The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 262

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XXII. ing which the Septuagint has translated "archers" ( -roto-rct1). This clmpter comprises the accession, briof Ver. 6. - Both plaoee (this 11nd the rei~, and death of Ahoziah (vers. 1-9); parallel) tell first that .A.hazie.h went with and the following murders and usurpation Joram against Hazael; then Jthat Jornm, of Atbalia.h during six years (vors. 10-12). being smitten, returned for healing to J ezreol; next that ,Ahaziah, out of oompo.ssion in The parallel of :the former section is to be some sort, wont down to see Joram in found in 2 Kings viii. 24-29; ix. 14-16, Jezreel; e.ud lastly, it is here signalized that 21-28; and of the latter, xi. 1--3. iu that very deed of his, Providence brought Ver. 1.-This verse does not so much it a.bout that Jehu lighted upon the track purport to say how the inhabitants of Jeru- of him (vers. 7-9), and he met his end. aalem proceeded t.o appoint Ahaziah, in This feature of the history the writer of default of any previous appointment on the Ohroniolee wishes to exhibit, as usua.1. part of bis father, but merely th.at whereas Ra.mah; i.q. Ramoth-Gilead. Jezreel. This they appointed him, the youngest son, it was e. town in the Plain of Jezreel w11.11 bece.use they had no choice, the elder (Esdmelon), belonging to the tribe of brothers having been slain (cb. xxi. 17), Issaehe.r. For Aze.riah read .Ahaziah; com- though the deceased J ehoram possibly might pare ll"l;JIJ~ (.Ahaziah) and l!;l~in; (Jehoahaz), not have known up to the time of his de.ath, the meaning of both being "held " or "up- for certain, of their several deaths. Thie, if held of the Lord." we may judge from the particular language Ver. 7.-He went out with J'ehore.m here used, bad been brought a.bout at the against J'ehu. The" against" is the simple hands of the band of men that oa.me with preposition ':>i:i, and need intend nothing the Arabians to the camp, now first pa.rticu- more than "io meet" J ehu; not to meet le.rized. The parallel (2 Kings viii. 25), him hostilely. What the manner of the wanting both of these items, states tho.t this meeting was, however, we know from reign began in the twelfth year of J ora.m of 2 Kings ix. 21, 22, 27, 28. The history of Israel. this e.nd following two verses is here given Ver. 2.-Forty a.nd two; read, twenty and very briefly; much must be filled in to give two, and see parallel, 2 Kings viii. 26 ; and its full explanation, as in 2 Kings ix. 11-29. note on our eh. :ui. 5. Daughter of Omri; Whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the i.e. granddaughter of Omri, as Omri WBB the house of Ahab; i.e. ha.d raised him to father of Ahab. the throne, possessed of the characteristic Ver. 3.-The mother and the house of qualities which he bad for this purpose Ahab had become a proverb and a by-word (2 Kings ix. 1-7; 1 Kings xix. 16). Jehu for their evil. In this and the following the son of Nimsbi. Strictly, "the son of two verees stress is lo.id on the evil counsel Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi" (2 Kings a.ncl the sources of it that prejudiced .A.1.Ja.- ix. 2). ziab to his ruin. Although the parallel Ver. 8.-Exeouting judgment upon the wants these direct statements, perhaps it house of Ahab. The description of all this scarcely says leea, when it says (ver. 27), is sufficiently graphically scattered along "For he W&B the son-in-law of the house of the vel'l!es of 2 Kings ix. 24-xi. 20. And Ahab." fount!. the princes of J'udah (see especially Ver. 5.-He . .. went with J'ehora.m the 2 Kings x. 7, 11; xi. 13-20). And the sons son of Ahab. So the evil example of even of the brethren of Ahazie.h. Thie both ex- the good lives after them. See Jeho~h:iphat plains and is explained by 2 Kings x. 12- (I Kings xxii. 29; eh. xviii 3) follor, eJ. by 14. That ministered to Ahaziah. Even his son Jehoram first (2 Kings iii. 9), and this enigmatica.l little clause receives its now by his grandson .A.ha.ziah. The words probable explanation from the last clause of of this verse and the next are almost iden- ver. 13 in last quotation foregoing. tical with the parallel (2 Kings viii. 28, 29). Ver. 9.-And he sought Ahaziah: and they Re.moth-Gilead. It will be remembered that caught him . . . brought him . . , burie4 Ahab failed when he solicited and obtained him. This verse, which at the first sight the help of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings xxii. 3- seems at variance with 2 Kings ix. 27, 28, 36; eh. xviii 3-34) in his enterprise is perhaps a simply surprising instance of age.inst Bamoth - Gilead. The present undesigned corroboration of history by the attempt, however, seems to have had a. treatment of dilferent historians. The verse, different issue (2 Kings ix. 14, 15). The e.g., corrects the italics of 2 Kings ix. 27; Syrians; Hebrew, □'!?'.:IQ· The initial radical expunging them throws their proper foroe he1e should be N, from neglect of observ- into the words, "at the going up to Gur,'' on. xxn. 1-12.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES.