CHAP. XVI. Ahaz reigns very wickedly, 1-1. Rezin and Pekah war against him; and Rezin takes Elath, 5, 6. Ahaz hires Tiglathpileser against them, who takes Damascus and slays Kezin, 9. Ahaz sends a pattern of an altar from Damascus, and Urijah, the high priest, makes one like it for burnt-offerings; reserving the brazen altar for Ahaz to inquire by, 10-16 Abaz robs and defaces the temple for the king of Assyria, 17, 18. He dies, and is succeeded by his son Hezekiah, 19, 20. a 3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel: yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed IN the 'seventeenth year of Pekah in the high places, and and burnt incense of V. 13-38. 1 under every green tree. on the hills, and 5 Then Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieg men. In the former, the remains indeed of de- time, wicked men may prosper, to execute the pravity are visible, and occasionally break forth vengeance of God on other sinners, and then into evident evil: but in the latter case, when others will be raised up to execute vengeance on restraints of conscience, regard to reputation, || them; as criminals, or the refuse of society, are fear of human laws, and want of power, are sur- commonly employed for public executioners.mounted; the desperate wickedness of the heart, The most innocent sufferers from man's wickedlike an impetuous torrent which has burst its ness must plead guilty before God, and may often banks, bears down all opposition, and spreads read his just displeasure in the injustice and crudevastation all around. elty of their oppressors.-Proud men cannot endure contradiction, and the ambitious are exThe words concerning Jeroboam, so often re- asperated by opposition: yet often, in aiming at peated, for ages after his death, that "he made independence and supreme authority, they crouch Israel to sin," should impress our minds with with the basest submissions, and bring themselves dread and horror, at the thought of tempting into the most abject dependence on strangers others to wickedness; as it can never be known and enemies, who from mercenary motives, at how extensively or durably the mischief may first assist, and then enslave them.-Death in spread. For, however ungodly men may disa- various forms hurries men to God's judgment gree in all other things, they perfectly accord, seat: the righteous are then taken from the evil in either utterly neglecting religion, or in mak- to come, and enter into rest; and it is a mercy ing it a state-engine, or in some way subservient to be spared the anguish of witnessing the misto their selfish projects: and the most notorious eries that are coming on corrupted churches and and detestable idolatries and superstitions have, nations. But the wicked are stopped in their in many kingdoms, been supported by authority career, that they may do no more mischief, and from generation to generation, through success-"their lamp is put out in utter darkness." May ive revolutions in the government, by those who we live the life of faith and holiness, and die the in their hearts despised the whole system which death of the righteous, that "an entrance may be they patronised!-When the gratification of am- ministered to us abundantly into the everlasting bition, avarice, revenge, or lust, requires it, there kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!" is no conceivable kind or degree of treachery and barbarity, which men may not be tempted to commit: yet the madness of those who thus act, equals their wickedness; for repeated examples of the fatal end of those, who through blood have waded to a throne, will not deter them from pressing forward in the same way, and mounting the slippery pre-eminence, to be thence hurried by a violent death to a premature grave! We should then be thankful for external restraints, and for being kept out of temptation; and beg of God incessantly to "create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us:" and may he help us to seek that honor which comes from him, to those who do good in their generation; || and to dread that greatness, which is obtained and secured by doing mischief and diffusing misery. Yet in these horrid scenes, the truth and justice of God are manifest: they perfectly accord to the character of human nature given in the Scriptures, an1 form a confirmation of their divine original. “For the wickelness of the lan 1 many are the princes thereof;" whose crimes and sufferings are the punishment of the sins both of the governors and governed. (Note, Prov. 28:2.) “A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person, shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him." (Note, Prov. 28:17.) For a NOTES. CHAP. XVI. V. 2. "He did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father;" as might have been expected from the good education, which no doubt, so pious a man as Jotham his father gave him; who left him an excellent example.' Bp. Patrick. Ahaz was an entire contrast to his ancestor David, and a disgrace to his family. V. 3, 4. Ahaz imitated the kings of Israel, in worshipping idols. and rebelling against the Lord. It is said in Chronicles that he burnt his children in the fire," and here that he "made his son to pass through the fire," to consecrate him to the denon which he worshipped. (2 Chr. 28:1 4. Notes, Lev. 18:21. 20:2-5.) In short he copied the crimes of the Canaanites, whom God hal destroyed by Israel; (Note, Lev. 18:24—30.) and not only allowed, but set the people an example of, a variety of idolatrous practices. Hezekiah was born some years before the death of Jotham; if he was the son here intended, he was past his infancy at the time. (Note, 18:2.) He, however, proved an eminently pious prince, and an entire contrast to his most wicked father, (Notes, 18:—20:) m 12 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar; and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. 2 ed Ahaz, but could not overcome him. [tar according to all that king Ahaz had 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria re- sent from Damascus: so Urijah the covered Elath to Syria, and drave the priest made it against king Ahaz came Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came from Damascus. to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. 7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I an thy servant, and thy son: come up and save me out of the hand of the king! of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. 9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him; for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, $ and slew Rezin. t 10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. 11 And Urijah the priest built an al i 1 Kings 11:36. 15:4. Is. 7:4-1 q 2 Chr. 28.5. Am. 1:3-5. V. 5. The Lord brought these enemies against Ahaz for his crimes: their successes, and the miseries of Judah were very great, immense numbers being slain and taken prisoners; and Ahaz was extremely terrified. But they could not take Jerusalem, dethrone Ahaz, and destroy the family of David, as they had intended: for this was contrary to the purpose, the promises, and the prophecies of God. (Noles, 2 Chr. 28:5|| -19. Ps. 76:10. Is. 7:1-9.) b 13 And he burnt his burnt-offering, and his meat-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings upon the altar. 14 And he brought also the brazen altar which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. 15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt-offering, and the evening meat-offering, and the king's burnt-sacrifice, and his meat-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their meat-offering, and their drink-offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. 16 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. 17 And king Ahaz cut off the bor death, a new kingdom of Syria was formed, which, with all his other dominions, at length became a part of the Roman empire. (Note, Dan. 7:6.) Ahaz feared danger to his kingdom from Syria, and sought help from Assyria; whence indeed the greatest danger was to be apprehended. (Note, Is. 7:17-25.) Kir. (9) A place in... the upper Media, as Josephus tells us.' Bp. Patrick. (Marg. Ref.) V. 10-16. (Notes, 2 Chr. 25:14-16. 28:22, V. 6. (Note, 14:22.)—The word "Jews" is here 23.) Ahaz sacrificed to the gods of the vanquishfirst used. It is literally the Judeans; that is, the ed Syrians, perhaps when he went to Damascus men of Judah; as all those, who adhered to the to congratulate Tiglath-pileser on his success. family of David, were called, to distinguish them There he saw an altar, in the temple of some of from the subjects of the kings who reigned over their idols, which appeared to him more magthe ten tribes, called Israel.-The general cus-nificent or convenient, than that which Solomon tom among even learned writers, of calling the nation of Israel Jews, from the days of Moses, and even before, is inaccurate and unscriptural. V. 7-9. (Noles, 15:19,20,29.) As the king of Assyria brought Ahaz into abject dependence on him, and both weakened him and drained his treasury, it is said that "he distressed him, but strengthened him not,” (2 Chr. 28:20,21.) though he averted the present storin.-From this time Syria ceased to be a kingdom: and the region formed successively a part of the kingdom of Assyria, of Chaldea, or of Persia; till it was subjugated by Alexander the Great; after whose had made according to the will of God. At the command of Ahaz, with which he sent a model of the altar from Damascus, probably adorned by many figures of idols, the wretched high priest, Urijah, without scruple or hesitation, prepared one like it, with which he profaned the court of the temple; and when Ahaz returned, the altar of God was removed to make way for it. It is uncertain whether sacrifices were offered to the gods of Damascus on this altar, or whether the oblations were presented to JEHOVAH alone.-It seems that Ahaz professed a purpose of converting the former altar into an ora ders of the bases, and removed the laver B. C. 726. 19 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz, which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and P Hezekiah his son 18 And the covert for the sabbath 1 25:15-16. 1 Kings 7:23-26. m 11:5. 1 Kings 10:5. Ez. 48:2. n 15:6,7,36,38. 20:20,21.-See on | p 18:1. 1 Chr. 3:13. 2 Chr 29: 1 cle, at which he might inquire: as the church of they cannot be restrained from disobeying him, V. 17, 18. Ahaz pillaged and defaced the tem- V. 20. Ahaz died young; and it has been ob- Our natural propensity to some sort of religion is not easily extinguished: but, except it be regulated according to the word and by the Spirit of God, it produces the most absurd superstitions, or the most detestable idolatries; or at best it quiets the sinner's conscience, and amuses his mind, with a round of unmeaning ceremonies, frequently connected with the most immoral practices. Even infidels have been remarkable for credulity; and the capacity of believing, when not exercised on the truth, frequently embraces the most ridiculous falsehoods. But whether kings are impious, or superstitious, or infidel, or at-sacrilegious, they generally meet with priests of their own stamp, who court their favor by assisting their iniquities or idolatries! Yet such mercenary time-servers and men-pleasers, who bear the name and wear the garb of ministers, are guilty of a greater breach of trust, and the prostitution of a more sacred character, than even the wicked princes whom they flatter and emreign-bolden in their sins: as their conduct is, in the highest degree, dishonorable to God and ruinous to man, they merit the deepest contempt and detestation; and assuredly they will "receive the greater damnation," except by a miracle of grace they are brought to repentance.-The arrogant self-wisdom, which induces men to new model The word of God affords abundant encourage- divine ordinances after their own vain imaginament to pious parents to give their children good tions, is insufferably provoking to that "God, instructions, enforced by good examples, and who resisteth the proud:" and that external magto pray for them: and these means are so gener-nificence, which carnal minds affect in his worally made effectual, as sufficiently to verify the proverb, "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Note, Prov. 22:6.) Yet there are exceptions recorded in the Scriptures, to remind us, that every|| man is born in sin, and that the grace of God alone can change the heart; in order that we may expect the blessing from him only. On the other hand, some who have been, as it were, early dedicated to Satan, and initiated into his service, have, by the victorious grace of God, been made eminent examples of faith and piety: and every accurate observer of mankind, in places favored with the light of the gospel, has remarked stances of both.-The infatuated slaves of sin heedlessly proceed in those paths, whence others have been hurried into destruction. But we need not wonder that men violate the law of God, in the indulgence of their natural passions, when PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. ship, obscures the real glory of heavenly things, excites false ideas of the divine character, and turns men aside from that spiritual service, which alone the Lord accepts and delights in. (Notes, John 4:21-24.) Thus, new ways of worshipping God very speciously introduce gross idolatries: as the church of Israel, and that of Rome, among other examples, have abundantly evinced. But when men forsake God, they forsake their own mercies: and if those who have been trained up in the ways of God, forsake his house and ordinances; and, affecting to be wiser than their pious parents, turn things into another channel, assoin-ciate with more fashionable companions, and seek to acquire the favor, assistance, or commendation of ungodly men; there is reason to fear that sudden destruction is coming upon them, froin which they shall by no means escape. (Notes, 21:1—3. 1 Kings 12:6-15. Ec. 2:18-23.) CHAP. XVII. Hoshea becomes tributary to Shalmaneser, conspires with the after three years takes it, and carries Israel captive into As- planted in the land, are plagued by lions, 24, 25: but, instructed by a priest of Israel, in the worship of the Lord, they serve him along with their own idols, 26-41. N the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. 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. 3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. 4 And the king of Assyria found 725. conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had 1 B. C. Is. 7:7,8. 10:5,6,11,12. e 16:8. 18:14-16,31. + Or, tribute. 2 Sam. 8:2,6. cessor. V. 2. We are told by the Jewish writers, that the golden calf had before this been carried away from Dan; (Notes, Hos. 10:5-8.) that Hoshea did not enforce that idolatry as his predecessors had done; and that he allowed the Israelites, who were so disposed, to go up to Jerusalem to worship. (Note, 2 Chr. 30:6-9.) He, however, did "evil in the sight of the LORD;" though he was not in all respects so wicked as his predecessors. Whether an idolater, or not, he was ungodly; and his murder of Pekah, and usurpation of the king dom, merited the punishment which he endured: whilst the people were fully ripe for destruction; and the guilt, which had been accumulating for ages, was punishel in that generation. (Note, Zech. 5:5-11. P. O.)-In finally destroying the king lom of Israel, during the time of that king; who was less wicked than the rest; the Lord shewed, that he punished the crimes of the people at large, and not those of their princes only, as many might be ready to imagine. (Note, 2 Sam. 24:1,2.) V. 3. It is most probable that Shalmaneser was the son of Tiglath-pileser.-Menahem had given his predecessor Pul footing in the land, and encouragement to come again; by raising a large sum of money for him, and by rendering his kingdom dependent on him. Abaz king of Judah likewise, by purchasing the help of Tiglath-pileser, had procured the destruction of the kingdom of Syria, which was of small extent and force, compared with that of Assyria: and thus every rampart was broken down, which could exclude the Assyrians from the land of Israel and Judah. (Notes, 15:19,20. 16:7-9.) sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. 5 Then the king of Assyria_came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it 'three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and "carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Hahor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of P the Medes. [Practical Observations.] 7 For so it was, that the children of But naan; which, lying between the contending ment of persons originally of the same naine! V. 5, 6. The inhabitants of Samaria doubtless endured great extremities, in the long siege and terrible destruction of the city: but the brevity of the sacred historian seems significantly to intimate, that the Lord did not now notice their affliction, as he had done before the measure of their iniquities was filled. (Notes, 14:26,27. 18: 9-12. Hos. 8:7,8. 10:14,15. 13:15,16. Mic. 1:5 -7.)-When Shalmaneser had taken Samaria, and become absolute master of the whole land, he formed the project of changing the inhabitants, and in part accomplished it; but it was more fully completed by Esar-haddon, his grandson, several years afterwards. (Ezra 4:2) It is, however, here spoken of by anticipation. Yet it seems, that some of the poorer Israelites were at last left in the land, many of who were inV. 4. So is supposed to be the same person, corporated with the new inhabitants. (2 Chr. as is called Sabacus, or Sabacon, in pagan writ- 34:6,7.) But, as the northern part of the counHe was king of Ethiopia; but he invaded try, called Galilee, was, in the time of Christ, Egypt, took possession of the kingdom, and inhabited by persons acknowledged to be of the reigned there for a long terin of years.-About seed of Israel, who went up to Jerusalem to this time, or rather earlier, the rivalship began worship; whilst the middle of the country was between the kings of Egypt, and the monarchs occupied by the Samaritans, who were of anoth of different nations, who successively were power origin and religion; it is probable that the erful in Asia, to the north, or north-east of Ca- new inhabitants did not so fully occupy the ers. t the LORD had said unto them, & Ye shall not do this thing. 13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by tall the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, 1 Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, 8 And walked in the statutes of them Turn ye from your evil ways, and heathen, (whom the LORD cast out from keep my commandments, and my statbefore the children of Israel,) and of the utes, according to all the law which I kings of Israel, which they had made. commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. 9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God; and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. a 14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 15 And they rejected his statutes, and 10 And they set them up * images and b groves in every high hill, and un-his covenant that he made with their der every green tree: fathers, and his testimonies which he 11 And there they d burnt incense in testified against them, and they followed all the high places, as did the heathens vanity, and became vain, and went whom the LORD carried away before after the heathen that were round about them; and wrought wicked things to them, concerning "whom the LORD had provoke the LORD to anger. 12 For they served idols, whereof northern, as the middle parts of the land.-Probably, the Israelites, who were carried captive to a great distance, in the dominions of the conqueror, were chiefly incorporated among the nations: yet some of them seemed to have retained the knowledge of their original, and of part of their religion; and either to have returned with their brethren after the Babylonish captivity, or to have united with those Jews, who were afterwards dispersed in many different countries of the world. (Note, Ezra 2:64. Luke 2:36-38.)-Some, however, think, that incorporated bodies of them are still existing. V. 7-11. The iniquities of Israel were many and aggravated: but their apostacy from God to idolatry especially formed the violation of the national covenant. The Lord had, as it were, graciously espoused them to himself: but this spiritual adultery excited his jealousy; and, by persisting in it, they provoked him to give them a writing of divorcement, and to put them away. (Note, Jer. 3:6-11.) They had, as a nation, experienced his power and love in delivering them from Egypt, and giving them Canaan; and they had witnessed and executed his vengeance upon the idolatrous Canaanites: yet, in disobedience to express and repeated commandments, they had ungratefully and absurdly worshipped their idols. They had also willingly obeyed the orders of idolatrous kings to worship the golden calves and Baalim. (Note, Hos. 5: 11,12.) They had likewise committed much secret idolatry, in addition to that which was es g Deut. 4:15-19,23-25. 12:4. Deut. 8:19. 31:21. Neh. 9:29, 30. Ps. 50:7. 81:8,9. Jer. 42:19. i 2 Chr. 36:15, 16. Jer. 3:8-11. k Deut. 4:26. Josh. 23:16. Judg. See on 1 Sam. 9:9.-1 Chr. 29: in Is. 1:16-20. 55:6,7. Jer. 7:3t n Jer. 7:22,23. 26:4-6. o Deut. 31:27. 2 Chr. 36:13. Prov. 29:1. Is. 48:4. Jer. 7:26. Rom. 2:4,5. Heb. 3:7,8. p Deut. 1:32. Ps. 78:22,32. 106: q Ex. 24:6-3. Deut. 29:10 r 2 Chr. 36:15,16. Neh. 9:26,29, s Deut. 32:31. 1 Sam. 12:21. 1 u 8,11,12. 2 Chr. 33:2,9. Deut. 4:19.) and finally, they so multiplied their temples, or altars, that they were found in every village, and at every shepherd's lodge, where he watched his flocks and fruits, (Is. 1:8. Note, Hos. 12:10,11.) as well as in the fenced cities. Thus "they wrought wicked things," as if they had expressly intended "to provoke the LORD to anger;" so that at length the predicted and denounced judgments came upon them. (Marg. Ref.) V. 12-14. (Marg. Ref.-Notes, Neh. 9:26— 30. Zech. 1:5,6.) The people rejected the testimonies of God which he testified against them; and they did not believe in him, or depend on him for protection, according to his promises. They hoped to sin with impunity, and concluded that the service of the Lord would be unprofitable. They not only violated the law, by presumptuously doing those things, concerning which "the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing;" (Note, Num. 15:30,31.) but they persisted in their rebellion and idolatry, and hardened their hearts in impenitency. (Notes, Jer. 8:4-7. Ez. 18:30-32. Rom. 2:46.) "To harden the neck," is a metaphor taken from the stiffness of the neck of an ox, when with his full strength he resists the attempts of the husbandman, to put the yoke upon him, or to bring him to draw in it: and it aptly represents the self-will, earnestness, and stubbornness, with which the presumptuous sinner sets himself to rebel against God, in the midst of warnings, convictions, judgments, and mercies. law, and especially wer- Note shipped the sun, moon, and stars, which as the hosts or armies of God, stationed in the visible heavens, are employed to fulfil his will: (Note, 2 "This 'was the original of all the sins they committed; they did not believe God's prophets, but heark'ened to deceivers.' Bp. Patrick. |