37)-a divinity not yet identified in the Assyrian pantheon. (2) When? Not immediately on returning to Nineveh, sinc…

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SECTION 395

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 395

Like Antigone (line 198, etc.), he lamented his sad fate, not merely because he was to die, but because he was being cut off in the middle of his days, and when 38 yet he ha,! no heir (cf, Oen. xv, 2). (2) Stron11: arguments, He had walked before Jehovah in truth and with e. perfect heart, nnd hnd done what was good in…

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SECTION 396

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 396

Ve!'!<. 27--30.-The greatness of Hezekiah. I. Hrs WEALTH. 1. Large. "Much riches" (ver. 27); "very much substance" (ver. 29). In this ho resembled Solomon (eh. ix. 22) and Jehoshaphat (eh. xvii. 5). 2. Varied. (1) Precious metals. "Gold, llilver, precious stones." (2) Flocks and herds. "All manner of beasts and flocks…

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SECTION 397

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 397

of Merodacb-Baladan must be placed in connection with tha.t event, and that both the ~ickness and the mission should be dated about B.o. 712--10 (Sayce, Cheyne, Driver). 3, The pretext of this e,,,,,bassy, (1) Friendship. To congratulate Hezekiah upon his recovery from what bad seemed a fatal malady (2 Kings xx. 12). A…

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SECTION 398

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 398

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER xxxm. prevision and earnest precaution of the Divine Rnl_er of Israel, through Moses, on The first twenty verses of this chapter behalf of his people. The following refer- a.re taken up with the aooount of Manaeseh, ence~ all J:,ear on the subject, and will be the son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah, w…

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SECTION 399

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 399

Is found six timos in piol. The prohibition gate (Nab. xiii. 16), left on the nmth 11f is found in Dout. xv iii. 10; the rendering Joruse.lem, and opened on the main road for of the word (Authori-zed Version) is by the the eea (Conder's 'Handbook,' etc., p. 343). terL'l "sorcery" throe times, e.nd "witch" The wall tra…

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SECTION 400

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 400

HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-20.-Uncertain repentances. While the father Hezekiah filled one of the niches of the three typical best kings, his son Manasseh, the thirteenth King of Judah, by mournful contrast, occupies one of those of the three worst of all the kings of both lines, the other two being Jeroboam and Ahab. His…

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SECTION 401

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 401

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-9.-The apostate. Well indeed was it for King Hezekiah that he did not foresee, though he may have/eared (see previous homily), the character and the course of his son and successor. Had he done so, not all his riches and honour, not all his treasuries and storehouses, not all his f…

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SECTION 402

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 402

Then guilt also is discerned-its greatness, its heinousness. 2. Then comes acknow- ledgment and appeal. The heart humbles itself before God, even BS Manasseh now "humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers" (ver. 12); and the soul pray,., for mercy, asks that its guilt may be forgiven, and itself restored. 3…

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SECTION 403

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 403

regarded RDd de6ed the lessons which were written in such large characters before his face, and chose the evil way (ver. 22). 2. He declined to be corrected and restored; he persisted in the path of wrong (ver. 23). 3. He excited the hatred of those whom he governed, and brought about an early and ignominious death, en…

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SECTION 404

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 404

mntion, which, though extensive enough, reaching to the furthest limits of Judah (oh. xxxi.1), does not appear to have been sufficiently intemive (see Isa. xxviii.-xxxii.). The heathen party which had the upper hand during Ahaz's reign, though suppressed by Hezekiah with Jsniah's help, was not destroyed. The spirit …

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SECTION 405

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 405

iii. 15), being unwilling that any should perish, but that all ehould tum unto him and live (Ezek. xviii. 23, 32; xxxiii. 11; 1 Tim. ii. 4; 2 Pet. iii. 9). 3. To "indicate the Divincjmtioo, in C&Se the threatened judp;rnents against Judah and Jerusalem should come t.o be fulfilled. After such an exhibition of the hi…

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SECTION 406

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 406

in the age and country-a practice from which their royal rank did not exempt even captured monarchs" (Ilo.wlinson, • Egypt and Babylon,' p. 27). The 'Annals of Assur-bani-pal' speak of twrJ Cimmerian chiefs whom Gyges King of Lydia," in strong fetters of iron and bonds of iron, bound and with numerous presents caused t…

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SECTION 407

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 407

Vers. 18-20.-Lessons from the life of Manasseh. I. A LURID LIGHT UPON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SIN. Manasseh's career brings into prominence certain truth~ upon the subject of human depravity which in these days of so-called culture and refinement are prone to be pushed aside, ignoTed, and forgotten. 1. That sin, wick…

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SECTION 408

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 408

that thoy might bo partrikers of his holiness (Lam. iii. 33; Heh. xii. 10). Jn the case of sriints H hns this for its primary end (Heh. xii. 11); but even in the cnse of sinners this end is not neglected or overlooked. Calamity may fall on them directly as punish- ment; yet it always aims at their arrestment, reforma…

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SECTION 409

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 409

EXPOSITION. a.gain as last verso. The oarved images; CHAPTER XXXIV. Revised Version, graven images; Hebrew, This chapter, with the following, em- c•~i:/~11· This word is found twenty-two braces the en tire of the beneficent reign of times, occurring in Deuteronomy, Jndges, Josiah, son of Amon-the son an illustriou…

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SECTION 410

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 410

Hilld11h's ancestors and descendcmts we he.nd of;" i.e. the book wa.s either MoRes' leorn something in the following references: original handwriting e.nd solemn deposit 1 Chron. vi. 13, 14; ix. 11 ; 2 Kings xxv. (Dent. xxxi. 26)-in the.t ca.se nearly eight 18 ; N eh. xi. 11 ; Ezre. vii. 1. They delivered. centuries an…

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SECTION 411

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 411

above ('l'er. 21). Yet our Septuagint hn,s selfish conduct of the king is clearly be- "kindled;" and also the parallel in the tokened in the course ho took, ns narrated Hebrew. The word "quenched," which here and in the eucceeding three vorees. imruedi1ttely follows, anits the word "kin- Ver. 30.-The Levites. The paull…

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SECTION 412

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 412

'l'he fact of the surlden discovery of "the book of the Law of the Lord by Moses" (Dcut. xxxi. 26; 111s0 10-13) loses its wonder perhaps for ourselves, as we look hack on that history, as compared with the other extraordinary fact and appalling thought, that H had been lost, so lost that its very existence, the tradit…

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SECTION 413

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 413

2. Earll period qf life has its own peculiar offering to bring. If ago has its paticnco arnl ~ubruissivcncss, and if elderliness bas its cxpericnco, and if primo bas the fulnoss or its 8t.rcngth for 8crvice, and if young manhood has its hopefulness and its ardour t,h<'n has youth also its especial offering to bring …

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SECTION 414

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 414

view tho rcvenled will of God and the cl11ims of men (see 2 Tim. ii. 5). 2. Actin~ with e11rnestness; not )11nguidly and listlessly, but devotedly and energetically. 3. With patient, persevering effort; not daunted by the first nor by the fiftieth difficulty thrit presents itself, not silenced by clamour, not forsak…

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SECTION 415

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 415

grn~ious overtures ?f God, we must "show forth" ~he severity of those righteous lawa which attach sulfenng and shame to vanity and gmlt. Jil. THE UBGENT ?.'EED OF KEEPING AN OPEN MIND AND A SENSITIVE BPIRIT, We are almost startled when we read of Josiah's vehemence (ver. 19). 'l'hcse solemn threats do not affect us…

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SECTION 416

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 416

Vars. 1-7.-Josiah the good. I. His EARLY ACCESSION. "Josiah[' Whom Jehovah heals') was eight years old when he began to reign" (ver. 1). Manasseh, Uzziah, and Joa.ah had been twelve, sixteen, and seven respectively when they ascenJed the throne. Generally speaking, it is perilous to have greatness thrust upon one at to…

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SECTION 417

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 417

Vers. 8-13.-The repairing of the 'temple by Josiah. I. THE ooMMIBBIONERS. 1. Thei,r names. Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the king's secretary (ver. 15); Maaseiah the governor of the city; and Joah the son of Joahaz, the rocorder or chronicler. 2. Their lrusiness. To repair the house of the Lord. This had been done two…

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SECTION 418

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 418

workers in stono; not to hew, since the stones were already hewn when purchased, but to build-in this perhaps designedly following the example given in the building of the temple ~1 Kin~s vi. 7). IV. 'IHE ABPIBTANTB. 1. Scribes, who kept a record of the progress of, as well a11 the necessary accounts connected with, t…

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SECTION 419

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 419

about Josiah'e time. But this reasoning ls not good. As Hilkiah'e book contained Deuteronomy, whatever else it contain<>d, it would most likely make on Jeremiah as on Josi11.h, a deep impression, which would reflect itself upon his own writingf!o Rene~, from mere verbal correspondences, it cannot be inferred that De…

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SECTION 420

The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 420

Infliction of Divine wrnth on account or sin. Schemes of salvation only or man's devising nre of no value. Salvation, in its conception, inception, conduction, and per- fection, belongeth unto God (PH. iii. 8; xxxvii. 39; Isa. xii ii. 11; J er. iii. 23; 2 Cor. v. 18; 1 Tim. ii. 3). The soul that would be saved must app…

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