CHAPTER XV.

Abijam's wicked reign, and death, 1-8.

Now

NOTES ON CHAPTER XV.

Verse 1. Reigned Abijam over Judah.] Of this son of Rehoboam, of his brethren, and of Rehoboam's family in general, see the eleventh of 2 Chron. where many particulars are added.

Verse 3. His heart was not perfect] He was an idolater; or did not support the worship of the true God. This appears to be the general meaning of the heart not being perfect with God.

Verse 4. The LORD-give him a lamp] That is, a son to succeed him: see chap. xi. 36.

Verse 5. Save only in the matter of Uriah] Properly speaking, this is the only flagrant fault or crime in the life of David. It was a horrible offence; or rather, a whole system of offences. See the notes on 2 Sam. xi. and xii. Verse 6. There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam] This was mentioned in the preceding chapter, ver. 30. and it can mean no more than this: there was a continual spirit of hostility kept up between the two kingdoms, and no doubt frequent skirmishing between bordering parties; but it never broke out into open war, for this was particularly forbidden. See chap. xii. 24. Hostility did exist, and no doubt frequent skirmishes; but open war, and pitched battles, there were none.

But why is this circumstance repeated, and the history of Abijam interrupted by the repetition? There is some reason to believe that Rehoboam is not the true reading, and that it should be Abijam: "Now there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam all the days of his life." And this is the reading of fourteen of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. The Syriac has, Abia the son of Rehoboam; the Arabic has, Abijam. In the Septuagint, the whole verse is omitted in the London Polyglott; but it is extant in those of Complutum and Antwerp. Some copies of the Targum have Abijam also; and the Editio Princeps of the Vulgate has Abia. This is doubtless the true reading, as we know there was a very memorable war between Abia and Jeroboam; see it particularly described 2 Chron. xiii. 3, &c.

Verse 10. His mother's name] Our translators thought that grandmother was likely to be the meaning, and therefore have put it in the margin.

in his stead.

15 And he brought in the i things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.

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16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all B. 953-930. their days.

17 And Baasha king of Israel went

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x Ch. 14. 30-y 2 Chron. 13. 2, 3, 22.- 2 Chron. 14. 1-a That is, grandmother's, Ver. 2-b 2 Chron. 14. 2-6 Ch. 14. 24. & 22. 46. -d 2 Chron. 15. 16. H cut off. So Exod. 32. 20-g Ch. 22. 43. 2 Chron. 15. 17, 18-h Sne Ver. 3-1 Hed. holy.k 2 Chron. 16. 1, &c.

chief in the sacred rites of Priapus, and in his grove which she had consecrated."-VULGATE.

"And Ana, (other copies Maacha,) he removed from being governess, because she had made an assembly in her grove."-SEPTUAGINT.

"Moreover he deprived Maacha, his mother, of her own magnificence; because she had celebrated a solemnity to her own worship."-SYRIAC.

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And even Maacha his mother he removed from the kingdom, because she had made an idol in a grove." -CHALDEE.

"Bisides, he removed Maacha, his mother, from her kingdom, because she had made a high tree into an idol."-ARABIC.

"Also, he removed Maacha his mother, from the kingdom, because she had made a horrible statue; and our rabbins say, that it was called no mipeletseth, because mipelia leyatsnutha, it produced wonderful ridicule: for she made it ad instar membri verilis, and she used it daily." Rabbi Solomon Jarchi.

From the whole, it is pretty evident that the image was a mere Priapus, or something of the same nature; and that Maachah had an assembly in the grove where this image was set up, and doubtless worshipped it with the most impure rites. What the Roman Priapus was I need not tell the learned reader; and, as to the unlearned, it would not profit him to know it. Maachah was most likely another Messalina; and Asa probably did for his mother what Claudius did for his wife.

Verse 14. The high places were not removed] He was not able to make a thorough reformation; this was reserved for his son Jehoshaphat.

Asa's heart was perfect] He worshipped the true God; and zealously promoted his service; see on ver. 3. And even the high places which he did not remove were proba bly those where the true God alone was worshipped; for, that there were such high places, the preceding history amply proves; and Jarchi intimates that these were places which individuals had erected for the worship of Jehovah.

Verse 15. Which his father had dedicated] On what account he and his father dedicated the things mentioned below we know not; but it appears that Asa thought himself bound by the vow of his father.

Verse 12. The sodomites] Dwipa ha kedashim; literally, the holy, or consecrated ones. See on chap. xiv. 24. Verse 13. She had made an idol in a grove] The original word nxhop mipeletseth, is variously understood. I shall give its different views in the versions: "Besides, he removed his mother Maacha from being

Verse 16. There was war] That is, there was contin

till the thirty-sixth year of Asa, when Baasha, king of Israel, began to build Ramah, that he might prevent all communication between Israel and Judah; see 2 Chron. xv. 19. and xvi. 1; but this does not agree with what is said here, chap. xvi. 8, 9. that Baasha was killed by Zimri, in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Asa. Chronologers endeavour to reconcile this, by saying that

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19 There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 20 So Ben-hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

21 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

22 Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah, none was "exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and King Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mispah.

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23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

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24 And Asa slept with his fathers, Ante 1. OL 138. and was buried with his fathers in the An. Megaclis, Arch. Athen city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead. 25 And Nadab the son of JeroB. C. 951-953. boam began to reign over Israel in LOlymp. 178 the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. 26 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD,

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1 Josh. 18. 25-m See Ch. 12. 27.-n 2 Chron. 16. 2-0 Ch. 11. 23, 24-p Heb. go up.-q 2 Kings 15. 29-r Judg. 18. 29. 2 Sam. 20. 14.-t 2 Chron. 16. 6.--u Heb. free. Josh. 21. 17.- Josh. 18. 26.-x 2 Chron. 16. 12-y 2 Chron. 17. 1.- Matt. 1. 8, called Josaphat.

the years should be reckoned not from the beginning of the reign of Asa, but from the separation of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. It is most certain that Baasha could not make war upon Asa in the thirty-sixth year of his reign, when it is evident from this chapter that he was slain in the twenty-sixth year of that king. We must either adopt the mode of solution given by chronologists, or grant that there is a mistake in some of the numbers; most likely in the parallel places in Chronicles, but which we have no direct means of correcting. But the reader may compare 2 Chron. xiv. 1. with xv. 10, 19. and xvi. 1.

Verse 17. And Baasha-built Ramah] As the word signifies a high place, what is here termed Ramah was probably a hill (commanding a defile through which lay the principal road to Jerusalem,) which Baasha fortified, in order to prevent all intercourse with the kingdom of Judah, lest his subjects should cleave to the house of David. Ramah was about two leagues northward of Jerusalem.

Verse 18. Asa took all the silver] Shishak, king of Egypt, had not taken the whole, or there had been some treasures brought in since that time.

Ben-hadad] This was the grandson of Rezon, called here Hezion, who founded the kingdom of Damascus. See chap. xi. 23, 24. and Calmet.

Verse 19. There is a league between me and thee] Or, Let there be a league between me and thee; as there was between my father and thy father. There was no reason why Asa should have emptied his treasures at this time to procure the aid of the Syrian king; as it does not appear that there was any danger which himself could not have turned aside. He probably wished to destroy the kingdom of Israel; and, to effect this purpose, even robbed the house of the Lord.

Verse 20. Ijon, and Dan, &c.] He appears to have attacked and taken those towns which constituted the principal strength of the kingdom of Israel.

Verse 21. Dwelt in Tirzah.] This seems to have been

29 And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite;

30 Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.

31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not B. written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

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32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all BC. 95398 their days.

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33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.

34 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

CHAPTER XVI.

Jehu the prophet denounces the destruction of Baasha, 1-7. Zimri conspires against him, and slays him and his family, and reigns seven days, 8-15. The people make Orri king, and besiege Zimri in Tirzah; who, finding no way to escape, sets fire to his palace, and consumes himself in it. 16-20 The people are divided, half following Tibni, and half Omri; the latter faction overcomes the former, Tiboi is slain, and Omri reigns alone, 21-23. He founds Samaria, 21. His bad character and death, 25-28. Ahab reigns in his stead; marries Jezebel, restores idolatry, and outdoes his predecessors in wickedness, 29-33. Hiel the Beth-elite rebuilds Jericho, 34.

the royal city: see ver. 33. and chap. xiv. 17. And in this Baasha was probably obliged to shut himself up.

Verse 22. None was exempted] Every man was obliged to go and help to dismantle the fortress at Ramah which Baasha had built. This was a general lerée en masse of the people: every one was obliged to lend a helping hand, as the state was then supposed to be in danger, and all exemptions necessarily ceased. This is a maxim of civil policy: Ubi adversus hostem muniendi sunt limites, omnis immunitas cessat: "Where the boundaries are to be fortified against an enemy, then all exemptions cease." Verse 23. And the cities which he built] Such as Geba and Mizpah, which he built out of the spoils of Ramah.

He was diseased in his feet.] Probably he had a strong rheumatic affection, or the gout. This took place in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, three years before his death: and, it is said, that he sought to physicians rather than to the Lord, 2 Chron. xvi. 12, 13.

Verse 24. Asa slept with his fathers] Of his splendid and costly funeral we read, 1 Chron. xvi. 13.

Verse 25. Nadab-began to reign over Israel] He began his reign in the second year of the reign of Asa, and reigned two years.

Verse 27. Smote him at Gibbethon] This was a city in the tribe of Dan, and generally in the possession of the Philistines.

Verse 29. He smote all the house of Jeroboam] This was according to Ahijah's prophetic declarations; see chap. xiv. 10, 14. Thus God made use of one wicked man to destroy another.

Verse 32. There was war] See on ver. 16.

Verse 34. Walked in the way of Jeroboam] The entail of iniquity cannot be cut off but by a thorough conversion of the soul to God; and, of this, these bad kings seem to have had no adequate notion. The wicked followed the steps of the wicked, and became still more wicked: sin gathers strength by exercise and age.

of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;

3 Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

4 Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.

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5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of

6 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in ? Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.

7 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam: and because he killed him.

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9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah.

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10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.

11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him " not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.

12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by › Jehu the prophet,

k Ch. 15. 34-1 Ver. 11.-m Ch. 14. 10. & 15. 29.-n Ch. 14. 11.-0 2 Chron. 16. 1. p Ch. 14. 17. & 15. 21. Ver. 1r Ch. 15. 27, 29. See Hos. 1. 4-8 2 Kings 9. 31. Heb. which was over.u 1 Sam. 25. 22-v Or, both his kinsmen and his friends.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XVI.

Verse 1. Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu] Of this prophet we know nothing but from this circumstance. It appears from 2 Chron. xvi. 7, 10. that his father Hanani was also a prophet, and suffered imprisonment in consequence of the faithful discharge of his ministry to Asa.

Verse 2. Made thee prince over my people] That is, in the course of my providence, I suffered thee to become king for it is impossible that God should make a rebel, a traitor, and a murderer, king over his people, or over any people. God is ever represented in Scripture as doing those things which, in the course of his providence, he permits to be done.

Verse 7. And because he killed him.] This the Vulgate understands of Jehu the prophet, put to death by Baasha: Ob hanc causam occidit eum, hoc est, Jehu filium Hanani prophetam ; on this account he killed him, that is, Jehu the prophet, the son of Hanani." Some think Baasha is intended; others Jeroboam ; and others Nadab, the son of Jeroboam. This last is the sentiment of Rab. Sol. Jarchi, and of some good critics. The order is here confused; and the seventh verse should probably be placed between the fourth and fifth.

Verse 9. Captain of half his chariots] It is probable that Zimri, and some other who is not here named, were commanders of the cavalry.

Verse 11. He slew all the house of Baasha] He endeavoured to exterminate his memory: and the Jews say, when such a matter is determined, they not only destroy the house of the person himself, but the five neighbouring houses, that the memory of such a person may perish from the earth.

Verse 13. For all the sins of Baasha] We see why it was that God permitted such judgments to fall on this family. Baasha was a grievous offender, and so also was

13 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not writ- B. C.-2. ten in the book of the Chronicles of the 1 Op. 15 kings of Israel?

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15 In the twenty and seventh year A. M. 3075. of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign Ante L 01 153 seven days in Tirzah. And the peo-Arch Athen ple were encamped against Gibbe- perper M thon, which belonged to the Philistines.

16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.

17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,

19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.

20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts; half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make hím king ; and half followed Omri.

22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 23 In the thirty and first year of M. 3079 Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign B. c. 5-8 over Israel, twelve years: six years 1 Olymp 18 reigned he in Tirzah.

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his son Elah: and they caused the people to sin; and they provoked God to anger by their idolatries.

Verse 15. The people were encamped against Gibbethon] It appears that, at this time, the Israelites had war with the Philistines, and were now besieging Gibbethon, one of their cities. This army, hearing that Zimri had rebelled, and killed Elah, made Omri, their general, king, who immediately raised the siege of Gibbethon, and went to attack Zimri, in the royal city of Tirzah; who, finding his affairs desperate, chose rather to consume himself in his palace than to fall into the hands of his enemies.

Verse 21. Divided into two parts] Why this division took place we cannot tell; the people appear to have been for Tibni, the army for Omri: and the latter prevailed.

Verse 23. In the thirty and first year of Åsa] There must be a mistake here in the number thirty-one; for, in verse 10 and 15. it is said that Zimri slew his master, and began to reign in the twenty-seventh year of Asa: and as Zimri reigned only seven days, and Omri immediately succeeded him, this could not be in the thirty-first, but in the twenty-seventh year of Asa, as related above. Rab. Sol. Jarchi reconciles the two places thus: "The division of the kingdom between Tibni and Omri began in the twenty-seventh year of Asa: this division lasted fire years, during which Omri had but a share of the kingdom. Tibni dying, Omri came into the possession of the whole kingdom, which he held seven years: this was in the thirty-first year of Asa. Seven years he reigned alone; five years be reigned over part of Israel; twelve years in the whole. The two dates, the twenty-seventh and thirty-first of Asa, answering, the first to the beginning of the division, the second to the sole reign of Omri." Jarchi quotes Sedar Olam for this solution.

Verse 24. He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer] This should be read, "He bought the hill of Shomeron from

30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the e Mic. 6. 16.-f Ver. 19.-g Ver. 19.---h Heb. was it a light thing, &c.-i Deut. 7. 3-k Judg. 18. 7.-1 Ch. 21. 25, 25. 2 Kings 10. 18. & 17. 16.

Shomer, and called it Shomeron; (i. e.. Little Shomer,) after the name of Shomer, owner of the hill." At first the kings of Israel dwelt at Shechem, and then at Tirzah; but this place having suffered much in the civil broils, and the palace having been burnt down by Zimri, Omri purposed to found a new city, to which he might transfer the seat of government. He fixed on a hill that belonged to a person of the name of Shomer; and bought it from him for two talents of silver, about 7071. 3s. 9d. Though this was a large sum in those days, yet we cannot suppose that the hill was very large which was purchased for so little; and probably no other building upon it than Shomer's house, if indeed he had one there. Shomeron, or, as corruptly written, Samaria, is situated in the midst of the tribe of Ephraim, not very far from the coast of the Mediterranean sea, and about midway between Dan and Beersheba: thus Samaria became the capital of the ten tribes, the metropolis of the kingdom of Israel, and the residence of its kings. The kings of Israel adorned and fortified it: Ahab built a house of ivory in it, chap. xxii. 39; the kings of Syria had magazines or storehouses in it, for the purpose of commerce; see chap. xx. 34. And it appears to have been a place of considerable importance aud great strength.

Samaria endured several sieges: Ben-hadad, king of Syria, besieged it twice, chap. xx. 1, &c.; and it cost Shalmanezer a siege of three years to reduce it, 2 Kings xvii. 6, &c. After the death of Alexander the Great, it became the property of the kings of Egypt: but Antiochus the Great took it from the Egyptians; and it continued in the possession of the kings of Syria till the Asmoneans took and razed it to the very foundation. Gabinius, proconsul of Syria, partially rebuilt it, and called it Gabiniana. Herod the Great restored it to its ancient splendour, and placed in it a colony of six thousand men, and gave it the name of Sebasté, in honour of Augustus. It is now a place of little consequence.

sight of the LORD above all that were before him.

31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

33 And Ahab made a grove: and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

34 In his days did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, P according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

in 2 Kings 10. 21, 26, 27.-n 2 Kings 13. 6. & 17. 10. & 21. 3. Jer. 17. 2.-o Ver. 30. Ch. 21. 25.-p Joshi. 6. 26.

tarte, or Venus: what the Syriac calls an idol, and the Arabic & tall tree; probably meaning by the last an image of Priapus, the obscene keeper of groves, orchards, and gardens.

Verse 34. Did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho] I wish the reader to refer to my note on Josh. vi. 26. for a general view of this subject. I shall add a few observations. Joshua's curse is well known: "Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn; and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it."-Josh. vi. 26. This is the curse, but the meaning of its terms are not very obvious. Let us see how this is to be understood, from the manner in which it was accomplished.

In his days did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub; according to the word of the Lord which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun." This prediction was delivered upwards of five hundred years before the event; and, though it was most circumstantially fulfilled, yet we know not the precise meaning of some of the terms used in the original execration, and in this place, where its fulfilment is mentioned. There are three opinions on the words, lay the foundation in his first-born, and set up the gates in his youngest son.

1. It is thought, when he laid the foundation of the city, his eldest son, the hope of his family, died by the hand and judgment of God, and that all his children died in succession; so that when the doors were ready to be hung, his youngest and last child died, and thus, instead of securing himself a name, his whole family became extinct..

3. That he who rebuilt this city should, in laying the foundation, slay, or sacrifice, his first-born, in order to consecrate it, and secure the assistance of the objects of his idolatrous worship; and should slay his youngest at the completion of the work, as a gratitude-offering for the assistance received. This latter opinion seems to be countenanced by the Chaldee, which represents Hiel as slaying his first-born, Abiram, and his youngest son, Segub.

Notwithstanding Ahab had built a temple, and made an altar for Baal, and set up the worship of Asherah, the Sidonian Venus, which we (ver. 33.) have transformed into a grove; yet so well kown was the hostility of Jezebel to all good, that his marrying her was esteemed the highest pitch of vice, and an act the most provoking to God, and destructive to the prosperity of the kingdom. Verse 33. Ahab made a grove] Asherah, As

But who was Hiel the Beth-elite? The Chaldee calls

gate, Hiel of Beth-el; the Septuagint, Hiel the Baithelite; the Syriac represents Ahab as the builder, "Also in his days did Ahah build Jericho, the place of execration;" the Arabic, "Also in his days did Hiel build the house of idols-to wit, Jericho." The MSS. give us no help. None of these versions, the Chaldee excepted, intimates that the children were either slain, or died; which circumstance seems to strengthen the opinion, that the passage is to be understood of delays and hindrances. Add to this, Why should the innocent children of Hiel suffer for their father's presumption? And is it likely that, if