The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 131

writer of Chronicles snys, "two e.nd forty" unnature.l in this place-for why "Joram (2 Ohron. :u:ii. 2), which is absolutely im- himself," when•· Joraw" alone would he.ve possible, since his father we.a but forty when been quite sufficient ?-and still more uu- be died (see ver. 17, and comp. 2 Chron. natural in 2 Chrnn. xxii. 5, where the same xxi. 5, 20). Even "two e.nd twenty" is a phrase occurs. It is best, therefore, to follow moro ndve.nced nge thon we should hnve our translators, who e.re in accord both with oxpccte1I, since Ahazioh woe the youngest the Septuagint and with the Vulgate. of Jchorn,m's sons (2 Chron. xxi. 17); he Ahaziah followed the example of his grand- must ther6fore hnvo been born in his father's father Jehoshaphat, who ho.d accompanied nineteenth yeor. Yet he be.d several elder Ahab to Re.moth-Gilead (1 Kings xxii. 29), brothers (2 Chron. xxi. 17; xxii. 1) I To to fight against the Syrians in the time of exple.iu this, we he.ve to remember (1) the Benhade.d. That the city was still disputed early e.ge e.t which marriage is contracted shows the importance which it possessed in in the East (twelve years); and (2) the fact the eyes of both parties. And the Syrians tbe.t each prince had, besides hie wife, wounded Joram. It appears that Hazael, several concubines. That Joram had severe.I soon after his accession, witll the ardour of appears from 2 Chron. xxi. 17. And he e. young prince anxious to distinguish him- reigned one yee.r in Jerusalem. And his self, made an expedition again;,t Ramoth- mother's name was Athalie.h, the daughter of Gilee.rl, which had been recovered by the Omri King of Israel. There is something very Israelites betweeu the death of Ahab e.nd remarkable in the dignity aud precedence the time of which the historian is now treat- attoched to Omri. He we.s, no doubt, regarded ing. J oram went to the relief of the town of a sort of second founder of the kingdom with a le.rge force, and, being received with- of Israel, having been the first mone.rch to in the walls, maintained a gallant defence establish anything liko a stable dyne.sty. (eh. ix. 14), in the course o( which he His "statutes" were looked upon o.s the was wounded se.erely, though not fatally. fuudBroentnl le.ws of the kingdom, e.ud were Thereupon he e.nd his brother king quitted "kept" down to the time of its destruction the town and returned to their respective (Micnh vi. 16). Foreigners kuew Samaria capitals, leaving a strong garrison in as Beth-Khumri, or " the house of Omri." Ramoth-Gilead under Jehu e.nd some other He is the only Israelite king mentioned by capte.ins. Joram needed rest and ro.reful name on the llfoabite Stone (line 5), and the nursing 011 account of his wounds, and co.rliest mentioned in the inscriptions of Abaziah would naturally withdraw with Assyria. Eyen Jehu, who put an end to him, since he could not serve uulier a mtre his dynasty, was regarded by the Assyrie.ns general. as his descendant, and known under the Ver. 29.-A.nd King 1oram went be.ck to designation of" Yahua, the son of Khumri" be bee.led in lezreel. Jezreel was more (Black Obelisk, epig. ii.). Athe.liah, the accessible from Re.moth-Gilead than SamM'i&. daughter of Ahab, is ce.lled "the daughter It lay in the pie.in, and could be ree.ched of Omri," not only in the present pa.seage, without travelling over e.ny rough or moun- but also in 2 Chron. xxii. 2. ta.inous countrv. It we.s also the usual Ver. 27.-And he walked in the way of place to which the court retired for rest o.nd the house of Ahe.b. Compo.re what is said refreshment-the Versailles or Windsor of of Ahaziab of Israel in 1 Kings xxii. 52, 53, Sama.rill, BS it has been called. Of the and of Jehoram of Judah in the present wounds whioh the Syrie.ns had given him chapter (ver. 18). What is speciallv in- at Re.me.h, when he fought e.gainst B:a.zael tended is that Ahaziah kept up the Baal- King of Syrie.. "Rame.h" is auother nnme worship introduced by his father into Judah. for " Re.moth-Gilead " or " Ramoth in And did evil in the sight of the Lord, as <lid Gilead," which is the full nome of the the honse of Ahab: for he was the son-in- place. The word means "high," "elevated," la.w of the house of Ahab; literally, for he and is cognate to Aram. And Ahe.ziah the was related by marriage to the house of Ahab. son of Jehore.m King of ludah weni down to inn is any rele.tion by morriage, not "son- see J"ore.m the son of Ahe.b in J"ez:reel. Ahe.- in-law " in particule.r (see Exod. iii. 1, and ziah would probably take the route by wo.y the comment on the ple.ce). of Jericllo, the Jorde.n valley, e.nd the Wata Ver. 28.-And he went with J"ore.m the el Je.lud, and would con.sequently begin his son of Ahe.b to the we.r age.inst l[e.ze.el King journey by the rapid deacent from Jerusalem of Byrie. in Ramoth-Gilee.d. Some tre.nslate, to J erioho. Beoe.nse ha was siok; i.e. unwell, and Joram himself went; but this is a very wo1U1dod. mre use of n~, and one whioh would be  1i2 THE SECOND BOOK OF TRE KINGS. (on. vm. 1-29,