The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 200

JudBh and Jsmel were to be gui,led (Deut. xvii. 18-20). "Finely are both the crown l\nd the book presented to the king, that he might be not only mighty, but also wise, or, BS we may say, know God's Word Bnd right. Thus, even now, we make kings with I\ sword and book'' (Luther). 'l'he highest in the land are not above the authority of God's Word. He by whom "kings reign" is mightier than the mightiest, an<l requires from the monarch the same allegiance as from the hnmblest of his subjects. A nation is happy, prosperous, and blessed only when God's Law is made the rule c,f its policy and tho foundation of its government (Deut. iv. 6-8). (3) He was anointed with oil. For where God gives office he gives also qualification for that office. Oil i~ the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Word without the Spirit to interpret it, and to give strength for obedience to it, is useless. Kings need the grace of God for the dis- charge of their duties as much as, even more than, ordinary people. Jesus is Gorl's King, "anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows" (Heb. i. 9). ( 4) He was acknowledged as king by popular acclamation. "They clapped their hands and sai<l, God save the king!" The Divine choice was ratified by the free election of the people. While kingly, like all other authority, is derived from God, a throne iJI only strong when it rests on the loyal affection of the body of the people. III. THE DEATH OF ATHALIAH. 1. The shout of a king. .A.thaliah, though queen of Judah, was not a. worshipper of the God of Judah. While the scenes above described were being transacted, she was either in her own "house of Ilaal," or in the palace. But now the ringing shouts of the people apprised her that something was wrong. The sight of the guards posted round her palace would add to her alarms. She hastened to the temple, and there beheld a spectacle which told her that her hour was come. The young ,Toash was standing on bis platform, the crown on his head; the captains and trumpeters around him, while the air rang with the joyful huzzas of the people, with the notes of the silver trumpets, and with cries of "Let the king live I" Only in p:i.rt could .A.thaliah read the meaning of the scene, for she did not know who this crowned boy was. But she saw enough to tell her that the loyalty of the people had found a new centre, a.ad that her power was gone. The rejoicings of the people would be gall and wormwood to her heart, for they told her, not only that it was all over with her authority, but that the people were glad it was so. How swiftly, as by a. bolt from a clear sky, does retribution often fall upon the wicked ! An hour before .A.thaliah had no suspicion of any calamity. She had but to speak, and guards and servants were ready to yield her all obedience; now her authority has departed like a. pricked bubble, and she stands helpless among a. multitude-none so poor as to do her reverence. The passage is an illustration of the proverb, "When the righteous a.re in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked bearetb rule, the people mourn" (Prov. =ix. 2). 2. Treason to a traitress. When .A.tha.liah saw what was being done, heard the shouts, a.ad witnessed the rejoicings, she rent her garments, and cried, "Treason I treason! " Treason is an a.et or series of acts designed to compass the overthrow of a constituted government, and is genera.Hy held to be punishable by death. It is wicked a.ad ille- gitimate governments which make most of the crime of tree.son, and most severely enforce the penalties against it. Yet it is plain that these penalties are justified only on the supposition that the government against which the treason is directed is a legitimate one. .A. government which is itself born and bred of treason has no moral justification for punishing treason in others. .A.thaliah was queen, not by God's will, but in defiance of all right and morality. She had usurped the throne, and killed (or thought she had killed) the rightful heirs to it. Treason against ijUCh a government, itself the offspring of the blackest treachery, was not a crime, but might \Je the highest duty. Still, a.s if some horrid iniquity was being practised, the trai tr~t'S rends her clothes, and cries, " Treason I " Her own treason is unthought of; she sees only the treason of her enemies. Is not this state of mind too common? Men a.re loud in denouncing transgressions which they themselves are flagrantly guilty of. They point to the mote in another's eyi,, without reflecting on the beam in their own. Callous as to their own falsehood, selfishness, and dishonesty, they detect in an instant, and loudly denounce, the same vices in their neighbours, especially when practised towards them- selves. It is this which renders them inexcusable. For the power to detect sin in others implies a knowkdge of the law which condemns the person jLtdging if he does the ea.me things (Rom, ii, 1), 3. Just retrilrut-ion. The order of Jehoi3d:\ was tba.t U, KINGS, ll 242 THE SECOND IlOOK OF THE KINGS. [011, XII, 1-21,