zii. 11 that he died at "Hadndrimmon b. the valley of Megiddo," and that bis dead body was nfterwarils brou11ht to Jerusalem. By this defeat Judah was brought into sub- jection to Pharnoh-Nechoh, and the way prepared for its subjection to Nebuchadnezzar, when he, in turn, became master of the situation. It is wise not unduly to meddle with the quarrels of other nations. 2. Mowrning for his death. The untimely death o_f Josiah was a cause of unexampled mourning throughout the whole land. The affection with which his people regarded him, and the confidence they placed in him, are strikingly shown by the sorrow felt at his loss. The mourning at Hadadrimmon is used by the prophet to illustrate the mourning which will take place at the national repentance of Israel in the times of the Messiah (Zech. xii. 9-14). It was as the mourning for a firstborn. Jeremiah composed an elegy for the good king departed, and the singing-men and singing-women kept up the practice of lamenting for him even unto the Captivity (2 Chron. xxxv. 24, 25). Well might Judah mourn. Josiah was the last great and good king they would see. But infinitely better wo•lld it have been if their sorrow had been the "godly sorrow" which "worketh repe-ntance" (2 Cor. vii. 10). This unfortunately it was not, as the result showed. It iu because it was not that, the mourning of Hadadrimmon will have to be done over again (Zech. xii. 10), next time in a very different spirit. We see that it is possible tc lament good men, y~t not profit by their example. The best tribute we can pay the just is to live like them. 3. Providential aspects of his death. (1) An irreparable loss to the nation, Josiah's death was yet great gain to himself. It was G.xi's way of taking him away from the evil to come, and so of fulfilling the promise given by Huldah (eh. xxii. 20). Josiah, perhaps, erred in taking the step he did, but while God punished him for his error, he providentially overruled the event for his good. Death is sometimes 1t blessing. It may hide things from our eyes we had rather not see; as, in the case of the good, it translates to scenes of bliss beyond human conception. The " dark things" of God's providence are those in which we may ultimately recognize the greatest mercy. "Judge not the Lord by feeble sense," etc. (2) In regard to the nation, the providential aspects of this death were widely different. It took from them a gift which -they had failed to prize, or at least to profit by. It was, moreover, a step in Provi- dence towards the fulfilment of the threatenings of captivity, Pharaoh-Nechoh's con- quest was the gate through which Nebuchadnezzar entered. II. THE DEPOSITION OF JEBOAUAZ. 1. A brief reign. In virtue of the defeat of Josiah, Judah became ipso facto a dependency of Pharaoh-Nechob. The people, how- ever, were in no mood to acknowledge this subjection, and immediately set about making II king for themselves. They passed by Eliakim, Josiah's eldest son, and raisetl the next son, Shallum (Jer. xxii. 11), to the throne under the name of Jehoabaz. The younger son was probably the more spirited and warlike of the two. Ezekiel compares him to a young lion (xix. 3). Under him the nation cast off the restraints of the reign of J osiab, and reverted to its former sinful ways. It does not suffice to make a good king that he has (1) a good father-" the son of Josiah;" (2) a good name-Jehoahaz, "he whom the Lord sustains;" or (3) a solemn anointing-they "anointed him." The people probably thought otherwise, for it was they, apparently, who gave him this name, and took the step of formally consecrating him with the anointing oil. Anointing oil, without the grace which it symbolizes, is of little use. Jeboabaz was permitted to possess his throne only for three brief months. 2. A hard captivity. By the end of the period named, Pharaoh-N11choh was sufficiently free to attend to the proceedings at Jerusalem. The city had flouted his supremacy, nnd he did not let it escape. His own camp was at Riblah, but he sent to Jerusalem, required Jehoahaz to attend bis court at Riblah, there put him in chains, nnd carrieJ him with him into Egypt (Ezek. xix. 4). This was a worse fate than Josiah's. "Weep ye not for the dead," said Jeremiah, "neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country" (x.xii. 10). This captivity of Jehoahaz was a prelude to the captivity of the nation-the first drop of the shower soon about to fall. Yet the people would not hearken. 3. A hsavy tribute. In addition to removing the king, Pharaoh-Nechoh put the land under a tribute. He exacted a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. Agaiu we see bow sin works out bondage, misery, and disgrace. An oft-read lesson, but how impos- sible, apparently, for this people to learn! THE SECOND BOOK OF 'l'HE KINGS. [cu. :u.1v. 1--20
III. JEHOIAKrn's v ASSALAGE. 1. Egypt dictates a king. Once again, as in the t>arliest period of their history, Israel WI\S in bondage to Egypt. Pharaoh-Nechoh used his power unsparingly. The eldest son of Josiah, who seems not to have been a favourit-c with the people, was willing to accept the throne as a vassal, and him, accord- inii:ly, Necboh made king, changing his name, in token of subjection, from Eliakim to JchoiQkim. How bitter the satire-Jehoiakim, "he whom Jehovah has set up" I 2. Jehoia~'im becomes Egypt's tool. Jehoiakim had, perhaps, no alternative but to give "the silver and the gold to Pharaoh," but in his manuer of exacting it he showed_ himself the willinii; tool of the oppressor. To obtain the money, he put heavy taxation ou the people. His rule was a bitter, ignominious, and oppressive one for Judah. Jeremiah says of him, "But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to FhC!l innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it" (xxii. 17). But such are tbe kings men must suhmit to when they reject God for thei1· Suvereign. In a moral respect Jehoiakim's reign was "evil," and in a temporal respect it w,.1,s the stumbling on from one misfortune to another.-J. 0.
EXPOSITION.