Historical chapter commentary
Verse 3. Him. Joas, as Prot. ( Bible.) and most interpreters understand it, with the Syr. and so forth Joiada was too old to think of marrying again, as the Rabbins would explain the Hebrew conformably to the Septuagint and Arab. “himself.” Calmet.—Joas did not probably marry two at once. Salien, A. 3766.—Amasias was born of Joadan. Calmet. 25:1. Menochius.—The high priest considered Joas as his son, being married to his aunt. Bible.
Verse 5. Money. The half sicle, (Exodus 30:13. 4 Kennicott. 12:4. Calmet.) which at first was required for the tabernacle, and afterwards for the repairs of the temple. Worthington.
Verse 6. Chief “priest,” (verse 11,) where he is called the first. Hebrew “the head priest.”
Verse 7. Children. All but Ochozias had been slain by the Arabs. The plural is often put for the singular. S. Jerom (Trad.) explains it of the priests of the idols, whom Athalia cherished as her own offspring.
Verse 10. That, and so forth Hebrew “till it was done,” according to the law. Pagnin.
Verse 11. From day. Lit. “every day,” ( Bible.) when the chest was replenished. Menochius.
Verse 14. And for. Hebrew “and to offer,” such as ( Bible.) “mortars.” Proverbs 27:22. Eali is thus translated. Calmet.—Prot. “and spoons and vessels.”
Verse 16. Israel, particularly to those of the kingdom of Juda. Bible.—His, David’s, house, ( Menochius.) as he had restored the crown to his offspring.
Verse 17. Worshipped. Hebrew “bowed down to the king, and he hearkened to them.” Bible.—The Jews say that the princes flattered him with the title of god, as he had been educated in the temple. E.—But this is improbable. Calmet.—They petitioned for leave to re-establish the worship of Baal, ( Menochius.) and paid greater honours to the king than were becoming. D.
Verse 18. Idols. Hebrew “sorrows.” Septuagint “the Astartes and idols.” Calmet.
Verse 19. Them. Calling heaven and earth to witness ( Calmet.) the unity of God. Bible.—These prophets might have been performing their sacred commission ever since the reign of Josaphat; during which time Eliseus, Micheas, Jehu, and others, lived. Calmet. 20:14 and 18:27. Calmet.
Verse 20. Priest, refers to Zacharias. Septuagint “Azarias.” Bible.—It is not certain whether this was the person whom Jesus Christ speaks, (Matthew 23:35. Calmet.) as S. Jerom believes; (ib.) or our Saviour alludes to one of the minor prophets, ( Tirinus.) or to the father of the baptist. Baronius. Bible.—Sight. Hebrew “above,” perhaps on the steps between the two courts. Calmet.—To make. Hebrew “therefore hath he forsaken you.”
Verse 22. Require it. I commit my cause into his hands. Menochius.—The vengeance of the Lord was not slack. Bible.
Raro antecedentem scelestum
Deseruit pede pœna claudo. Horace.
Verse 23. Damascus. Hazael had before invaded Jerusalem. 4 Kennicott. 12:17. The Syrian army, which routed Juda, was comparatively small. Calmet.—The idolatrous princes now received the due punishment of their crimes, verse 17.
Verse 24. Shameful, is not expressed in Hebrew But the putting a king to the torture, (verse 25.) and upbraiding him with his ingratitude and perfidy, was a gread indignity. Bible.—He had probably entered into engagements with Hazael, when he prevailed on him to depart, the year before. Calmet.—Nabuchodonosor treated Sedecias in like manner. 4 Kennicott. 25:6. The author of the Hebrew Trad. among the works of S. Jerom, ( Bible.) asserts that the children of Joas were slain before his eyes, while the Syrians reproached him for the unjust murder of Zacharias. Calmet.
Verse 25. Servants. By whom the man is slain, who had murdered his spiritual father. Worthington.—Son. Hebrew “sons.” See verse 7. Some think that the brothers of Zacharias were slain, that they might not attempt to revenge his death.—Kings. These sepulchres are amazingly beautiful and spacious. The doors are six feet high, and formed, like the rest, of solid stone, cut in the most elegant manner. Doubdan 26. Calmet.
Verse 26. Moabitess. Septuagint read, “the Ammonite.… and Moabite.” See 4 Kennicott. 12:21. Bible.
Verse 27. And. Septuagint “And all his sons: for five came upon him,” with the rest of the conspirators. Bible.—They have read differently. Calmet.—Sum. Hebrew “the greatness of the burden on him,” ( Bible.) imposed by the Syrians, (verse 24) or denounced by the prophets. Mossa is often taken for a prophetic menace. Calmet.—More. Hebrew “in the researches.” Prot. “story of the book.” Addo entitled his book Modross. Calmet. xxii. 22. Bible.—Only some extracts from these works have come down to us. Esdras had them before him. The abridgments have occasioned their loss, as has been the case with many other excellent works. This was the more easy, as writing was not then so common. Calmet.