The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 238

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XX. something west or Edam (the right reading in place of .A.ram, where o. resh had turned Of this chapter, with its thirty-seven verses, out e. daleth). B:aze.zon-tama.r .. , Engedi ; only the six verses (31-36) find any dupli- i.e. the place Engedi (.Ain-jiddy), a living cat.e or parallel in Kings (1 Kings x:rii. 41- " spring of wa.t.er" from e. lime-cliff, half-way up the west coast of the Sa.It Sea.," in the 49). The chapt.er is occupied with e. state- midst of palms " (inter palmas), the compound ment of the invasion of Juda.h by Moabites word " He.zazon-ta.mar" meaning literally, and .Ammonites and certain problematical "the division of the palm." others (vers. 1, 2); with an account of the way Ver. 3.-Proclaimed a fast. This is the in which the king and people prepared to first recorded occasion of a general fast by royal procle.ma.tion, and of individual fasting meet the crisis (vers. 3-13); with the pro- it is remarkable that there is no record before phecy of Jahaziel the Levit.e e.s to how, the time and the act of Moses (as e.g. Exod. under certain conditions, things would go x.xxiv. 28); a.fterwhich, for individua.lfa.sting, (vers.14-19); and with the narration of the come occasions like those of David (2 Sam. xii. 16) and Elijah (l Kings xix. 8); for victorv and the manner of it (vers. 20-30); general fasting, occasions like those of Josh. while the remaining verses partly rumme.rize vii. 6; Judg. xx. 26; 1 Sam. vii. 6; and for e.nd then conclude the a.ccount of the life, partial fasting, by semi-royal authority, that character, e.nd reign of Jehoshaphat. "proclaimed" by Jezebel (1 Kings xxi, 9, 12). Ver. 1.-The children of Jloab. In 2 Ver. 4.-This verse expresses the response Kings iii. 5-27 we ree.d of e. rebellion on of all the kingdom to the proclamation of the part of Moab, and of the victory of Jehoshaphat. Israel's Iring Joram, t.ogether with Jehosha- Ver. 5.-The new court (see eh. iv. 9; phat and the King of Edam, over Moab, now xv. 8). probably in quest of revenge. Beside the Vars. 6-12.-The recorded prayers of Ammonites. The reading of our Authorized Scripture are indeed what they might be Yersion here cannot stand. The Septuagint expecred to be, model prayers, and the pre- gives us some guidance in the name "the sent a model instance of the same (see homi- Minrei." By the mere transposing of one letics). The prayer before us invokes the one Hebrew chara.cler in the name Ammonites, God '' in heaven ; " claims him the God "of we obtain the name Maonit.es (ree.d D')\Jlp, our fathers;" recit.es his universal authority for o•p11l,)), i.e. the people of Maon, a. towri above, below; pleads his former conduct of near Petra no doubt Edomitisb (see vers. the " people Israel," in especial his sta.blish- 10, 22, 23),' and possibly the same _with the ing of that people in their present land; most Septuagint Minmi (see also eh. xxv1. 7). t.ouchingly recalls his covenant of condescend- V<.:r. 2.-Beyond the sea on th.ill Bide A.ram ing, everlasting ''friendship" with Abraham, (Bvria); i.e. south-!,8,llt of the E!alt Sea, and the grand original of the people (Gen. xviii, 011. xx. 1-37.J THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 239