He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel, to this day.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 7. Edom, who had rebelled under Joram. Calmet. 8:20. The particulars of this war are given, 2 Chronicles 25:5. Josephus (ix. 9.) says, Amasias designed also to attack Amalec and Gebal in the same country.—Pits. Called the woody vale, Genesis 14:8. ( Menochius.) south-west of the Dead Sea, (Adric.) or rather to the south of Palmyra, towards Bosra, 3 Kennicott. 9:18.—Rock. Petra, the capital of the country, formerly called Rekem Arke, or Hagor. Most of the houses are hewn out of the rock. Hebrew Sela signifies “a rock;” and many think that this was some other place, whence the Idumeans were hurled down, after the victory. Amasias gave it the name of Jectehel, “obedience of God,” in memory of his having obtained this success, in consequence of his having obeyed the prophet, and sent away 100,000, for whom he had paid 100 talents to the king of Israel.