Bible Commentaries

Verse 1

twenty years . . . sixteen years. Yet his son Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he died (2 Chronicles 29:1 ). See note on 2 Kings 16:1 .

when he: i.e. when he (Jotham). Compare Jehoiakim and Jehoachin (2 Chronicles 36:9 ; 2 Kings 21:0

not . . . like. Nor like his own father Jotham, or his son Hezekiah.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

For. He outdid the kings of Israel: compare 2 Kings 16:3 , 2 Kings 16:4 , which brought forth the prophecies of Isaiah, Micah, Nahurn, and others.

Verse 3

children = sons.

heathen = nations.

Verse 4

sacrificed. Compare 2 Kings 16:4 .

Verse 5

his. Which should have been his.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

the king Of Syria: i.e. Rezin, whom God raised up as a scourge.

they smote him: i.e. when they took Elath (2 Kings 16:6 ).

Verse 6

Pekah the son of Hemaliah. Compare 2 Kings 15:27 and Isaiah 7:0 . As Pekah ends three years before Ahaz begins, this must have taken place between 632 and 629 B.C.

valiant men = sons of valour.

Verse 7

mighty man. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .

Verse 8

women, &c. These also were guilty. Compare Jeremiah 7:18 .

took also away: i.e. from Jerusalem. See App-53 .

Verse 9

Oded = establishing. His name is prophetic.

went out before the host. Showing his courage. reacheth up unto heaven. Figure of speech Hyperbole ( App-6 ), to express the greatness of the rage.

Verse 10

are there not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

sins = trespasses, or guilt. Hebrew ' asham . App-44 .

Verse 12

certain = men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

heads. Not the king.

Johanan. Should be Jehohanan.

Verse 13

offended = trespassed. Hebrew. 'asham . App-44 .

Verse 14

congregation = assembly.

Verse 15

feeble = tottering.

the city of palm trees. Compare Deuteronomy 34:3 .

then they returned to Samaria. Compare this account with Luke 10:30-37 .

Verse 16

kings = the great king. Plural of majesty.

Verse 18

Philistines. These behind, and the Syrians before. Compare Isaiah 9:12 , Isaiah 9:13 .

Verse 19

Israel. See note on 2 Chronicles 21:2 .

naked: i.e. had stripped Judah of the worship and service of God.

transgressed = acted treacherously: i.e. been grievously unfaithful. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44 .

Verse 20

Tilgath-pilneser. Compare 2 Kings 16:10 . The accounts in Kings and Chronicles are complementary. See App-56 .

Verse 22

trespass. Hebrew. ma'al App-44 . See note on "transgressed", 2 Chronicles 28:19 .

this is that king Ahaz. Compare three specially branded transgressors: Cain (Genesis 4:15 ); Dathan (Numbers 26:9 ); and Ahaz, here. Contrast Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:12 , 2 Chronicles 32:30 ).

Verse 23

which smote him: i.e. which [as he believed] smote him.

help them. So he falsely reasoned.

the ruin of him. As the idolatry of the Edomites ruined Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:14 , 2 Chronicles 25:15 ).

Verse 24

gathered together. Compare 2 Kings 16:8 .

shut up the doors. His son Hezekiah's first act was to open them (2 Chronicles 29:3 ).

Verse 26

all his ways. Compare 2 Chronicles 27:7 .

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Verse 27

slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .

in the city. Not in the sepulchres.