Amarias, (1 Paralipomenon vi. 11.) or rather Azarias, the father of Johanan, 1 Paralipomenon v. 9. --- Office, in civil matters. C. --- Here is a plain distinction between the spiritual and temporal authority, instituted by God, Deut. xvii., and Num. xxvii. W. T. --- Masters. Heb. shoterim, to execute the sentence; (D.) or "officers." --- You. Prot. "with the good." H. CHAPTER XIX. Of the Ammonites; people sprung from them. Those who explain the Psalm lxxxii. of this war, find many nations mentioned. Some of these, not daring to appear openly, assumed the name of Ammonites. Perhaps we should read (C.) Mannim. H. --- Sept. "the Mineans," who dwelt in Arabia Felix, upon the Red Sea, (Pliny, vi. 28.) or rather the Maonians, in the environs of Gaza. C. --- Some MSS. and Latin editions have "Idumeans," which is conformable to v. 11, 23, and S. Jerom Trad. Lyranus, &c. M. Sea of Sodom, (H.) or the Red Sea. D. --- Syria, which comprised the country of Ammon. M. --- Perhaps Edom might rather have been in the text, as we find no Syrians in this war, but many of the Idumeans. C. --- Adom and Arom, (Syria. H.) have often been confounded, 4 K. xvi. 6. C. --- Asasonthamar, "the palm-tree cottage," (Bochart) between Jericho and the Dead Sea. Juda. The whole kingdom was concerned. Sometimes a fast was proclaimed for one city, 3 K. xxi. 9., and Jonas iii. 7. C. --- They were accustomed to fast, not only to subdue the flesh, but also for other necessities. W. Prot. "to ask help of." H. --- Cities. Here we have an example of a pilgrimage to a holy place, as God is more willing to hear the virtuous in one place than in another, C. vi. 7., &c. W. New court of the priests. Why it is so called, does not appear. C. --- Some understand the court for the women; (Salien) others, that for Gentiles. Le Clerc --- Probably some of the courts had been found too spacious after the schism, and had been neglected; but now, as many had returned to serve the Lord in the dominions of Josaphat, he had made some repairs. T. All, or the greatest part. Heb. "drive out the inhabitants." H. Sword of. Prot. " as the sword, judgment, or," &c. Sept. "the sword, judgment, death, famine." All these are sent in punishment of sin. H. --- The sword of the enemy is a judgment of God. (M. CHAPTER XX. Judge and punish them, as they fight against thee? C. --- Enough. Yet we read that Josaphat had above a million soldiers; and he knew that his father had discomfited a greater army of Zara with half the forces. He thus puts us in mind that no power can stand against God's will; and he endeavours, by humility, to obtain the protection of heaven. The invading army must, however, have been very numerous, to extort these expressions from a potent king, and to have thrown his whole people into such consternation. It could hardly be less than that of Zara; and thus, in the space of a century, above two millions and a half of idolaters perished by the hand of God, without Juda losing a single man, v. 29., and C. xiii. 17. H. Children. Even the little infants were deprived of the breasts, on such emergencies, that their cries might be more affecting. H. Joel ii. 16., and Judith iv. 8. --- The pagans of Ninive even made the cattle also fast, Jonas iii. 7. C. S. Ambrose, ser. 40. T. Spirit of prophecy. M. --- Jahaziel is known only by this event. C. Six. Some translate "flowry ascent." C. --- Prot. "the cliff of Ziz." H. --- If it had been Zin, we might understand the desert of stony Arabia, where Ptolemy places the town of Ziza. C. --- But we may recollect that the army was already advanced as far as Engaddi; (v. 2,) so that it seems to have lain nearer Jerusalem. H. --- Jeruel, "the fear of God," which name was given to the place, in consequence of the panic with which God struck the enemy. S. Jerom) M. High. Rejoicing at the promised deliverance. C. Thecua, two mile east of Bethlehem, on the road to Jeruel. Adrichomius) M. --- Believe. Faith is the foundation of all good works; (Hebrews xi.) but not alone sufficient, as here the people fasted and prayed, and would have fought, if God had not dispensed with them. See Josue xxiii. W. --- We may also translate Hebrew "trust." Ever. This was usually sung in times of joy, C. v. 13. The army seemed thus to be returning victorious. C. Ambushments, placed by the Moabites, (M.) and Ammonites, (H.) against Juda. Some detachments of Mount Seir, perhaps, coming suddenly on them, were taken for foes, and slaughtered. H. Tower. Maspha, in the tribe of Benjamin, (C.) or some other (H.) eminence. M. Insomuch. Heb. and Sept. "Three days passed, while they gathered the spoils, because it was great," (H.) "without weight," or estimation. C. Blessing. Sts. Jerom and Epiphanius place Caphar-barucha, "the field of blessing," near Hebron, on the east. Hither Abraham attended the Lord, when he was going to destroy Sodom. Epist. Paul\'e6. Lands, in the vicinity. M. --- Israel, as he had lately treated Zara, C. xiv. 13. H. Places, erected in honour of God, but displeasing to him, C. xvii. 6. H. --- The good king perhaps attempted to take these also away, but was obliged to desist by the rebellious people. M. --- Hence we find that they are here blamed. H. --- They would not conform exactly to the law, (Lev. xvii. 3.; T.) and the king was not able to bring all to perfection. W. --- "It is better to pass over....vices, than to shew which we cannot subdue." Tacitus, An. iii. Which. Sept. "who wrote a book of the kings of Israel." H. --- Jehu rebuked Josaphat, C. xix. C. --- His book is not extant. M. Things: the victory over Ammon, &c. H. --- Wicked. See C. xvi. 3. Tharsis; probably Cilicia, (C.) or some part of the ocean. --- Asion-gaber was on the Red Sea; and ships would not have been built there, to trade on the Mediterranean, C. ix. 21. T. Azarias. The only difference between this and the former name is, that the younger brother's (H.) has u at the end, (C.) Azrieu. Protestants and Sept., make no difference, which we should nevertheless expect. H. --- Juda. Heb. "Israel." Sept., Syriac, &c. agree with the Vulgate editions, though most of the ancient Latin MSS. have Israel. Josephat ruled over the principal tribes. Yet it seems probable, from the versions, that the Hebrew formerly read Juda. Pensions. Heb. "precious things." Sept. "arms." Sword. This cruel policy (H.) has been very common in the East. C. --- Israel. They had perhaps opposed his impious plans, animated by his brethren. God presently chastised him with the rebellion of Idumea; and though Joram gained a victory over Seir, (4 K. viii. 21.) he was not able to reduce the nation, being called off by other wars, v. 16. His own subjects at Lobna, a Levitical city in Juda, also abandoned him. Dreadful evils were denounced in a letter from the prophet Elias, who had been translated to paradise nine years before, and at last the honours of sepulture were denied to the wicked king. T. Achab. It is supposed by Jezabel. She might be grand-daughter of Amri, C. xxii. 2. The infamous Athalia is blamed for most of the evils which her husband committed. Lamp; heir and successor. C. Psalm cxxxi. 17. Day, when the author lived. See 4 K. viii. 20. Fornication; idolatry. M. --- Heb. "and compelled Juda." Sept. "seduced." Syriac, "dissipated Juda." C. --- He used every art of seduction and violence to introduce idolatry, to the ruin of his kingdom. H. Elias. Le Clerc would read Eliseus. Grotius supposes that all passed in a dream. Others think that Elias had written the letter before his removal from the conversation of men, some years before, foreseeing the impiety of Joram, and leaving the letter with Eliseus, to be delivered unto him. M. Junius. --- But the most common opinion is, that the prophet wrote it in paradise, (C.) and sent it to the king by an angel, &c. Seder. xvii. Bellarmine) T. --- Elias had been taken away in the 18th year of Josaphat, who reigned 25; so he shewed this special care of Joram and his kingdom, so many years after his assumption. W. --- Thus the saints in heaven interest themselves in our defence, 2 Machabees xv. 11. H. --- Prophet. Heb. "And there came in him a writing of," &c. C. Thee is not expressed in Heb., but it is in the Sept. and the king was not only afflicted with illness, but with the losses of his people and family. H. By little. Heb. "by reason of the sickness, (H.) day by day," or in two years time, v. 19. C. --- He was probably ill so long. H. --- Agrippa and Antiochus were treated in the same manner, (C.) with a diarrh\'9ca, (M.) or dysentery, (C.) the vitals being corrupted. Valesius 40. Philistines; who, it seems, had been obedient since the days of David. --- Ethiopians, who lay west of the Arabians, from the Red Sea to the lower Egypt and the Nile, (C.) bordering on Madian. There was another Ethiopia to the south of Egypt. M. Joachaz, alias Ochozias, (Ch.) or Azarias, in Hebrew, C. xxii. 1., and 6. C. --- The variation of names seems to originate in the mistakes of transcribers, very frequently. If we found in some profane author, that Philip had only one son, Ander-alex, left, and that this son, Alex-ander, succeeded him, we should readily allow that the first syllables had been erroneously placed last, (Kennicott) as on this occasion aez-ieu stands for ieu-aez. Sept. has here Greek: Ochozias; as the other versions have also Ochozias, (chap. xxii. 6.) instead of Azrieu, (H.) a name given to Ozias, king of Juda, when it belonged to the priests, as it here belongs to one of the captains, C. xxiii. 1. Sometimes we find Aezie, 4 K. ix. 16. Strange inconsistency! Kennicott) See 4 K. xiv. 21. And. Prot. "And it came to pass that, in the process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out, by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases: And his people made no burning for him," &c. (H.) not that the body was usually consumed, but no aromatical spices were burned near it, (Sanctius; T.) as in the funeral of Asa, C. xvi. 14. C. --- The point is controverted. M. Rightly. Sept. "unpraised." Heb. "without any satisfaction;" or, "he departed unregretted," oppressed with illness, and odious to all. --- Kings. Joas, Achaz, Achab, and Manasses, were disgraced in like manner, after their death. The Hebrews then shewed their resentment, without fear. The like custom prevailed in Egypt, and kept many within bounds. No person could receive the usual honours of burial, if his accusers could maintain their charge against his character before a court of above forty people, assembled for the purpose. Calumny was severely punished. But the kings themselves were to stand their trial, while their corpse was placed in the porch of the monument, and the priest spoke their funeral oration. The people testified their approbation or discontent, "and many of the kings have been deprived of a glorious and legal burial, on account of the opposition of the multitude." Diodorus i. and ii. C.