The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 223

tion, o.n enconrnging word, 11 neighbourly kindness, a warning utterance, the takin"' of "a clo.se," the giving of "an address," the conduct of "a service," perhaps under" the humblest roof, or to the rnoet unpromising audience, may prove to be a most valuable contribution to the co.nee of Jeeus Cbriet, to the service of mo.nkind.-C. Vera. 1-3.-The false steps of a good lcin,q. I. AN UNFORTUNATE AT,LIANCE. Jehoshaphat joine affinity with Ahab (ver. 1). This refers to the marriage of Jeboram bis eon with Athaliah, Ahab's daughter (eh. xxi. 6), eight or nine years before. The date may be approximately determined thus. Athaliah's eon ascended the throne of Judah at the age of twenty-two (2 Kings viii. 26), not forty-two (eh. xxii. 2). But Johoram his father reigned eight years (eh. xxi. 5; 2 Kings viii. 17). Her.ce the fourteen years leading back to Abaziah's birth must have been the last fourteen of the reign of Jehoshaphat. Since, then, Jehoshaphat reigned twenty-five years (1 Kin"'s xxii. 42), Abaziah's birth must have happened in the eleventh year of Jehushaphat's and the :fifteenth of Ahab's reign (1 Kings xxii. 41). But Ahab reigned twenty-two years (2 Kings xvi. 29). Hence the interval between Ahaziah's birth and Ahab's death must have been at least seven years. The wedding, therefore, of Jeboram and Athaliah may be set down eight or nine years prior to Jeboshaphat's visit to Samaria. The alliance that wedding represented was the first wrong step Jehoshaphat took. It was: 1. Unnecessary. (1) Not required by the safety of the state. 'l'he army that, with no ally but God (eh. xiv.12), had defeated Zerah's million of soldiers, could hardly stand in need of succour from the so11 of Omri. In league with Jehovah (eh. xvii. 3), Jehoshaphat should have reckoned himself dispensed from the necessity of seekin2; other confederate (Rom. viii. 31; 1 John iv. 4). (2) Not demanded by the glory of his crown. His diadem had descended from David; Ahab's was of recent elate. Omri had been an 'upstart (1 Kings xvi. 16); David a prince legitimate, a sovereign created by special act of Jehovah himself. Then he (Jehoshaphat) had "riches and honour in abundance," second only to those of Solomon, both of which were tokens of Divine approbation (Ps. cxii. 3). Besides, he possessed a good name (eh. xvii. 3), which is better than great riches (Prov. xxii. 1) or precious ointment (Eccles. vii. 1). 2. Dangerous. (1) To his own religious character, which could not be improved thereby. "Evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Cor. xv. 33). Few can touch pitch and not be defiled. Considerin~ Ahab's infamous character (1 Kings xvi. 29-33), Jehoshaphat should have reasoned that the wider they stood apart the better for him (Prov. xiii. 20), and should have remembered David's prayer (Ps. xxviii. 3), as well as acted on David's resolution (Ps. ci. 4). (2) To his son's piety (if that son had any), which would not likely be increased thereby. Nothing more ruinous to a young man for both time and eternity than an irreligious wife (Prov. xii. 4); nothing more helpful than a woman that fears the Lord (Prov. xxxi. 11, 12). Whatever Jehoram was in youth-and his upbringing may be assumed to have been godly-when he reached the throne he was truculent and deba8ed, a murderer and an idolater, both of the worst type. This appalling deterioration the writer of the Kings and the Chronicles ascribe to Athaliah's influence (eh. xxi. 6; 2 Kings viii. 18). (3) To the best interests of bis kingdom, which were not likely to be furthered thereby. On the contrary, these were grievously hindered. Judah declined till, in respect of idolatry, she stood at a level almost as low as that of Israel (eh. xxi. 13). 3. Sinful. A daughter from the house of Omri no :fitting mate for a son of Jehoshaphat. The offspring of a Jezebel and an Ahab a good man should not have taken to his bosom (2 Cor. vi. 14:-16). II. AN ILL-ADVISED JOURNEY, Jehoshaphat pays a visit to Ahab (ver. 2). The second wrong step of Judah's king: 1. lvot d,:,nanded by duty. Nothing in his relations to Ahab or in the obligations resting upon him with reference to Ahab called for his journey to Samaria. Jehoshaphat in this case ran without being sent, always peri!o'.ls for a good man. 2. Not prompted by self-interest. Jehosbaphat's true interest lay in keeping as far apart as possible from the house of Omri (Prov. iv. 14). Had Ahab been a pious sovereign, Jehoshaphat might have profited by his society; being the opposite, Ahab could not advance Jehoshaphat's religion (Prov. xiii. 20). 3. Not required by courtesy. Had Jehoshaphat been invited to Samaria, he might have found it difficult to decliue without offending his royal brother. But Jehoshaphat travelled northwards of his own motion. Considering who Ahab was, it would have evidenced  224 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [oH. xvm. 1-34,