Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XIIII.

Vers. 1. IN the second yeare of Joash sonne of Jehoahaz king of Israel, reign∣ed Amaziah, &c.] That is, in the second yeare of his reigne, after he began to reigne alone, his father Jehoahaz being dead: for he began to reigne three yeares before his father dyed, and that was the thirty seventh yeare of Joash king of Judah (the father of this Amaziah) who reigned fourty years complete. See the note chap. 13.10.

Vers. 2, And reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem.] Of which nine and twenty years, Joash reigned in Israel fifteen years complete, and something more; (for he began his reigne the yeare before Amaziah, vers. 1. In the second yeare of Joash sonne of Jehoahaz king of Israel, reigned Amaziah: and he reigned but sixteen years in all, chap. 13.10. and the other, fourteen years complete, and some∣thing more, Jeroboam the sonne of Joash reigned in Israel; and therefore it is twice expressed, that Amaziah outlived Joash king of Israel fifteen years, vers. 17. of this chapter, and 2 Chron. 25.25.) but then may some say: if Amaziah lived but to the fifteenth yeare of Jeroboam the sonne of Joash; how is it said, that Azari∣ah, or Uzziah the sonne of this Amaziah, began his reigne in the seven and twenti∣eth yeare of Jeroboam, chap. 15.1? I answer; either Jeroboam was designed king by his father Joash twelve years before his death, and so that which was but the fif∣teenth yeare of Jeroboams reigne, to wit, when Azariah or Uzziah was made king of Judah, is counted the seven and twentieth from his first designation to the crown of Israel; or rather Azariah or Uzziah was not fully seated in the kingdome un∣till twelve years after the death of Amaziah: see chap. 15.1,

Vers. 3. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father, &c.] That is, he did, to wit, in the beginning of his reigne, that which was for the substance of it approved of God; but he did not do it (as David did) with an upright and perfect heart, 2. Chron. 25.2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart: he did that good he did, out of respect to men, or to his own advantage; not out of a sincere desire of pleasing God: such as his father was, such was he; his father a while out of a respect to men (as long as Jehoiada lived) did that which was right, but out of a false hollow heart, and so afterward fell away to idolatry, and so did he.

Vers. 4. Howbeit the high places were not taken away, &c.] This is added by way of exception not to that which went immediately before, of his doing all things as Joash his father did, (for his father Joash did not take away the high places, no more then he did) but to that which is said in the begining of the third verse, that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord; to wit, in the beginning of his reigne; for as concerning this outward conformity, which at first he yielded to the

law of God, herein he failed, that he did not suppresse that superstitious worship∣ing of God in the high places.

Vers. 5. And it came to passe, assoon as the kingdome was confirmed in his hands, &c.] It seems the murther of his father Joash. chap. 12.20, 21. was at least so farre approved and applauded by many of the people, as the just judgement of God upon him for his apostacie to idolatry, and especially for the death of Zachariah the sonne of Jehoiada, that Amaziah at his first entrance upon the kingdome, thought it good policie to dissemble his displeasure, and give way to the time; and so fo••bore a while to punish the traitours: but assoon as he perceived his government well e∣stablished, and found that the conspiratours (howsoever the deed done was applau∣ded as the handy work of God) had neither any mighty partakers in their fact, nor strong maintainers of their persons; he on a sudden called them to an account, and so without any tumult they were put to death.

Vers. 6. But the children of the murderers he slew not, &c.] Which is noted, as one of those acts wherein he carried himself commendably in the beginning of his reigne: he might well fear lest the children of those he now put to death, might seek in after times to be revenged on him, and yet he would rather hazard this, then transgresse Gods law: which enjoyned that the children should not be put to death for any fault of their parents, Deut. 24.16.

Vers. 7. He slew of Edom in the valley of salt, ten thousand, and took Selah by warre, &c.] Of this valley of salt, see the note 2. Sam. 8.13. whether it were the happy successe of Joash king of Israel, in his warres at this time against the Sy∣rians, that kindled in Amaziah a desire of undertaking some expedition, wherein himself might purchase the like honour; or what else it was that first put Amaziah upon this invasion of the Edomites, it is not expressed: sufficient cause he had of ma∣king warre upon them, because in his grandfather Jehorams time they had rebel∣led, and so continued unto this time; and therefore considering of what importance the reducing of them to their former subjection would be, he went forth against them, and obtained a notable victory, though he did not wholly subdue them: the particulars of which enterprise are more fully expressed, 2. Chron. 25.5—16. as first, that though upon a view taken, he found in his own kingdome three hundred thousand serviceable men for the warres, yet thinking it the better way in point of policie, to wage this warre chiefly by mercenaries, he hired an hundred thousand a∣ble valiant men of the Israelites for an hundred talents of silver, (who were in those times by reason of their successefull warres against the Syrians, become fa∣mous souldiers) to go with him against the Edomites; for which being reproved by a prophet that came to him, and threatned with ill successe, if he strengthened himself with the help of these men, whom God did not love, because they were idolaters, though he prospered them in their warres against the cruell Syrians; how∣ever he stuck a while at the losse of that great summe of money, wherewith he had hired them, yet at length he dismissed them; and they enraged hereby to revenge this high disgrace, (as they esteemed it) fell upon the cities of Judah in their return, and slew three thousand of them, and took much spoil. Secondly that entring af∣terwards couragiously into the Edomites countrey with his own souldiers, he obtain∣ed against them a notable victory, wherein he not onely slew of them ten thousand,

as is here expressed; but also took other ten thousand prisoners, whom he threw from an high rock, that very place perhaps, which is here called Selah, or the rock: using it may be such severity against them, because notwithstanding this his victory, they still stood out, and would not be reduced again under the subjection of the crown of Judah: & thirdly, that when he returned home, besotted by I know not what strange witchcraft, he set up the idol-gods of the Edomites (which among the other spoils he had brought away) to be his gods, and worshipped them, and burned incense unto them; for which being reproved by a Prophet, he would not hearken to him, but checked him for daring to meddle with him, and so received from the Prophet that fearfull doom, that God had determined to destroy him.

Vers. 8. Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the sonne of Jehoahaz, &c.] That is, Amaziah puffed up with his late victory in his warres against the Edomites, sent a proud challenge to Joash, wherein he dared him to meet him with his best for∣ces, and give him battel: most probable it is, that the injurie done him by the Israelites, whom he had dismissed when he undertook the late expedition against mount Seir, was the first occasion that provoked him to quarrel with Joash, 2. Chron. 25.13. But the souldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back that they should not go with him to battel, fell upon the cities of Judah from Samaria, &c. and that this late wrong might also bring old matters into question; namely, the slaughter which Je∣hu the grandfather of this Joash, had made amongst the princes of Judah; and espe∣cially the title which the kings of Judah had to the kingdome of the ten tribes, as well as those of Judah and Benjamin, the advice which he took with his counsel, 2. Chron. 25.17. Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and advise, and sent to Joash the sonne of Jehoahaz the sonne of Jehu, saying, Come, let us see one ano∣ther in the face, seems to imply, that they debated amongst them these just grounds, which he had to make warre against the king of Israel: and most likely it is, that these things were objected by him in this challenge that he sent; but because he sent this message in an insolent manner, as one that did rather desire to decide the businesse by the sword, then to have it otherwise composed, and to try the strength and courage of the king of Israel in a pitched battel, therefore is this onely expressed, that he challenged him to meet him in the field, and give him battel face to face; for that is the meaning of these words, Come, let us look one another in the face.

Vers. 9. The thistle that was in Lebanon, sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, &c.] Thus Joash answered Amaziah by a parable; and the drift of it was to put Amaziah in mind how vain a thing it was for them that are comparatively weak, and of little strength, easily overborn and troden down, to entertain proud and aspi∣ring thoughts concerning themselves, as if they were above the reach of danger; and he makes the thistles pride in this parable, to be the desiring of the cedars daughter for his sonnes wife, therein to couch secretly an argument from the lesse to the greater: if it were too much for the thistle to offer affinitie with the cedar, much more then to make warre against the cedar, which he would have Amaziah know was just his case; because he looked upon Amaziah as a poore, weak, and contem∣ptible king in comparison of himself, though proud and quarrelsome, he compares him to a thistle, the basest of all shrubs, though full of prickles; and himself (who had ten of the tribes of Israel under his command, whereas the other had but two)

to a cedar, the most noble of all trees; onely, he compares Amaziah to a thistle in Lebanon, as well as himself to a cedar in Lebanon; because Amaziah was a king as well as he: again, from the foolish pride in the thistle in sending such a message, he implies how farre greater the pride and folly of Amaziah was, in sending such a challenge to him: and last of all, by shewing what became of the thistle, There pas∣sed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle, he gives A∣maziah to understand what his end would be, if he persevered in his resolution to make warre against him; to wit, that his forces would easily crush and ruine him; and indeed, the miseries that would befall him are well compared to the treading down of a wild beast; because warre (bellum quasi bellua) doth usually destroy and tread down all before it: and souldiers, as men void of all reason, and carried on merely with fury and brutish passions, are wont without all consideration, in a rude and brutish manner, to beat, and trample down all where they come; and therefore is the time of warre called a day of trouble, and treading down, Isa. 22.5.

Vers 11. But Amaziah would not heare.] To wit, because God would have him punished for his idolatry, whereunto he was then newly fallen, upon his victory a∣gainst the Edomites, 2. Chron. 25.20. But Amaziah would not heare, for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies; because they sought after the Gods of Edom.

Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up, &c.] That is, he stay not till the ene∣mie brake in, and spoiled his countrey, but entred the kingdome of Judah, and so encountred with him in Beth-shemesh which belonged to Judah; which is added, be∣cause there was another Beth-shemesh in the tribe of Naphtali, Josh. 19.38.

Vers. 13. And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah, &c.] And thus, in this A∣maziah the sonne of Joash, God did yet further revenge the death of Zachariah the sonne of Jehoiada, who was most inhumanely and ungratefully murthered in his fa∣thers dayes, according to that which he said at his death, the Lord look upon it, and require it, and withall Amaziah himself was severely punished for his Apostacy to idolatry upon his victory over the Edomites.

And brake down the wall of Jerusalem, from the gate of Ephraim, unto the cor∣ner gate, foure hundred cubits.] Some conceive that this part of the wall was bro∣ken down, that the inhabitants might be rendred hereby the more fearfull to attempt any thing against the kingdome of Israel, the strength of the citie being so farre im∣paired; but such a breach that might be so easily made up again, could be no great curb to them: others say that it was done at Joash his command, that at that breach he might enter the citie in his chariot, carrying the king before him, as in triumph; but why should foure hundred cubits of the wall be beaten down that he might en∣ter with his chariot? more probable therefore it is, that the citie at first standing out against him, he battered down that part of the wall by the north gate, which was to∣wards Ephraim, and therefore called the gate of Ephraim, and so took the citie by force.

Vers. 14. And he took all the gold, and silver, &c. and hostages, and returned to Samaria.] These hostages he took for assurance of their performing the conditions he had imposed upon them; but having Jerusalem in possession, and their king his prisoner, why did he not seize upon the kingdome, and joyn the twelve tribes again

under his government: I answer, that which lately had befallen Athaliah, shewed plainly how constantly affected the people stood to the house of David, neither could he tell what forces the people abroad in the countrey might presently raise against him; no marvell therefore though he chose rather to go away with a certain spoil, then to hazard all by aiming at the crown of Judah, upon such weak and uncertain terms.

Vers. 16. And Jehoash slept with his fathers.] See the note, chap. 13.13. It seems he out-lived not long that sacrilegious act of his, in robbing the Temple of Jerusalem.

Vers. 17. And Amaziah the sonne of Joash king of Judah, lived after the death of Jehoash sonne of Jehoahaz king of Israel, fifteen years.] To wit, un-unto the fifteenth yeare of Jeroboam the sonne of Joash king of Israel. See the note, verse 2.

Vers. 19. Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, &c.] Ascri∣bing all the miseries that had befallen their citie and kingdome to him, who had pro∣voked the king of Israel to invade their land, whereupon Jerusalem was taken and pillaged, &c. they were enraged against him, and so conspired together to take away his life; which though he discovered, and fled to Lachish, yet they pursued him thi∣ther, and there they slew him.

Vers. 21. And all the people of Judah took Azariah, (which was sixteen years old) and made him king, &c.] To wit, in the seven and twentieth yeare of Jeroboam, chap. 15.1. but his father died in the fifteenth yeare of Jeroboam, vers. 14. and then (it seems) this his sonne Azariah or Uzziah, being not above foure years old. Con∣cerning which, see the note chap. 15.1. In this kings reigne Isaiah and Hosea began to prophecie, and Amos and Jonah, Isai. 1.1. Hos. 1.1. Amos 1.1. and verse 25. of this chapter.

Vers. 22. He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, &c.] This Elath we find mentioned, Deut. 2.8. so that it was now onely repaired, or at least enlarged or forti∣fied. It was a citie of Edom, near the red sea, and therefore it seems was recovered from them by Azariah or Uzziah.

Vers. 23. Jeroboam the sonne of Joash king of Israel, began to reigne in Sama∣ria, and reigned fourty and one years.] To wit, fourteen years and upwards with Amaziah (who reigned nine and twenty years, vers. 1.) and twenty seven years in the dayes of Uzziah or Azariah, who succeeded his father Amaziah. How this a∣greeth with that which is said chap. 15.1. see in the note on that place.

Vers. 24. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, &c.] for this cause Amos in these dayes prophecyed against the house of this Jeroboam the second, and when Amaziah the priest complained thereof to the king, he was enjoyned not to prophecie any more at Bethel, Amos 7.10, 11, 12. Then Amasiah the priest of Be∣thel, sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee▪ in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words: for thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall be led away captive out of their own land: Also Amaziah said to Amos, O thou Seer, go flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophecy there.

Vers. 25. He restored the coast of Israel from the entring of Hamath, unto the

sea of the plain.] Concerning Hamoth, see the note, Num. 13.21. and 34.8. The sea of the plain is that which was called the salt sea, Deut. 3.17. the utmost south bounds of the kingdome of Ephraim.

According to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, &c.] When Israel was brought so low, as is expressed in the fol∣lowing verse (which was in the dayes of Jehoahaz the sonne of Jehu, chap. 13.34, 7.) the Lord by Jonah foretold, it seems, how they should vanquish the Syrians, and enlarge the coast of Israel, which accordingly came to passe; first in the dayes of Joash, who obtained three great victories against the Syrians, chap. 13.25. but more fully in the reigne of Jeroboam his sonne, the most prosperous and victorious king that ever reigned over the ten tribes.

Vers. 28. He recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel.] Though these cities had been in the possession of the kings of Judah; yet he recovered them for his own kingdome, the kingdome of Israel.

Vers. 29. And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with, &c.] Having reigned fourteen years in the time of Amaziah and Uzziah kings of Judah, as is above no∣ted verse 21.