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. XVII.

Vers. 1. IN the twelfth yeare of Ahaz king of Judah, began Hoshea the sonne of Elah to reigne, &c.] It is manifest that Hoshea the last king of Israel, slew Pekah in the twentieth yeare of Jotham, and that then he assumed to himself the title of king of Israel, chap. 15.30. And Hoshea the sonne of Elah made a conspi∣racie against Pekah the sonne of Remaliah, and slew him in the twentieth yeare of Jotham the sonne of Uzziah: and as manifest it is, that the yeare which is there cal∣led the twentieth of Jotham, was the fourth of Ahaz his sonne (for Jotham reigned but sixteen years, chap. 15.33. Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reigne, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. Now if Hoshea succeeded Pekah in the kingdome of Israel, in the fourth yeare of Ahaz, how is it here said that he be∣gan to reigne in Samaria in the twelfth yeare of Ahaz; surely, because though he thrust himself into the kingdome, yet he was not acknowledged king, but opposed as an usurper; and that perhaps not onely by the Israelites, but also by the king of Assyria, who in the latter end of Pekahs reigne, had (upon the perswasion of Ahaz) entred into the land of Israel, and seized upon a great part of the kingdome, chap. 15.29. and thus the kingdome of Israel was in a manner unsettled, untill the twelfth yeare of Ahaz his reigne, when either by the people, or by the Assyrian king, Ho∣shea had, it seems, the crown of Israel confirmed to him; and so he reigned, as it is said here, nine years: for after the twelfth yeare of Ahaz his reigne (which must not be reckoned, because it was well nigh ended ere Hoshea was established king) there are foure years of Ahaz his reigne remaining (for he reigned sixteen years, chap. 16.2.) and five years of Hezekiahs reigne, which makes nine years. Indeed chap. 18.1. it is said, Hezekiah began to reigne in the third yeare of Hoshea: but of that see the note there.

Vers. 2. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.] To wit, because though he continued the idolatry of Jeroboam, yet he abandoned the grosser idolatries of many kings that had

been before him; and then besides he suffered such of his subjects as would, to go up to worship in the Temple of Jerusalem, which the former kings of Israel would not permit: this we find, 2. Chron. 30.11. &c. where it is said, that when Hezekiah had proclaimed a solemne passeover, many of the ten tribes went up to keep the passeover in Jerusalem.

Vers. 3. Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria, &c.] When Ho∣shea had slain Pekah in the fourth yeare of Ahaz, as is before noted, he found not so ready admittance into his throne, as perhaps he expected; and whilest the people were in this combustion amongst themselves, Shalmaneser (called by others Nabo∣nassar) the sonne of Tiglath-pilezer, being either desired to come into the aid of that party that opposed Hoshea; or being of himself ready enough to take advantage of these civil broils, that he might wholly subdue that kingdome which his father had already in a great part ruined; he came up against Hoshea, and at length prevailed so farre, that Hoshea was content to become his servant, and to pay him tribute: and so was settled in the throne of Israel, which was (as is probable) in the twelfth yeare of Ahaz, as is above noted, vers. 1.

Vers. 4. And the king of Assyria found conspiracie in Hoshea, &c.] That is, Shalmaneser the Assyrian king, discovered that Hoshea had practised with So king of Egypt, to wit, that Hoshea should cast off the yoke of the Assyrian king, and that he should be supported herein with succour from Egypt; and this he first suspected, by hearing that Hoshea had sent ambassadours to the king of Egypt, and then was confirmed in his suspicion, when he found that Hoshea neglected to pay the tribute, which formerly he had yearely paid: this So is thought to be the same that by other Historians is called Sua or Sabucus the Ethiopian, because in Ethiopia he had his education: the encroaching power of the Assyrian might be well terrible to Egyp•• at this time, and therefore it is no wonder though he animated Hoshea against the Assyrian: the wonder onely would be, that in a matter that so nearly concerned him, he should afford no more succour to the king of Israel: but that it is true in∣deed, that though this be not here expressed, yet perhaps he might afford him succour, however they proved too weak to support him against the overbearing power of the Assyrian Monarch.

Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.] To wit, when he had taken Samaria, as is afterwards related, vers. 6.

Vers. 5. Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.] To wit, in the seventh, eighth, and ninth yeare of Hoshea, which was the fourth, fifth, and sixth of Hezekiah king of Judah, chap. 18.9, 10. And it came to passe in the fourth yeare of Hezekiah king of Ju∣dah (which was the seventh yeare of Hoshea sonne of Elah king of Israel) that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it, even in the sixth yeare of Hezekiah (that is the ninth yeare of Hoshea king of Israel) Samaria was taken.

Vers. 6. In the ninth yeare of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, &c.] And so now all the rest of the ten tribes were carried away captives, from which they never returned again, and the kingdome of Israel was utterly ruined, having continued from Jeroboam their first king about two hundred threescore and two years.

Vers. 9. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right, &c.] The idolatry of Israel was open and publick; but yet because they covered o∣ver this their idolatry and superstition with pretences of worshiping the onely true God, the God of Israel; therefore it is said, they did secretly, or covertly, those things that were not right; and besides there were many private idolatries and im∣pieties practised amongst them, besides what were allowed or enjoyned by publick authority, to which these words may also have relation, according to that, Ezek. 8.12. Sonne of man, Hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? &c.

And they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of watchmen to the fenced city.] That is, in all places; not onely in their cities, but also in the most solitary and unfrequented places; there was not so much as a tower built, where watchmen were appointed to be for the guarding of the castle, or for the de∣fence of the countrey, but there they had their idols, and their high places to wor∣ship their idols in.

Vers. 13. Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers.] That is, by all his messengers whom he sent to them, to whom he made known his will, partly by divine revelations, partly by visions.

Vers. 15. And they followed vanity, and became vain, &c.] That is, they fol∣lowed idols, and did that which argued most grosse folly and weaknesse, according to that Psalm. 115.8. They that make them are like unto them, so is every one that trusteth in them.

Vers. 17. And sold themselves to do evil, &c.] See the note 1. Kings 21.20.

Vers. 18. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight, &c.] That is, he cast them out of the land, which he had chosen for the habitation of his people, and where he had placed the sacred signes of his pre∣sence among them: whereupon it followes, that there was none left but the tribe of Judah onely: for the tribe of Benjamin, since the revolt of the ten tribes, was in∣corporated, as it were, with the tribe of Judah, as one people; and so were rec∣koned as one tribe together with them. See the note, 1. Kings 11.13.

Vers. 19. Also Judah kept not the commandements of the Lord their God. &c.] This is added as a second cause why the Lord brought this heavie judgement upon the Israelites; to wit, because the kingdome of Judah was by their example cor∣rupted and tainted with the same sinnes, whereby God was still the more offended: Hosea 4.15. Though thou Israel play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend, &c. and it may also be inserted as an aggravation of Judahs sinne, who would not be warn∣ed by the punishment that was inflicted on the Israelites, according to that Jer. 3.8. when for all the causes whereby back-sliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Vers. 20. And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, &c.] That is, all of the kingdome of the ten tribes, as is plainly implyed in the former verses: and indeed though they of Judah were afterward carried away captives also, yet God did never reject and cast them off, as he did those of the ten tribes: for within a few years he brought them again into their own land.

Vers. 24. And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cu∣thah, &c.] To wit, Shalmaneser, vers. 3. other colonies were also afterwards brought thither by Esar-haddon the sonne of Sennacherib, Ezra 4.2. We seek your God as yee do, and we do sacrifice unto him, since the dayes of Esar-haddon king of Ashur, which brought us up hither: but doubtlesse the first colonies of these heathen peo∣ple were brought up thither by Shalmaneser, who now carried away the Israelites ca∣ptives, and transplanted other nations in their room, and these were they that after this time were called Samaritans, vers. 29. betwixt whom and the Jewes there was alwayes a most deadly hatred, Luke 9.52. And they sent messengers before his face, and they went and entred into a village of the Samaritanes, to make ready for him, And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jeru∣salem. John 4.9. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou being a Jew, askest drink of me which am a woman of Samaria: for the Jewes have no dealings with the Samaritanes.

Vers. 25. And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they fea∣red not the Lord &c.] They served him not, no not so much as with performing those outward duties of his worship and service, which he had enjoyned the Israelites.

Vers. 26. Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, &c.] To wit, by those messengers, whom with this message they had sent to him. See vers. 27.

Vers. 27. Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence, and let them go and dwell there, &c.] That is, let the messengers that are come to in∣form us, how the lions have devoured our new plantation in Samaria; go back with the priest that is assigned to go with them, and dwell there again as formerly; yet some understand these words, and let them go and dwell there, of a new plantation that were to be sent thither, in stead of those that were devoured by the lions; which was happely that which went in the dayes of Esar-haddon, Ezra 4.2.

Vers. 28. Then one of the priests whom they had carryed away from Samaria▪ came and dwelt in Beth-el, &c.] That is, one of the Israelites idolatrous priests: even they pretended the worshiping of the Lord Jehovah the God of Israel, though under the images of the golden calves; and doubtlesse, did retain most of the cere∣monies and ordinances which the Lord had taught his people; and because in these things he instructed these heathens, therefore it is said, that he taught them how they should fear the Lord.

Vers. 32. So they feared the Lord, &c.] That is, they worshipped the Lord Jehovah, the God of the Israelites, after the manner they were taught by that ido∣latrous priest of Israel, which the king of Assyria had sent to them; and because this worship was in many things according to the way of worship which God had prescribed his people; and because they did it for fear of being destroyed by lions, as formerly they had been; therefore it is said that they feared the Lord; yet with∣all, because they did not truly feare the Lord, but followed the way of Jeroboams idolatry, and withall worshiped their own Assyrian gods too, therefore it is said af∣terward also vers. 34. that they feared not the Lord.

Vers. 33. They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations, whom they carried away from thence.] This last clause may be read as it is in the margin, after the manner of the nations who carried them away from

thence, and then the meaning must needs be, that as they feared the Lord Jehovah, the God of the Israelites; that is, as they did outwardly serve him, so they did al∣so serve other false gods, as did the nations that had carried them away, and planted them in the land of Samaria: but if we reade it as it is in our bibles, after the man∣ner of the nations whom they carried away from thence, then the meaning may be, either, that these new colonies in Samaria, served both the Lord Jehovah, and with∣all their own gods, each after the manner of the severall nations, of whom the kings of Assyria had taken some, and carried them into the land of the Israelites; or else, that these Samaritans did fear the Lord, and served their own gods, even as the idolatrous Israelites that were there before them had done; whom the Assyrians had carried away into captivity: for the word nations may have reference to the ido∣latrous Israelites, as in respect of their severall tribes; or as joyntly considered, with other bordering nations that were carryed captive by the Assyrians, when the Israelites were carried captive.

Vers. 34. Ʋnto this day they do after the former manner, &c.] All that follows from hence unto the end of the fourtieth verse, may be understood of the Israelites, that were carried captive into Assyria; even after this heavie judgement they conti∣nued still obstinate, and feared not the Lord: yet I see not but that it may be also understood of the Samaritanes, and that to shew, that though they lived in the land of Israel, yet they were farre from doing what God had required his Israel to do.