Bible Commentaries

after this: i.e. after Ahab's death (2 Kings 3:5).

children = sons.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6.

himself = his face.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

to ask = to seek. Supply "counsel" here.

stood. On the platform provided for such purposes as this (2 Kings 11:14; 2 Kings 23:3).

congregation = assembly. Hebrew. kahal. See note on "multitude" (Genesis 28:3).

and. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "in".

the new court. The court of the priests, built by Solomon (2 Chronicles 4:9; 2 Chronicles 15:8).

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

art not . . . rulest not . . . is there not? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

heathen = nations (Daniel 4:34, Daniel 4:35).

in Thine hand. The words of David were accessible to Jehoshaphat (1 Chronicles 29:12). See App-47.

so that none = and there is none.

Abraham Thy friend. Three times so called: here, Isaiah 41:8, quoted in James 2:23. Compare Moses (Exodus 33:11).

evil. Hebrew. raa". App-44.

sword. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the execution done by it. Compare 1 Kings 8:37. 1 Kings 6:28.

Thy name = Thy presence.

affliction = distress. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "distresses".

mount Seir. The Edomite Mehunim. See 2 Chronicles 20:1.

wouldest not, &c. Compare Deuteronomy 2:9.

wilt Thou not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

judge = bring judgments. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the judgments themselves.

company = rout.

Jahaziel . . . Asaph. Probably Psa 83 written at that time.

Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

of: or from. Genitive of Origin: i.e. spiritual power from Jehovah.

Be not afraid = "Be not [ye] afraid".

cliff = ascent.

brook = valley.

stand ye still. Compare Exodus 14:13.

the beauty of holiness = in His glorious sanctuary. See note on 1 Chronicles 16:29.

Praise the LORD = Praise Jehovah. App-4.

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

the LORD. Some think the "Yod" (= J) was an abbreviation for "Judah".

ambushments = liers in wait. The Targum interprets them of angelic powers.

the dead bodies. Some codices, with five early printed editions and Vulgate, read "apparel".

stripped off = raked together.

Berachah = Blessing.

fear = dread, as in 2 Chronicles 19:7 (not as in 2 Chronicles 19:9). Genitive of Character = a great dread.

Asa his father. Some codices, with six early printed editions, read "his father Asa".

not taken away. See note on 2 Chronicles 17:6.

book = words.

Jehu. Compare 2 Chronicles 19:2.

after this. In the twentieth or twenty-first year of his reign. Compare 1 Kings 22:51. See App-50. "After" this wonderful deliverance. "After" the solemn warning of 2 Chronicles 19:2. "After" his experience in 2 Chronicles 18:31.

join himself. This was the third alliance (Commercial). See note on 2 Chronicles 18:1. Note the Figure of speech Repetitio (App-6), by which great emphasis is laid on these words by their repetition in verses: 2 Chronicles 20:36 and 2 Chronicles 20:37.

who did very wickedly. This is added to show that the reason against such an alliance was just as strong with Ahaziah as with Ahab.

wickedly = lawlessly. App-44.

to make ships to go to Tarshish. This was prior to the similar event recorded in 1 Kings 22:48, 1 Kings 22:49, where he made (himself) "Tarshish ships to go to Ophir". Ahaziah again sought to implicate Jehoshaphat. But he failed in the attempt, for we there read "Jehoshaphat would not" (2 Chronicles 20:49). And the ships "did not go", for they were "broken" (2 Chronicles 20:48). The marginal note in Authorized Version is neither correct nor necessary.

Eliezer. Sent by Jehovah, just as Jehu had been sent (2 Chronicles 19:2).

broken. A Homonym. Hebrew. paraz, to break. Rightly so rendered here. Its other meaning, to increase, as rightly given in Genesis 30:43. Exodus 1:12.