2 Chronicles 21

Verse 2. Azarias. The only difference between this and the former name is, that the younger brother’s ( Bible.) has u at the end, ( Calmet.) Azrieu. Prot. and Septuagint make no difference, which we should nevertheless expect. Bible.—Juda. Hebrew “Israel.” Septuagint Syr. and so forth agree with the Vulg. editions, though most of the ancient Latin MSS. have Israel. Josephat ruled over the principal tribes. Yet it seems probable, from the versions, that the Hebrew formerly read Juda.

Verse 3. Pensions. Hebrew “precious things.” Septuagint “arms.”

Verse 4. Sword. This cruel policy ( Bible.) has been very common in the East. Calmet.—Israel. They had perhaps opposed his impious plans, animated by his brethren. God presently chastised him with the rebellion of Idumea; and though Joram gained a victory over Seir, (4 Kennicott. 8:21) he was not able to reduce the nation, being called off by other wars, verse 16. His own subjects at Lobna, a Levitical city in Juda, also abandoned him. Dreadful evils were denounced in a letter from the prophet Elias, who had been translated to paradise nine years before, and at last the honours of sepulture were denied to the wicked king. Tirinus.

Verse 6. Achab. It is supposed by Jezabel. She might be grand-daughter of Amri. Calmet. 22:2. The infamous Athalia is blamed for most of the evils which her husband committed.

Verse 7. Lamp; heir and successor. Calmet. Psalms 131:17.

Verse 10. Day, when the author lived. See 4 Kennicott. 8:20.

Verse 11. Fornication; idolatry. Menochius.—Hebrew “and compelled Juda.” Septuagint “seduced.” Syr. “dissipated Juda.” Calmet.—He used every art of seduction and violence to introduce idolatry, to the ruin of his kingdom. Bible.

Verse 12. Elias. Le Clerc would read Eliseus. Grotius supposes that all passed in a dream. Others think that Elias had written the letter before his removal from the conversation of men, some years before, foreseeing the impiety of Joram, and leaving the letter with Eliseus, to be delivered unto him. Menochius. Jun.—But the most common opinion is, that the prophet wrote it in paradise, ( Calmet.) and sent it to the king by an angel, and so forth Seder. xvii. Bellarm. Tirinus.—Elias had been taken away in the 18th year of Josaphat, who reigned 25; so he shewed this special care of Joram and his kingdom, so many years after his assumption. Worthington.—Thus the saints in heaven interest themselves in our defence. 2 Maccabees 15:11. Bible.—Prophet. Hebrew “And there came in him a writing of,” and so forth Calmet.

Verse 14. Thee is not expressed in Hebrew but it is in the Septuagint and the king was not only afflicted with illness, but with the losses of his people and family. Bible.

Verse 15. By little. Hebrew “by reason of the sickness, ( Bible.) day by day,” or in two years time, verse 19. Calmet.—He was probably ill so long. Bible.—Agrippa and Antiochus were treated in the same manner, ( Calmet.) with a diarrhœa, ( Menochius.) or dysentery, ( Calmet.) the vitals being corrupted. Valesius 40.

Verse 16. Philistines; who, it seems, had been obedient since the days of David.—Ethiopians, who lay west of the Arabians, from the Red Sea to the lower Egypt and the Nile, ( Calmet.) bordering on Madian. There was another Ethiopia to the south of Egypt. Menochius.

Verse 17. Joachaz, alias Ochozias, ( Challoner.) or Azarias, in Hebrew Calmet. 22:1 and 6. Calmet.—The variation of names seems to originate in the mistakes of transcribers, very frequently. If we found in some profane author, that Philip had only one son, Ander-alex, left, and that this son, Alex-ander, succeeded him, we should readily allow that the first syllables had been erroneously placed last, (Kennic.) as on this occasion aéz-ieu stands for ieu-aéz. Septuagint has here Οχοζιας; as the other versions have also Ochozias, (Calmet. 22:6) instead of Azrieu, ( Bible.) a name given to Ozias, king of Juda, when it belonged to the priests, as it here belongs to one of the captains. Calmet. 23:1. Sometimes we find Aézie. 4 Kennicott. 9:16. Strange inconsistency! Kennicott. See 4 Kennicott. 14:21.

Verse 19. And. Prot. “And it came to pass that, in the process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out, by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases: And his people made no burning for him,” and so forth ( Bible.) not that the body was usually consumed, but no aromatical spices were burned near it, (Sanctius. Tirinus.) as in the funeral of Asa. Calmet. 16:14. Calmet.—The point is controverted.

Verse 20. Rightly. Septuagint “unpraised.” Hebrew “without any satisfaction;” or, “he departed unregretted,” oppressed with illness, and odious to all.—Kings. Joas, Achaz, Achab, and Manasses, were disgraced in like manner, after their death. The Hebrews then shewed their resentment, without fear. The like custom prevailed in Egypt, and kept many within bounds. No person could receive the usual honours of burial, if his accusers could maintain their charge against his character before a court of above forty people, assembled for the purpose. Calumny was severely punished. But the kings themselves were to stand their trial, while their corpse was placed in the porch of the monument, and the priest spoke their funeral oration. The people testified their approbation or discontent, “and many of the kings have been deprived of a glorious and legal burial, on account of the opposition of the multitude.” Diod. i. and ii. Calmet.