2 Kings 21

2 Kings 21:1

WAs twelve yeers old when he began to reign] 2 Chr. 33. 1. Born three yeers after his fathers great recovery, chap. 20. 6.

fifty and five yeers] The longest that ever any judge or king of Judah or Israel ruled.

his mothers] See the notes on 1 Kings 15:10.

Hephzi-bah] The title whereby God testifieth his delight in his Church, Isaiah 62:4.

2 Kings 21:2

abominations] See the notes on 1 Kings 14:24.

2 Kings 21:3

he built] Heb. he referred and built.

which Hezekiah his father had destroyed] Chap. 18. 4.

as did Ahab king of Israel] 1 King. 16. 32, 33.

all the host] See the notes on chap. 18. v. 16.

2 Kings 21:4

he built altars] Jere. 32. 34. More then one: which was unlawfull, Joshua 22:19. the more unlawfull, because they were built for his image, v. 7.

in the house of the Lord] A great aggravation.

In Jerusalem will I put my name] 2 Samuel 7:13. Where the house of the LORD was built. See v. 7.

2 Kings 21:5

two courts] See the notes on 1 Kings 6:36.

2 Kings 21:6

his son] See the notes on chap. 16. 3.

observed times] The word properly signifieth to over-cloud, Genesis 9:14. It is frequently applied to such as over-cloud, or overshadow what they do as juglers: or to such as observe the clouds, the planets, the stars, and thereby judge of matters present and future. They are called soothsayers (Isaiah 2:6. Micah 5:12.) enchanters (Jeremiah 27:9.) sorcerers (Isaiah 57:3.) and observers of times, here, and 2 Chronicles 33:6. under which title they are forbidden, Leviticus 19:26. Deuteronomy 18:10; Deuteronomy 18:14. They were counted observers of times, who by the stars pretended to soretell future contingents; or by the flying of birds judged things at such and such times to be sit or unfit to be done; or on other signs or occasions, daies to be lucky, or unlucky.

enchantments] See the note on chap. 17. 17.

dealt] Heb. made.

familiar spirits] The Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Ob signifieth a bottle, (Job 32:19.) They who use evill spirits oft swell in the belly, as a bottle: and the spirit seemeth to speak out of their belly with a low hollow voice. Such an one is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, one that had a spirit speaking in the belly. See Isaiah 8:19. 29. 4. Such an one by the law was to be stoned (Leviticus 19:27.) the law forbad to deal with such (Leviticus 19:31. Deuteronomy 18:11.) they who dealt with them are threatned to be cut off (Leviticus 19:6.) This was Sauls sin (1 Samuel 28:7.) for which he died, 1 Chronicles 10:13.

wizards] The Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Ideonim such as are thought to know much, called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Our English word wizards, importeth such as would be thought to be wise, and full of knowledge: they undertake to know all things, even secret and future. We also call them cunning men. They are in all the forenamed places joyned with such as deal with familiar spirits, and so to be judged of.

2 Kings 21:7

image of the grove] Appertaining to the grove, v. 3.

David] 2 Samuel 7:10.

In this house] 1 Kings 8:29. and 1 Kings 3:3. Chap. 23. 27.

2 Kings 21:8

the feet, &c.] They shall not be carried captives to another land.

onely if] This being the condition of Gods promise, their failing therein made the promise void.

all that I] The morall law, Exodus 20:1.

Moses] The ceremoniall and judiciall law, Exodus 21:1.

2 Kings 21:9

seduced] By example, and encouragement, so v. 11.

more evil] For they set up more idols, and sinned against more light, and more means afforded to turn them from their sins.

whom the Lord destroyed] The Canaanites.

2 Kings 21:10

spake] To king and people.

by] Heb. by the hand.

2 Kings 21:11

Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations] Jerem. 15. 4.

Amorites] Under these all the heathen are comprised.

2 Kings 21:12

tingle] Shall have as it were a ringing sound in them, affrighting and astonishing them. See on 1 Samuel 3:11. Jere. 19. 3.

2 Kings 21:13

the line, &c. the plummet] The measure and weight: that is, the like judgement. The comparison is taken from carpenters, bricklaiers, and other like workmen, who by measure and rule make up and break down their work.

of Samaria] For Jerusalem was carried away captive (chap. 25. v. 9.) as well as Samaria, chap. 17. 6, &c.

of Ahab] For the posterity of Manasseh was cut off, (Jeremiah 22:30.) as well as the posterity of Ahab.

wipe] The state of Jerusalem is resembled to a dish, the inhabitants thereof to the filth thereon: which as maids use to wash and wipe clean away, so should the inhabitants be taken clean away: and the state of the Jews utterly overthrown and turned up-side down. See the notes on 1 Kings 14:10.

wiping it, and turning it up-side down] Heb. he wipeth and turneth it upon the face thereof.

2 Kings 21:14

remnant] The kingdom of Judah. For the kingdom of Israel was forsaken, chap. 17. 18.

inheritance] A people whom God chose, protected, provided for, and delighted in, as men their inheritance.

2 Kings 21:15

since the day, &c.] Time after time, from their first beginning to be a nation.

2 Kings 21:16

innocent blood] The blood of such as deserved not death, who were no malefactors, but upright and righteous.

filled] An hyperbolicall expression of his unsatiable cruelty manifested in every street of Jerusalem.

from one end to another] Heb. from mouth to mouth.

his sin] Idolatry. See the notes in 1 Kings 12:30.

2 Kings 21:17

the rest] Both evill and good, 2 Chron. 33. 3, 12, &c.

his sin] Sin may well be taken more largely here, then in the former verse: and by a synechdoche comprise under it, not onely idolatry, but also oppression, murther, sorcery, sacriledge.

2 Kings 21:18

Manasseh slept with his fathers] 2 Chron. 33. 20.

garden] Where it is probable that he had built a sepulchre for himself.

garden of Ʋzzah] Who might be a former owner of it, and therefore the garden still carries his name.

2 Kings 21:19

his mothers] See the notes on 1 Kings 15:10.

2 Kings 21:20

as his father] The particular kindes hereof are reckoned up, v. 21, 22.

2 Kings 21:21

the idols] See v. 3, 7.

2 Kings 21:22

forsook] So do all idolaters.

2 Kings 21:24

the people] Because their new king was but eight yeers old.

2 Kings 21:26

in his sepulchre] In the sepulchre of Manasseh, v. 18. or in the sepulchre which he had made for himself in the same garden.