Them. Heb. "all that had conspired against king Amon." H. CHAPTER XXXIII. Boy; 16 years old. D. --- The kings of Juda were in their minority, till they had completed their 13th year. Grotius --- Cleansed. Heb. and Sept. "in the twelfth year he began to purify," &c. H. --- The work was not brought to perfection till six years afterwards, v. 8. C. T. Idols. Heb. chammanim, (H.) "statues of the sun." The term often denotes those open enclosures, where sacred fire was kept in honour of the sun. C. --- Sept. "the heights above them." Syriac, "he destroyed the altars, idols, tigers, and temples, the bracelets, little bells, and all the trees which had been consecrated to idols." Arabic, "the altars, idols, and leopards." Priests, whom he slew upon the altars, 4 K. xxiii. He. Heb. "with their swords, (C.; Protestants, mattocks) round about;" (H.) or, "and in their deserts," the inhabitants being removed. Sept. "in their places around." Syriac and Arabic, "in their public places." All the interpreters have read differently from what we find in Hebrew at present. Some may wonder that Josias should act thus, out of his own dominions. But the few Israelites who were left, had placed themselves under his protection; and as he made no ravages, and the Cuthites did not adopt the former superstitious practices of the country, they were not concerned to see the altars destroyed; nor were the kings of Assyria informed of, or interested to stop, these proceedings. C. --- Josias followed the directions of the priests and prophets; (M.) and many believe that the Assyrian monarch had given these territories to him, to hold, as his vassal; (T.) or God restored them to the lawful king, (v. 9) having promised all those countries to the family of David, for the express purpose of keeping up his own worship among his chosen people, and for exterminating idolatry. H. Eselias, or Assia. This man is alone mentioned, 4 K. xxii. 3. C. Houses, or apartments of the temple, which were gone to decay. H. Of music is expressed in Heb. and Sept. H. --- These Levites were chosen, because they were not so constantly employed in the temple, (C.) and they were not hired barely to inspect the works, and hence the expense was diminished. Masters: literally, "master porters." Prot. "officers and porters;" all Levites. H. --- Jahath, &c. directed them that carried burdens, (C.) as the Hebrew intimates; and in general, all the officers were chosen from the same tribe. H. Together: literally, "melted down," as the Heb. and Sept. signify. Coin was not yet used. C. --- But the pieces of money, of whatever description, were collected. H. Hasra. Olda's husband's grandfather is styled Araas, 4 K. xxii. H. --- Second part of the city, near the temple, or near the second gate, or between the two walls. D. CHAPTER XXXIV. Peace. The country enjoyed peace, as Pharao was gone; (M.) and Josias did not witness the evils here denounced. T. --- This was a blessing. W. In Israel, who had fled into his dominions. See v. 6. C. --- They. Sept. "he," &c. Josias worshipped God with all his heart: but all Israel paid him, at least, an external adoration. H. By whose. Sept. "the powerful in Israel, that they might be sanctified to the Lord; and they put," &c. Heb. "who instructed all Israel, the holy people of the Lord: Put," &c. H. --- No more. Heb. adds, "upon your shoulders;" (H.) whence it is inferred, that it had been carried about the cities of Juda, under the impious kings, who would not suffer it in the temple. C. --- Some believe that it was kept in the house of Sellum, the uncle of Jeremias, and husband of Olda. S. Jerom, Trad. T. Families. Heb. adds, "according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren, the people, (H.; or laics. C.) and the division of the families of the Levites." All were placed, with great order, in the temple. Which. Heb. "of the Lord, by the hand of Moses," which ordinances he has written down. M. In. Heb. "for the Passover-offerings, from the flock, lambs and kids, in number 30,000." Et reliqui pecoris, is not expressed. H. --- The small cattle might be intended for other sacrifices. M. Offered. Heb. "gave to the people." H. --- Rulers: the first alone was high priest. C. --- Small cattle: literally, cattle of different sorts;" commixtim. Protestants supply, "small cattle," which is not in Hebrew. H. --- Syriac and Arabic have, "sheep;" but we had best follow (C.) the Sept. "sheep, both lambs and kids." Either would suffice, Ex. xii. 5. Cattle. Protestants again supply these words. Sept. have, "sheep." H. Blood is expressed in the Sept. and understood in Hebrew. H. --- With. Heb. and Sept. "from their hands;" (H.) receiving it from the officers, who might slay their own victims, (C.) unless they were unclean, C. xxx. 17. H. --- Holocausts. Heb. and Sept. speak of the paschal lambs. H. --- Holocausts were regularly to be flayed by priests, Lev. i. 6. The hurry of the solemnity, (C.) and necessity, here excused the Levites, (M.) if we understand proper holocausts. H. \i Separated.\i0 Sept. "prepared the holocaust to give; having taken notice to whom the victims belonged, before they took off the skin, (M.) or rather, separating these from the other peace-offerings. Tournemine.\pa Victims. Heb. and Sept. "but the holy offerings they boiled." See Ex. xii. 9. H. Prophets. Heb. "seer." But Sept., &c. read in the plural. These were "prophets of the king," (H.) or masters of music. C. --- Vulgate might insinuate that these three gave orders, as well as David. But they were in office under him, as people of the same name were, probably, under Josias. H. As Josias kept. He displayed greater liberality (Estius. See 4 K. xxiii. 20.) and devotion; and the festival had also been neglected for some time. W. Charcamis belonged to the Assyrian monarch, (Isaias x. 9.) who subdued the empire of Babylon, C. xxxiii. 11. With me. Grotius thinks that Jeremias had given the order; and the author of Hebrew Traditions, supposes that he forbade Josias to oppose Pharao, who, it seems, was assured of victory. C. --- But this is uncertain; and Josias might justly suspect that the king of Egypt spoke without authority. H. --- The augurs of the latter might declare the truth, (M.) though they could not dive into futurity. H. --- Herodotus (i.) informs us, that Nechos fought against the Syrians, (or Israelites) in Magdelum, and took Cadythis, a city as large as Sardis, of Lydia; probably Jerusalem, (D.) or Cades. C. Prepared. Heb. "disguised himself," like Achab; (C.) or set his army in array. Sept. "he was bent on fighting him." H. --- He supposed that Pharao intended to invade his dominions, and God would withdraw him from the world. W. After the manner of kings, is not in Hebrew, &c. H. --- Curtius (iv.) informs us, that the Persian monarch had always a horse behind his chariot, to be ready in case of any accident. Lamentations. Some think that we have them in the Bible. Josephus, &c. --- Others believe that they are lost. Salien, the year of the world 3425. --- Law, on the anniversary; (M.) or when any calamity occurs, the lamentations of Jeremias are used. T. --- There were collections of such poems, as well as of canticles, for victory and marriages. C. Israel is placed first in Heb. and Sept. H. --- The kings of Juda assumed the title, as the kingdom had been subverted above a century; and the wretched remains of Israel had retreated into the territories, (C.) or acknowledged their dominion. H.