Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Have her forth - She had pressed in among the guards into the temple.

And him that followeth - The person who takes her part, let him instantly be slain.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Have her forth without the ranges - Rather, “Conduct her out between your ranks.” Guard her, i. e., on all sides, that the people may not fall upon her and kill her as she passes through the court, thereby polluting the temple.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host,.... Of the priests and Levites:

and said unto them, have her forth without the ranges; the ranks of the guards, which were at the gate leading to the palace, or rather "within" them^F7מבית לשדרת "intra ordines", Munster, Junius, Tremellius, Piscator, Noldius, p. 79. No. 365. So Jarchi, Kimchi, Ben Gersom, & Ben Melech. ; the meaning is, that he ordered her to be had out of the court of the temple, and be put within their ranks, and enclosed by them, that her blood might not be shed in the temple, and yet not escape them:

and him that followeth her, kill with the sword: that takes her part, and offers to help and assist her, passing through the ranks after her, dispatch him at once:

for the priest had said, let her not be slain in the house of the Lord: that it might not be defiled with her blood; by which it appears that the guards had orders concerning her before, should she come to the temple, see 2 Kings 11:13.

Geneva Study Bible

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that ^o followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

(o) To take her part.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

without the ranges — that is, fences, that the sacred place might not be stained with human blood.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

Host — Of these companies of Levites, who are elsewhere called the Lord's host, and now were the king's host.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 11:15 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

Ver. 15. And him that followeth her,] sc., To defend her and adhere to her; which none did, for they were all weary of her tyrannical government, and glad to be rid of her.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The officers of the host; of these companies of Levites, who are elsewhere called the Lord’s host, and now were the king’s host.

Without the ranges; of which see above, 2 Kings 11:8. If she will not go out of them of her own accord, force her out of them.

Him that followeth her; if any of the people, come hither upon this occasion, shall stand up for her help.

In the house of the Lord, i.e. in the court of the temple, lest it bc polluted with her blood.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

15.Without the ranges — See 2 Kings 11:8.

Him that followeth her — That is, him that presumes to take her part and defend her.

Not be slain in’ house of the Lord — The high priest would not have the temple stained with human blood.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

2 Kings 11:15. Jehoiada commanded the officers of the host — Of those companies of Levites, who are elsewhere called the Lord’s host, and now were the king’s host. Have her forth without the ranges — Through which they had suffered her to come. If she will not go out of them of her own accord, force her out of them. And him that followeth her, kill with the sword — If any of the people that shall come hither on this occasion, shall stand up for her help, let them be slain. Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord — That is, in the court of the temple, lest it be polluted with her blood.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Precinct. Hebrew sederoth, (untranslated by the Septuagint and (Haydock) improperly supposed by Josephus to be the torrent Cedron) means, "the ranks" of the guards, (Calmet) or, "ranges" of the sacred buildings, which her impure blood must not defile. (Haydock) --- Follow her, as an accomplice. (Menochius)

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

Without the ranges - i:e., fences, that the sacred place might not be stained with human blood.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) The captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host.—The centurions of the royal guard are called “the officers of the host” (comp. Numbers 31:14) to signify that it was they who gave effect to the high priest’s orders by communicating them to their troops.

Have her forth without the ranges.—Rather, Cause her to go out between the ranks—i.e., escort her out of the sacred precincts with a guard on both sides.

Him that followeth her—i.e., whoever shows any sympathy with her, or attempts to take her part. There might have been some of her partisans in the large gathering in the Temple court.

For the priest had said.—This is a parenthetic statement accounting for the order just given; and “had said” may mean “thought.”

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

captains

4,9,10; 2 Chronicles 23:9,14

Have

Ezekiel 21:14

followeth

Let

Ezekiel 9:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:14 - take him;  2 Kings 11:20 - slew Athaliah;  1 Chronicles 9:19 - over the host;  Jeremiah 29:26 - officers;  Luke 22:52 - captains