2 Kings 25

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXV. Ver. 1. Ninth year.—{This, according to the computation of Archbp. Usher, was on Phurad (ay, January 30th, A. M. 3414, which was a sabbaticn) year; wherein they proclaimed liberty to their servants according to the law, but soon enthralled them again. See (Jeremiah 34:8-10))—Bagster. the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the Lord, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried off, chief Jehoiakim was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin, or Jeconiah; but after three years he was carried captive by the army of Nebuchadnezzar—himself, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers, and all the principal inhabitants, to the number of 10,000—these all surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, and were carried captive into Babylon.

After this, Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah, another of Josiah’s sons, king in Jerusalem, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Neither of his sons, however, appear to have possessed a particle of their father’s virtues, much less his piety and zeal for true religion: but their rebellion against the king of Babylon was the immediate cause of their ruin, and sealed his days. A secular the fate of Judah and Jerusalem. The rapid changes and Chap. XXV. Ver. 1—30. Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, which is taken. Zedekiah carried captive, and the temple and city finally plundered.—Three times did Nebuchadnezzar besiege and plunder Jerusalem and the temple.

1. In the reign of Jehoiakim, when he “carried off the vessels of Ver. 7. Put out the eyes.—{Thus were fulfilled the apparently contradictory prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel; that his eyes should see the king of Babylon; but Babylon he should not see, though he should die there.|— Ver. 8. Fifth month.—(This answered to Wednesday, August 24; and three days after he reduced the temple to ashes, and carried Judah captive; in the 11th year of Zedekiah; the 19th of Nebuchadnezzar; the 1st of the 48th Olympiad; the 160th current year of Nabonassar; 424 years, 3 months, and 8 days, from the foundation of the temple; 463 years from the beginning of the reign of David; 388 years from the division of the ten tribes; and 131 years from their captivity.

|—Bagster. Ver. 17. The height of omas, &c.—See note on (1 Kings 7:15). Ver. 18. Second priest.—[Called by the Jews sagan, who officiated for the high-priest in case of sickness, or any temporary incapacity. See note on ch. xxiii. 4. Bagster. Ver. 19. Five men.—{In the parallel place of Jeremiah, it is said that he took seven who were men near the king’s person: the same number is found in the Arabic in this place; while the Chaldee has no less than fifty: but in Jeremiah, this, as well as all the rest of the versions, reads seven. Probably they were no more than five at first; or, perhaps, Jeremiah reckoned with the five the officer that was set over the men of war, and the principal scribe of the host, mentioned here as two of the five: and thus made seven in the whole.

}—B. [The events detailed in these books, though in themselves highly interesting and important, are described with great simplicity, but with much animation. The account of the wisdom, magnificence, and extended commerce of Solomon; the rash and impolitic conduct of Rehoboam; the disobedient prophet; the widow of Zarephath; Elijah and the prophets of Baal; Ben-hadad’s pride and defeat; Elijah’s assumption into heaven; Elisha’s succession to his ministry, and the series of illustrious miracles he performed; the panic flight of the Syrians; the history of Ben-hadad and Hazael; and the predicted death of Ahab and Jezebel, and their children: are all pregnant with instruction and have furnished themes for frequent dissertation.

We perceive in these impressive histories the characters and qualities of men painted with the utmost fidelity; and the attributes of God displayed with great effect: we contemplate the exact accomplishment of God’s promises and threatenings; the wisdom of his dispensations; and the mingled justice and mercy of his government. The particulars and circumstances are sketched out with a brief and lively description, and the imagination lingers with pleasure in filling up the striking outlines presented to our view. The authenticity of these books is attested; the prophecies they contain, which were subsequently fulfilled; by the citation of our Saviour and his Apostles; by their universal reception by the Jewish and Christian churches; and by the corresponding testimonies of profane authors, and ancient sculptures.

Thus the narrative of the invasion of Israel by Shalmaneser, and the deportation of the ten tribes, is confirmed by certain ancient sculptures on the mountains of Be-Sitoon, on the borders of the ancient Assyria. For the knowledge of these antiquities we are indebted to the persevering researches of Sir R. K. Porter. Again, the destruction of Sennacherib’s army is confirmed by Herodotus, who calls the Assyrian king Sehb, as the Scriptures do: and that the time referred to in 2 Kings is perfectly accordant. Another remarkable fact is confirmed by the same historian, and also by the researches of the late intrepid Belzoni—the defeat of Josiah by Ver. 23. Mizpah.—{There were several places of the name of Mizpah, or Mizpeh; and we do not certainly know which of them this was; but it is probable that it was that situated east of Jordan, in the mountains of Gilead, ((Genesis 31:49).), and most contiguous to Babylon; and therefore the most proper for the residence of Gedaliah.]—Bagster. Ver. 27. Evil-merodach.—{This foolish and profligate prince was the son of Nebuchadnezzar; who, after having reigned two years at Babylon, became so intolerable on account of his vices, that even his relations conspired against him and put him to death; and it is supposed that Jehoiachin fell with him.}—Bagster. Pharaoh-Nechoh, and the subsequent reduction of Jerusalem, when “he took Jehoahaz away; and he came into Egypt and died there.” The account of Herodotus is as follows: “‘Now Necos was the son of Psammiticus, and reigned over Egypt.—And Necos joined battle with the Syrians, in Masdolus, and after the battle he took Cadytis, a large city of Syria.

And having reigned in the whole sixteen years, he died, and left the throne to his son Psammis.” Here it is evident that Magdolus is the same as Megiddo; and Cadytis, which he mentions again, “as a city belonging to the Syrians of Palestine,” and “as a city not less than Sardis,” is undoubtedly the same as Jerusalem, called Al-kuds, or El Kouds, that is, the holy city, by the Syrians and Arabians, from time immemorial to the present day. We now turn to the researches of Belzoni in the tomb of Psammethis, or Psammis, the son of Pharaoh-Nechoh. In one of the numerous apartments of this venerable monument of ancient art, there is a sculptured group, describing the march of a military and triumphal procession, with three different sets of prisoners, who are evidently Jews, Ethiopians, and Persians.

The procession begins with four red men with white kirtles, followed by a hawk-headed divinity: these are Egyptians apparently released from captivity, and returning home under the protection of the national deity. Then follow four white men in striped and fringed kirtles, with black beards, and with a simple white fillet round their black hair: these are obviously Jews, and might be taken for the portraits of those who, at this day, walk the streets of London: After them come three white men with smaller beards and curled whiskers, with double-spreading plumes on their heads, tattooed, and wearing robes or mantles spotted like the skins of wild beasts: these are Persians or Chaldeans. Lastly, come four negroes, with large circular ear-rings, and large petticoats, supported by a belt over their shoulders: these are Ethiopians.

Among the Hieroglyphics in Belzoni’s drawings of this tomb, Dr. Young has succeeded in discovering the names of Nechao, and of Psammethis.}—Bagster.

18 The posterity of Caleb the son of Hezron. 21 Hezron’s a by the daughter of Hir. 25 Jerahmeel’s posterity. 34 Sheshian’s posterity. Another branch. 50 The posterity of Caleb the son of Hur. of Caleb’s posterity.

THESE are the sons of *Israel; » Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and 2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 3] The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the first-born of Judah, was evil in the sight of the Lord; and he slew him.

4 And 4 Tamar his daughter-in-law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. 5 The sons of *Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul. 6 And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. 7 And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing. 8 And the sons of Ethan; Azariah. 9 The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and *Che- 10 And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; 11 And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz, 12 And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat 13 And Jesse begat his first-born Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and 14 Shimma the third, Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: 16 Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail.

And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. 17 And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was *Jether the Ishmaelite. 18 And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and 19 And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur. 20 And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat *Be- 21 And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir ‘the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub.