The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 310

Josephus says was delivered in writing, contained two things. (1) A parable or fable (ver. 18), not unlike that of Jotham to the Shechemites (J udg. ix. 8, etc.). It is not necessary to understand the thistle or thorn a.a pointing to Arnaziab, in comparison with whom Joash claimed to bo a tall cedar, though possibly this may have exnctly expressed Joaeh's estimate of the relative greatness of their royal persons; or to eup- pose that Amaziah had solicited a daughter of Joash in marriage for his son and been refused, and that out of this sprang his present warlike attitude towards Israel; or to find in the wild beast in Lebanon which trod down the thistle an allusion to the northern warriors who, should hostilities break out, would overrun and trample down the land of Judah, It is sufficient to learn what the fable was designed to teach. (2) The interpretation. Thie consisted of three parts: (a) A contemptuous rebuke. Amaziah, lifted up with pride and ambition, was stepping beyond his natural and legitimate sphere. He had conquered the Edomites, and now aspired to measure swords with the Israelites. It was pure self-conceit that lay at the bottom of his arrogance-a home- truth Amaziah might have digested with profit. (b) A condescending admonition. Amaziah had better stay at home. To be addressed by Joash as a wilful child might be by a wise and prudent father, must have been galling to the untamed spirit of Amaziah. (c) A comminatory prediction. Amaziah was meddling to his hurt, "pro- voking calamity" that he should fall, even he and Judah with him. Joash probably knew that Amaziah had rashly entered upon a campaign he had neither resources nor courage to sustain. Fas est ab haste doceri; but Amaziah would not hear. III. THE SCENE OF THE BATTLE. Beth-shemesh (Josh. xv. 10). 1. The meaning of the term. "The house of the sun." Probably the site of an ancient temple to the sun-god. The Egyptian On, or Heliopolis, i.e. "the city of the sun," is probably for the same reason styled Beth-shemesh (Jer. xliii, 13). 2. The situation of the place. On the southern border of Dan, and within the territory of Judah, about three miles west of Jerusalem, represented by the modern Arabian village 'Ain Semes, or "sun-well," near the Wady-es-Surii.r, north of which stretches a level plain suitable for a battle ( Hobinson, 'Bib. Res.,' vol. iii. p. 17; Thomson, 'The Land and the Book,' p. 535). Many fragments of old wall-foundations still a.re visible about the locality, and the modern village appears to have been built out of old materials. 3. The historical asso- ciations of the spot. It was one of the cities given to the Levites by the tribe of Judah (Josh. xxi. 16). The ark of the covenant long stood there (1 Sam. vi. 12). One of the officers who purveyed for Solomon's :court resided there (1 Kings iv. 9). It after- wards was taken by the Philistines (eh, xx:viii. 18). IV. THE RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. 1. The defeat of Judah. Joa.sh and Amaziah "looked each other in the face." '!'heir armies collided at the spot above described. '!'he issue was a totalrout for Judah (ver. 22). 2. The capture of Amaziali. Joash took him prisoner of war at. Beth-shemesh. Ama.ziah's thoughts at this moment would be pleasant company for him I Whether Joash exulted over him, taunting him with his bravery, and reminding him of the fate of the poor briar who aspired to mate with the cedar, is not recorded; to Joash's credit it should be stated that Amaziah was not put to death, or even consigned to a prison, as he deserved a.ud might have expected, but was allowed to live and even continue on his throne (ver. 25). 3. The destruction of a part of the wall of Jerusalem, Approaching the metropolis of Judah with its prisoner-king, Joash, not so much perhaps with a view to obtain a triumphal gateway ('l'henius), or restrain its inhabitants from reprisals in the shape of warlike operations (Bertheau), as simply to mark the capital as a conquered city (Bahr), caused about four hundred cubits of the wall to be broken down, from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, i.e. about half of the north wall. The gate of Ephraim, called also the gate of Benjamin (Jer. xxxvii. 13; xxxviii, 7; Zech. xiv. 10), because the way to Ephraim lay through Benjamin, was most likely situated at or nea.r}~e present-day gate of Damascu!I, the modern Bab-el-Amud, or, "Gate of the Column, m the second wall; while the corner gate, called also the first gato (Zech. xiv. 10), was apparently at tbo other end of the wall from that at which the tower of Hananeel stood (Jer. xxxi. 3S), i.e. at the north-west angle where the wall turned southwards. 4. The despoliation nf the temple and the palace. 'l'he pillaging of the former was not complete, but extended solely to the carrying off of the gold, silver, and vessels found in that part of the ~acred building which was undor the care of Obed-Edom and his sons (1 Chron. xxv1. 15), S12 THE SECOND IlOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cit. xx'V. 1--28,