They were exceedingly afraid at his approach, and were troubled for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord their God;
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 2. Temples. Surrendering would not secure these things; so that their very life and religion were at stake. Resistance, in other circumstances, would have been rashness. Calmet.—Greek adds, “because they were recently come up from captivity, and lately all the people had been collected out of Judea, and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, had been purified from profanation,” ( Bible.) to which they had been exposed under Manasses, (Calmet. 5:23. Calmet.) who with several of his subjects had been made prisoner, and was now at Babylon; or, if returned, ( Bible.) was wholly taken up with the concerns of his soul, and committed the care of affairs to Eliachim. See Joseph. x. 4. 2 Chronicles 33:12. 16. Calmet.