The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 341

or eustnining the wnr, e.nd therefore should have been exempted from experiencing its miseries. 3. 'l'he destination of the captives. Samaria, in the Assyrian monuments Sa-mir-i-na (Schrad~r, 'Die Keilinschriften,' p. 191), the capital of the northern kingdom, built by Omri (1 Kings xvi. 24), II. Tm~ WARRIORS 01' ISRAET, AND THE P1'0PHET OF JEHOVAH. (Vers. 9-11.) 1. The prophet's name. Oded, "t:letting up." The name of the father of Azariah who went out to meet Asa (eh. xv. 2). 2. The prophids designation. A prophet of Jehovah, not of the false Jehovah worshipped in Samaria under the image of a calf (Hos. viii. 6, 6), but of the true Jehovah, which shows that, apostate as the northern kingdom had become, it was not entirely destitute of true religion-even there Jehovah having at least prophets who witnessed for him, like Hosea :(i. 1) and Oded, if not also adherents who worshipped him. 3. The prophet's courage. He went out to meet the hosts of Israel as they returned from their successfnl campaign, and warned them of the wickedness of which they had been guilty; a~ Jehu, the son of Hanani, had met Jehoshaphat returning from Re.moth-Gilead (eh. xix. 2), and a prophet of Jehovah had conrronted Amaziah coming from the slaughter of the Edomites (eh. xxv. 15). 4. The prophet's address. (1) A reminder that the victory they had obtained had been due not so much (if at all) to their superior military skill or bravery, as to the fact that Jehovah had been angry with Judah, and had delivered her armies into their hands (ver. 9; cf. Neh. ix. 27). (2) A rebuke for the want of pity they had shown towards their brethren upon whom the anger of God had fallen-a circumstance which should have moved their hearts to clemency (Job xix. 21), but which had rather lent intensity to their rage. (3) An accusation that they purposed to make bondmen and bondwomen of the sons and daughters of Judah and Jerusalem-which, besides being an act of cruelty, was likewise an act of folly, since it could not be supposed Jehova.h's favour was finally withdrawn from Judah; and an act of presumption, inasmuch as they themselves had not been blameless in the matter of apostatizing from Jehovah, and, if the truth were told, were as much deS'erving to be punished as their southern brethren a.nd sisters. (4) An appeal to their conscience to say whether what he now affirmed was not correct: "Are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God? " Their idolatry was as great as that of Judah had been. Their pitiless butchery of their brethren was crying up against them to heaven. Their bringing a.way of these innocent women and children was an iniquity which filled up the measure of their guilt (ver. 10). (5) An exhortation to desist from their criminal intention to enslave their brethren, and to send back the captives they had brought, with all convenient speed and with due expressions of regret (ver. 11). (6) An argument to quicken tlieir movements in the path of duty; ;if they did not, the fierce wrath of Jehovah, which was already on them, would engulf them. The speech, which was a. model in respect of compact brevity, lofty eloquence, clear statement, pathetic appeal, resistless logic, and which must have been delivered with combined boldness and persuasiveness, made a deep impression. III. THE WARRIORS OF ISRAEL AND THE PRINCES OF EPHRAIM. (Vers. 12-14.) 1. The names of the princes. Azariah ( eh. xv. 2 ; xxii. 6), the son of J obanan, "Jehovah is gracious;" Berechiah, "Whom Jehovah bath blessed" (1 Chron. vi. 39), son of Meshillemoth, "Retribution;" Jehizkiah, the same as Hezekiah, "The mh:ht of Jeho- vah,'' son of Shallum, " Retribution" (2 Kings xv. 10); and Amasa, "Burden," the name of one of Absalom's captains (2 Sam. xvi i. 25), the son of Ha.dlai, "Rest." These princes were obviously at the head of the Israelitish congregation (ver. 14). 2. The action of the princes. They joined the Prophet Oded in resisting the introduction by the soldiers of the captives into the city. 'fhat people is fortunate whose leaders are courageous to oppose them in evil-doing, and to point out to them tbe path of duty. 3. The opeech of the princes. (1) A refusal to admit the captives into the city (ver, l3); (2) a confession that already they, as a people, had transgressed against Jehovah, and incurred bis wrath; e.nd (3) an intimation that the course the soldiers were pur- suing was such as would increase their sin and trespass, and expose them to a heavier charge of guilt. 4. The success of the princes. "The armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation" (ver. 14~. Happy is that com- munity in which the wise and good counsels of its leaders prevail. IV. Tm; PRINCES OF' ISIIAEL AND THE CAPTIVES OF JUDAH. (Ver. 15.) 1. Th, 344 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [011. xxvm. 1-27.