Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Go. The contents of this chapter are of a more ancient date than those of the foregoing chapter; for the order of time is not always observed in the writings of the prophets. Challoner. Worthington.—King Joakim, who succeeded Sellum, A. 3394. Usher.
Verse 5. Myself, having none greater. Hebrews 6:13. Oaths evince the insincerity of men, who distrust each other; but when God condescends to use them, it shews men’s incredulity.—House, the temple, or rather the palace, where the king was sitting at the gate, verse 2. Calmet.
Verse 6. Galaad, the head of Libanus. By Galaad, a rich and fruitful country, is here signified the royal palace of the kings of the house of David; by Libanus, a high mountain abounding in cedar-trees, the populous city of Jerusalem. Challoner. Worthington. Theodor.—Both mountains are connected. Saint Jerome Strabo xvi.—Yet the proper Galaad was at some distance, and on the side of Ammon very barren. The palaces had arisen from a miserable state to resemble Libanus. They shall surely be destroyed. Calmet.—The advantageous situation of Jerusalem should not protect it, no more than it had done Galaad. 4 Kennicott. 15:29. Jun. Grot.
Verse 7. Prepare. Lit. sanctify; ( Challoner.) as various religious ceremonies were used before the declaration of war, and to know what would be the success. Calmet.—The Chaldees were destined to execute God’s decrees. Saint Jerome—Cedars; fine buildings, (verse 14. Calmet.) and chiefs. Bible.
Verse 10. Dead. He means the good king Josias, who by death was taken away, so as not to see the miseries of his country.—Away. Sellum, alias Joschaz, who was carried captive to Egypt. Challoner. verse 12 and 4 Kennicott. 23:33. Calmet.—He was the fourth son of Josias, (1 Chronicles 3:15) and had probably the title of king after the death of Sedecias. Worthington.
Verse 13. Friend. Joakim forced his subjects to work for him for nothing.
Verse 14. Wide. Hebrew “measured;” large, and well-proportioned.—Vermilion, (cynopide.) This colour was invented in the town of Pontus, and was used for statues, and so forth Pliny xxxiii. 6. and xxxv. 6. Wisd. 13:14. Calmet.—Hebrew shashar ( Bible.) may mean indigo. Jun. Calmet.
Verse 15. Cedar; Josias. Calmet.—Shall thy magnificent palaces secure thy empire? Bible.—Him. Obey the Lord, in like manner, that thou mayst prosper.
Verse 18. Sister. They shall not condole with his consort.
Verse 19. Jerusalem. Calmet. 36:30. He died indeed with or like his fathers. 4 Kennicott. 24:6. But it is not said that he was buried. Saint Jerome—The Chaldees designed to send him to Babylon, (2 Chronicles 36:6) but slew him on the road, (Usher, A. 3405) or treated his corpse ignominiously after his arrival. Grot.
Verse 20. Go; Jerusalem. The verbs are feminine.—Lovers; citizens, or Egyptians, and so forth Calmet. 27:2.
Verse 22. Pastors, or princes, whose expectations of aid will be frustrated. Osee 12:1. Chal. “Thy leaders shall be scattered to all the winds.”
Verse 24. Jechonias: Joachin, (4 Kennicott. 24:6. Worthington.) or Chenias, who did not take warning by his predecessor’s misfortune.—Ring, or seal, if he were most dear to me, the prime minister of the greatest monarch. Agg. 2:24. Calmet.—Alexander gave his ring to Perdiccas, designating him his successor, or regent. Curt. x.
Verse 26. Mother; Nohesta, (4 Kennicott. 24:8) who perverted, ( Calmet.) or did not correct him in his youth. Bible.
Verse 27. Mind; ardently desiring and expecting to be liberated. Calmet.
Verse 28. Jechonias. Prot. “Koniah, a despised broken idol? is he,” and so forth Septuagint Alex. “Jechonias has been dishonoured as a vessel, or which there is no need, for he hath been snatched and cast,” and so forth Bible.
Verse 30. Write this man barren. That is childless: not that he had no children, but that his children should never sit on the throne of Juda. Challoner. 5:28. Matthew 1:12. Ezekiel 17:24. Zorobabel was of his seed, yet he never obtained the title or sovereign power of a king. The Machabees were of a different family. Saint Jerome—Joachin, or Jechonias, was restored indeed to some favour, (4 Kennicott. 25:27) but not to the kingdom, no more than any of his posterity, till Christ. Worthington.