Pecuniary, eocinl, or family considerations are allowed to determiae a step which ought never to be taken except on grounds of real affection and moral and spiritual affinity. AthR!iah's entrance into the royal household of Judah had a disastrous effect on its future. She was a true child of the Israelitish Jezebel, and reproduced her character in all its essential features. Bold, bad, energetic, unscrupulous, ambitioas, her influence over her husband was wholly for evil. And he seems to have yielded himself entirely up to it. 3. He wallced in evil ways. "He walked in the way of the kings of Israel," etc. The connection of this with his marriage is indicated in. the words, "For the daughter of Ahab was his wife." To that malign influence is probably to be attributed the great crime with which his reign began-the slaughter of his six brethren, with many of the princes (2 Chron. xxi. 2-4). The other evils of his reign are indicated by the Chronicles-tempting and compelling the people to idolatry, etc. (2 Chron. xxi. 11, 13). 4. He was mercifully dealt with for the sake of David. Grieved though God was with his conduct, he would not destroy Judah, having pledged himself to David to perpetuate his line. The descendants of holy men and wowen do not know how much of God's mercy and forbearance they often owe to their ancestral connection. God spares them for their fathers' sakes (Rom. xi. 28). 5. Yd his sins brought heavy disasters on the kingd()'/11,. God did not destroy Judah, but he punished it. As the wickedness of the Israelitish kings was punisheJ by the revolt of Moab (eh. i. 1), so the sins of Jehoram were visited by a series of calamities which fell upon the nation. The revolt of Edom, of Libnah, invasions of the Philistines, Arabians, etc., broke in upon and desolated the lanrl (2 Chron. xxi. 16, 17). Only when rulers and people were fearing the Lord could it be said," Also in Judah things went well" (2 Chron. xii. 12). Things cannot go well when men's hearts are bent on wickedness. God is against us, and troubles rise thick on every siue. The revolt of Edom is the only calamity referred to in detail in the tex.t. Jehor&m seems to have attempted to suppress the rebellion, but, being encompassed by the enemy, had great difficulty in cutting his way through, and escaping. The loss of Edom was a permanent one. 6. He came to a miserable end. He went down to his death visibly under a cloud of Divine wrath, and amidst the contempt, if not the execrations, of his people. God smote him, the Chronicler tells us, with a painful and incurable disease, and he died, despised and unlamented (2 Cbron. xxi. 18, 19). He was burierl. in Jerusalem, but not in the tomb of the kings. Presumptuous transgressors are rightly visited with judgments of exceptional severity (cf. Acts xii. 23). lt is the memory of the just that is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot (Prov. x. 7). II. AHAZIAH, BON OF JEHOBAM. 1. A short but evil reign. Ahaziah, who reigned but one year, was the youngest sou of Jehoram, the elder having been slain in the wars with the Arabians (2 Chron. xxii. 1). His reign was evil, like his father's. In this case it is said expressly that Athaliah and others of her kindred were his counsellers to do evil (2 Cbron. xxii. 3, 4). A mother's influence is even more potent than a father's. But when both parents go partners in open wickedness, it is no wonder if a son follows their example. 2. .tl. fateful visit. Ahaziah and Jehoram of Israel were speedily to meet their end together. The Chronicler says " the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to see Joram" (2 Chron. xxii. 7). Jehoram harl. peen wounded in a campaign against'Hazael at Ramoth-Gilead, and was now at Jezreel to be healed of his wounds. Thither Ahaziah rep1lired to visit him, and there both kings were slain by J ehu. The visible providence of God is again seen in this visit. His hook is in the nose of the sinner; he leads him wherever he will (2 Ki □ gs xix. 28).-J. 0.
EXPOSITION. figure in the historical drama; but at tlii.e OHAPTER IX. point his personality merges in the general Vers. 1-37.-THE ANOINTING OF JEHU, account of the kingdom of Turael, which it liIB MURDER OF JJJ:HORA.U AND AHAZIAH, is one of the objects of the writer to truce THE DEATU OF JEZEDEL. from beginning to end. Elisha here per- Vers. 1--10.-Elishn is still the primary forms his last public net, being commi&- 188 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [ell, IX, 1-:i7,