seventy years, from the date of their sepa- reviving the commerce of his people with ration to the time of Asa's death, gave way the Eo.st] : but they went not [Heb. it went to peace and even alliance. Judah now not] : for the ships were broken [Probably recognized the division of the kingdom as they were de.shed by a storm against the an accomplished fact, and no longer treated rocks which " lie in jagged ranges on each Israel, even theoretically, as in rebellion. side," Stanley] at Ezion-Geber. It is probable that the marriage of J ehomm Ver. 49.-Then said Ahazla.h the son of and Atho.liah was at once the fruit of, and Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants was intended to cement, this good under- go with thy servants 1n the ships. But standing (2 Cbron. xvili. 1). It is hardly Jehoshaphat would not. [But we a.re told likely (Bahr) that the peace was the result in 2 Chron. xx. 37 that the ships were of the anion of the two families. From the broken, according to a prophecy of Eliezer, analogy of ib. xix. 2 ; xx. 37; cf. 1 Kings the son of Dode.ve.h, because Jehoshaphat xvi. 31 ; 2 Kings iii. 14, we should conclude had joined himself with Ahaziah. The that the marriage at any rate was ill-ad- explanation is that the fleet had been built vised and displeasing to God. Bii.hr sees by the two kings conjointly, and manned in it a step on the part of Jehoshaphat by the subjects of Jehoshaphat exclusively; towards realizing the union of the two and that, after the disaster, Ahaziah pro- kingdoms under the supremacy of Judah. posed either to repo.ir the injured vessels, He thinks that we cannot otherwise account or to construct a second fleet, which should for this complete change of front.] then be partly manned by sailors of the Ver. 45.-Now the rest of the acts of northern kingdom, " men probably accus- Jehoshaphat, and his might [as in oh. tomed to the sea, perhaps trained Bt Tyre" xv. 23, xvi. 27, &c. It is noticeable that this (Rawlinson). This proposal was declined word is not used of Ahab, notwithstanding by the king of Judah, not so much on his wars and victories] that he showed [see e.coount of the "reflection on his subjects' 2 Kings iii. 9 sqq.; 2 Chron. xvii. 12 sqq. skill contained in it," as because of the pro- His judicial reforms w:e hardly referred to phecy of Eliezer, o.nd the evidently jadicia.I here], and how he warred [ib. chs. xviii., disaster which had befallen the fleet already u.J, are they not written 1n the book of built.] he chronicles of the kings of Judah 7 Vex. 50.-And Jehoshaphat slept with Ver. 46.-And the remnant of the Sodom- his fa.there, and was buried with his ites, which remained 1n the days of his fa.there 1n the city of David his father: and father Asa [It appears hence that .A.sa's Jehora.m his son reigned 1n his stead [2 removal of the religious prostitutes (eh. Chron. ui.] xv. 12), like that of the high places, had been but partial], he took [Heb. eztermi- Reign of Aliaziah. 11ated] out of the land. Ver. 47.-There waa then no k1ng 1n Ver. 61.-Aha.zl.ah the son of Ahab began Edam: a deputy [:J~,, SIIJlle word as in eh. to reign over Israel 1n Samaria. the seven- iv. 7. It is implied tho.t this officer was ap- teenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, pointed by the king of Judah (Wordsworth)] and reigned two years over Israel [Po.rts was king. [This fa.ot is mentioned to of two yeo.rs; 2 Kings iii. 1 ; o.nd of. i. 17 show how it was tho.t Jehoshaphat was nnd viii. 16. It is suggested that J ehornm o.ble to build a tleot at Ezion-Geber, in was o.esooie.ted with his father in the the territory of Edam (oh. ix. 26). That government of Jade.h from the dato of the country would seem to have regained its expedition age.inst Ro.moth-Gileo.d, aud this independence very soon o.fter Solomon's is not improbable. But it has been already death (oh. xi. 14), but would also appear remarked that these chronological notices from the text, and from 2 Kings viii. 20, appear to have undergone n. revision which 22, to have been ago.in mo.de subject to has sometimes resulted in confusion. J JL1dah, probo.bly by JehoRho.phat himself; Ver. 62.-And he did evil 1n the sight of Hee 2 Chron . .r.vii. 10, 11.J the Lord, and walked 1n the w:iy of his Ver. 48.-;choshaphe.t n.ade [The Chethib father [eh. xvi. 30-33 ; cf. 2 Kings iii. has ir!,111 ten, obviously e. clerical error for 2] and 1n the way of his mother [The ill:!111 made] ships of Tbo.rshish [see note powerful influence of Jezebel, even after on eh. x. 22] to go to OphJr [In 2 Chron. Ahab's death, is hinted at here. It was to xx. 36, Tharshuh is read for Ophir. Words- her that idolatry owed its position in Israel], worth holds that two sepo.rate fleets are in- and 1n the way of Jeroboam the son tended, bat this is most improbable] for of Nebat [the co.If-worship nnd idolnti-y gold [Evidently the great prosperity of existed side by side], who ma.de Israiil to his reign had suggested to him the ideo. of sin. omulatinlJ Solomon's nave.I exploits, and of Ver. 63.-l"or h~ 118rvl4 Ba.a,;, •11,ll wo:r- 542 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [ CH, XXII. 1-53.
Bhlpped him, and provoked to anger [or made by aocident. 'Ihese verses are closely 1'exedJ the Lord God of Israel, accordiDg to connected with 2 Kings oh. i. The division all that his father had done. [The ter- here obscures the connexion between the mination of this book at this point could sin of Ahazie.h and the judgments which it hardly be more arbitrary if it had been provoked.]