mh_parser/vol_split/12 - 2Kings/Chapter 14.xml

<div2 id="iiKi.xv" n="xv" next="iiKi.xvi" prev="iiKi.xiv" progress="68.01%" title="Chapter XIV">
<h2 id="iiKi.xv-p0.1">S E C O N D   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iiKi.xv-p0.2">CHAP. XIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiKi.xv-p1">This chapter continues the history of the
succession in the kingdoms both of Judah and Israel. I. In the
kingdom of Judah here is, 1. The entire history (as much as is
recorded in this book) of Amaziah's reign (1.) His good character,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.1-2Kgs.14.4" parsed="|2Kgs|14|1|14|4" passage="2Ki 14:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. (2.) The
justice he executed on the murderers of his father, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.5-2Kgs.14.6" parsed="|2Kgs|14|5|14|6" passage="2Ki 14:5,6">ver. 5, 6</scripRef>. (3.) His victory over
the Edomites, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.7" parsed="|2Kgs|14|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:7">ver. 7</scripRef>. (4.)
His war with Joash, and his defeat in that war, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.8-2Kgs.14.14" parsed="|2Kgs|14|8|14|14" passage="2Ki 14:8-14">ver. 8-14</scripRef>. (5.) His fall, at last, by a
conspiracy against him, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.17-2Kgs.14.20" parsed="|2Kgs|14|17|14|20" passage="2Ki 14:17-20">ver.
17-20</scripRef>. 2. The beginning of the history of Azariah,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.21-2Kgs.14.22" parsed="|2Kgs|14|21|14|22" passage="2Ki 14:21,22">ver. 21, 22</scripRef>. II. In the
kingdom of Israel, the conclusion of the reign of Joash (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.15-2Kgs.14.16" parsed="|2Kgs|14|15|14|16" passage="2Ki 14:15,16">ver. 15, 16</scripRef>), and the entire
history of Jeroboam his son, the second of that name, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.23-2Kgs.14.29" parsed="|2Kgs|14|23|14|29" passage="2Ki 14:23-29">ver. 23-29</scripRef>. How many great men
are made to stand in a little compass in God's book!</p>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14" parsed="|2Kgs|14|0|0|0" passage="2Ki 14" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.1-2Kgs.14.7" parsed="|2Kgs|14|1|14|7" passage="2Ki 14:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.14.1-2Kgs.14.7">
<h4 id="iiKi.xv-p1.11">The Reign of Amaziah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p1.12">b. c.</span> 828.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xv-p2">1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz
king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
  2 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign,
and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's
name <i>was</i> Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.   3 And he did <i>that
which was</i> right in the sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p2.1">Lord</span>, yet not like David his father: he did
according to all things as Joash his father did.   4 Howbeit
the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did
sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.   5 And it
came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand,
that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
  6 But the children of the murderers he slew not: according
unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p2.2">Lord</span> commanded, saying, The
fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the
children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be
put to death for his own sin.   7 He slew of Edom in the
valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the
name of it Joktheel unto this day.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p3">Amaziah, the son and successor of Joash, is
the king whom here we have an account of. Let us take a view of
him,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p4">I. In the temple; and there he acted, in
some measure, well, like Joash, but not like David, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.3" parsed="|2Kgs|14|3|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. He began well, but did
not persevere: He <i>did that which was right in the sight of the
Lord,</i> kept up his attendance on God's altars and his attention
to God's word, yet not like David. It is not enough to do that
which our pious predecessors did, merely to keep up the usage, but
we must do it <i>as</i> they did it, from the same principle of
faith and devotion and with the same sincerity and resolution. It
is here taken notice of, as before, that <i>the high places were
not taken away,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.4" parsed="|2Kgs|14|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. It is hard to get clear of those corruptions which,
by long usage, have gained both prescription and a favourable
opinion.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p5">II. On the bench; and there we have him
doing justice on the traitors that murdered his father, not as soon
as ever he came to the crown, lest it should occasion some
disturbance, but he prudently deferred it till <i>the kingdom was
confirmed in his hand,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.5" parsed="|2Kgs|14|5|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. To weaken a factious party gradually, when it is not
safe to provoke, often proves the way to ruin it effectually.
Justice strikes surely by striking slowly, and is often executed
most prudently when it is not executed presently. Wisdom here is
profitable to direct. Amaziah did thus, 1. According to the rule of
the law, that ancient rule, that <i>he that sheds man's blood by
man shall his blood be shed.</i> Never let traitors or murderers
expect to come to their graves like other men. <i>Let them flee to
the pit, and let no man stay them.</i> 2. Under the limitation of
the law: <i>The children of the murderers he slew not,</i> because
the law of Moses had expressly provided that <i>the children should
not be put to death for the fathers,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.6" parsed="|2Kgs|14|6|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. It is probable that this is
taken notice of because there were those about him that advised him
to that rigour, both in revenge (because the crime was
extraordinary—the murder of a king) and in policy, that the
children might not plot against him, in revenge of their father's
death. But against these insinuations he opposed the express law of
God (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.24.16" parsed="|Deut|24|16|0|0" passage="De 24:16">Deut. xxiv. 16</scripRef>), which
he was to judge by, and which he resolved to adhere to and trust
God with the issue. God visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children, because every man is guilty before him and owes him a
death; so that, if he require the life for the father's sin, he
does not wrong, the sinner having forfeited it already by his own.
But he does not allow earthly princes to do thus: the children,
before them, are innocent, and therefore must not suffer as
guilty.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p6">III. In the field; and there we find him
triumphing over the Edomites, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.7" parsed="|2Kgs|14|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. Edom had <i>revolted from under
the hand of Judah</i> in Joram's time, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.8.22" parsed="|2Kgs|8|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 8:22"><i>ch.</i> viii. 22</scripRef>. Now he makes war upon
them to bring them back to their allegiance, kills 10,000 and takes
the chief city of Arabia the stony (called <i>Selah</i>—<i>a
rock</i>), and gave it a new name. We shall find a larger account
of this expedition, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.5-2Chr.25.13" parsed="|2Chr|25|5|25|13" passage="2Ch 25:5-13">2 Chron. xxv.
5</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.8-2Kgs.14.14" parsed="|2Kgs|14|8|14|14" passage="2Ki 14:8-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.14.8-2Kgs.14.14">
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xv-p7">8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the
son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us
look one another in the face.   9 And Jehoash the king of
Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that
<i>was</i> in Lebanon sent to the cedar that <i>was</i> in Lebanon,
saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a
wild beast that <i>was</i> in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
  10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath
lifted thee up: glory <i>of this,</i> and tarry at home: for why
shouldest thou meddle to <i>thy</i> hurt, that thou shouldest fall,
<i>even</i> thou, and Judah with thee?   11 But Amaziah would
not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and
Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at
Beth-shemesh, which <i>belongeth</i> to Judah.   12 And Judah
was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to
their tents.   13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king
of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh,
and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from
the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
  14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels
that were found in the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p7.1">Lord</span>, and in the treasures of the king's house,
and hostages, and returned to Samaria.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p8">For several successions after the division
of the kingdoms that of Judah suffered much by the <i>enmity</i> of
Israel. After Asa's time, for several successions, it suffered more
by the <i>friendship</i> of Israel, and by the alliance and
affinity made with them. But now we meet with hostility between
them again, which had not been for some ages before.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p9">I. Amaziah, upon no provocation, and
without showing any cause of quarrel, challenged Joash into the
field (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.8" parsed="|2Kgs|14|8|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>):
"<i>Come, let us look one another in the face;</i> let us try our
strength in battle." Had he challenged him to a personal duel only,
the error would have remained with himself, but each must bring all
their forces into the field, and thousands of lives on both sides
must be sacrificed to his capricious humour. Hereby he showed
himself proud, presumptuous, and prodigal of blood. Some think that
he intended to avenge the injury which the dismissed disgusted
Israelites had lately done to his country, in their return
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.13" parsed="|2Chr|25|13|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:13">2 Chron. xxv. 13</scripRef>), and
that he had also the vanity to think of subduing the kingdom of
Israel, and reuniting it to Judah. A <i>fool's lips thus enter into
contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.</i> Those that
challenge are chargeable with that beginning of strife, which is as
the letting forth of water. He that is eager either to fight or to
go to law may perhaps have enough of it quickly, and be the first
that repents it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p10">II. Joash sent him a grave rebuke for his
challenge, with advice to withdraw it, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.9-2Kgs.14.10" parsed="|2Kgs|14|9|14|10" passage="2Ki 14:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. 1. He mortifies his
pride, by comparing himself to a cedar, a stately tree, and Amaziah
to a thistle, a sorry weed, telling him he was so far from fearing
him that he despised him, and scorned as much to have any thing to
do with him, or make any alliance with him, as the cedar would to
match his daughter to a thistle. The ancient house of David he
thinks not worthy to be named the same day with the house of Jehu,
though an upstart. How may a humble man smile to hear two proud and
scornful men set their wits on work to vilify and undervalue one
another! 2. He foretels his fall: <i>A wild beast trode down the
thistle,</i> and so put an end to his treaty with the cedar; so
easily does Joash think his forces can crush Amaziah, and so unable
does he think him to make any resistance. 3. He shows him the folly
of his challenge: "<i>Thou hast indeed smitten Edom,</i> a weak,
unarmed, undisciplined body of men, and therefore thinkest thou
canst carry all before thee and subdue the regular forces of Israel
with as much ease. <i>Thy heart has lifted thee up.</i>" See where
the root of all sin lies; it is in the heart, thence it flows, and
that must bear the blame. It is not Providence, the event, the
occasion (whatever it is), that makes men proud, or secure, or
discontented, or the like, but it is their own heart that does it.
"Thou art proud of the blow thou hast given to Edom, as if that had
made thee formidable to all mankind." Those wretchedly deceive
themselves that magnify their own performances, and, because they
have been blessed with some little success and reputation, conclude
themselves fit for any thing and no less sure of it. 4. He counsels
him to be content with the honour he has won, and not to hazard
that, by grasping at more that was out of his reach: <i>Why
shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt,</i> as fools often do, that will
be meddling? <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.20.3" parsed="|Prov|20|3|0|0" passage="Pr 20:3">Prov. xx. 3</scripRef>.
Many would have had wealth and honour enough if they had but known
when they had enough. He warns him of the consequence, that it
would be fatal not to himself only, but to his kingdom, which he
ought to protect.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p11">III. Amaziah persisted in his resolution,
and the issue was bad; he had better have tarried at home, for
Joash gave him such a look in the face as put him to confusion.
Challengers commonly prove to be on the losing side. 1. His army
was routed and dispersed, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.12" parsed="|2Kgs|14|12|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>. Josephus says, When they were to engage they were
struck with such terror that they did not strike a stroke, but
every one made the best of his way. 2. He himself was taken
prisoner by the king of Israel, and then had enough of <i>looking
him in the face.</i> Amaziah's pedigree comes in here somewhat
abruptly (<i>the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah</i>), because
perhaps he had gloried in the dignity of his ancestors, or because
he now smarted for their iniquity. 3. The conqueror entered
Jerusalem, which tamely opened to him, and yet he broke down their
wall (and, as Josephus says, drove his chariot in triumph through
the breach), in reproach to them, and that he might, when he
pleased, take possession of the royal city. 4. He plundered
Jerusalem, took away all that was valuable, and returned to
Samaria, laden with spoils, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.14" parsed="|2Kgs|14|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>. It was said of Joash that he did that which was
<i>evil in the sight of the Lord,</i> and of Amaziah that he did
<i>that which was right;</i> and yet Joash triumphs thus over
Amaziah, and why so? Because God would show, in Amaziah's fate,
that he resists the proud, or because, whatever they were
otherwise, Joash had lately been respectful to one of God's
prophets (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.14" parsed="|2Kgs|13|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:14"><i>ch.</i> xiii.
14</scripRef>), but Amaziah had been abusive to another (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.16" parsed="|2Chr|25|16|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:16">2 Chron. xxv. 16</scripRef>), and God will
honour those who honour him in his prophets, but those who despise
them, and him in them, shall be lightly esteemed.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xv-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.15-2Kgs.14.22" parsed="|2Kgs|14|15|14|22" passage="2Ki 14:15-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.14.15-2Kgs.14.22">
<h4 id="iiKi.xv-p11.6">Reign of Jeroboam, King of
Israel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p11.7">b. c.</span> 825.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xv-p12">15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he
did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah,
<i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Israel?   16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and
was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his
son reigned in his stead.   17 And Amaziah the son of Joash
king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king
of Israel fifteen years.   18 And the rest of the acts of
Amaziah, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles
of the kings of Judah?   19 Now they made a conspiracy against
him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him
to Lachish, and slew him there.   20 And they brought him on
horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city
of David.   21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which
<i>was</i> sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his
father Amaziah.   22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah,
after that the king slept with his fathers.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p13">Here are three kings brought to their
graves in these few verses:—1. Joash king of Israel, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.15-2Kgs.14.16" parsed="|2Kgs|14|15|14|16" passage="2Ki 14:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>. We attended his
funeral once before, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.12-2Kgs.13.13" parsed="|2Kgs|13|12|13|13" passage="2Ki 13:12,13"><i>ch.</i>
xiii. 12, 13</scripRef>. But, because the historian had occasion to
give a further account of his life and actions, he again mentions
his death and burial. 2. Amaziah king of Judah. Fifteen years he
survived his conqueror the king of Israel, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.17" parsed="|2Kgs|14|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. A man may live a great while
after he has been shamed, may be thoroughly mortified (as Amaziah
no doubt was) and yet not dead. His acts are said to be found
written in his annals (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.18" parsed="|2Kgs|14|18|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>), but not his might; for his cruelty when he was a
conqueror over the Edomites, and his insolence when he challenged
the king of Israel, showed him void of true courage. He was slain
by his own subjects, who hated him for his maladministration
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.19" parsed="|2Kgs|14|19|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>) and made
Jerusalem too hot for him, the ignominious breach made in their
walls being occasioned by his folly and presumption. He fled to
Lachish. How long he continued concealed or sheltered there we are
not told, but, at last, he was there murdered, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.19" parsed="|2Kgs|14|19|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. No further did the rage of the
rebels extend, for they brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and
buried him there among his ancestors. 3. Azariah succeeded Amaziah,
but not till twelve years after his father's death, for Amaziah
died in the fifteenth year of Jeroboam (as appears by comparing
<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.23 Bible:2Kgs.13.2" parsed="|2Kgs|14|23|0|0;|2Kgs|13|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:23,2Ki 13:2"><i>v.</i> 23 with <i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), but Azariah did not begin his reign till the
twenty-seventh of Jeroboam (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.15.1" parsed="|2Kgs|15|1|0|0" passage="2Ki 15:1"><i>ch.</i>
xv. 1</scripRef>), for he was but four years old at the death of
his father, so that, for twelve years, till he came to be sixteen,
the government was in the hands of protectors. He reigned very long
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.9" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.15.2" parsed="|2Kgs|15|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 15:2"><i>ch.</i> xv. 2</scripRef>) and yet
the account of his reign is here industriously huddled up, and
broken off abruptly (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.10" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.22" parsed="|2Kgs|14|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>): <i>He built Elath</i> (which had belonged to the
Edomites, but, it is probable, was recovered by his father,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p13.11" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.7" parsed="|2Kgs|14|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), <i>after that
the king slept with his fathers,</i> as if that had been all he did
that was worth mentioning, or rather it is meant of king Amaziah:
he built it soon after Amaziah died.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xv-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.23-2Kgs.14.29" parsed="|2Kgs|14|23|14|29" passage="2Ki 14:23-29" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.14.23-2Kgs.14.29">
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xv-p14">23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of
Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began
to reign in Samaria, <i>and reigned</i> forty and one years.  
24 And he did <i>that which was</i> evil in the sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p14.1">Lord</span>: he departed not from all the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.   25 He
restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the
sea of the plain, according to the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p14.2">Lord</span> God of Israel, which he spake by the hand
of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which
<i>was</i> of Gath-hepher.   26 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p14.3">Lord</span> saw the affliction of Israel, <i>that it
was</i> very bitter: for <i>there was</i> not any shut up, nor any
left, nor any helper for Israel.   27 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xv-p14.4">Lord</span> said not that he would blot out the name of
Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam
the son of Joash.   28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam,
and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he
recovered Damascus, and Hamath, <i>which belonged</i> to Judah, for
Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Israel?   29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers,
<i>even</i> with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned
in his stead.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p15">Here is an account of the reign of Jeroboam
the second. I doubt it is an indication of the affection and
adherence of the house of Jehu to the sins of <i>Jeroboam the son
of Nebat, who made Israel to sin,</i> that they called an
heir-apparent to the crown by his name, thinking that an honourable
name which in the book of God is infamous and stigmatized as much
as any.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p16">I. His reign was long, the longest of all
the reigns of the kings of Israel: <i>He reigned forty-one
years;</i> yet his contemporary Azariah, the king of Judah, reigned
longer, even fifty-two years. This Jeroboam reigned just as long as
Asa had done (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.10" parsed="|1Kgs|15|10|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:10">1 Kings xv.
10</scripRef>), yet one did that which was good and the other that
which was evil. We cannot measure men's characters by the length of
their lives or by their outward prosperity. <i>There is one event
to the righteous and to the wicked.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p17">II. His character was the same with that of
the rest of those kings: <i>He did that which was evil</i>
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.24" parsed="|2Kgs|14|24|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>), for <i>he
departed not from the sins of Jeroboam;</i> he kept up the worship
of the calves, and never left that, thinking there was no harm in
it, because it had been the way of all his ancestors and
predecessors. But a sin is never the less evil in God's sight,
whatever it is in ours, for its being an ancient usage; and a
frivolous plea it will be against doing good, that we have been
accustomed to do evil.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p18">III. Yet he prospered more than most of
them, for though, in that one thing, he did evil in the sight of
the Lord, yet it is likely, in other respects, there was some good
found in him and therefore God owned him, 1. By prophecy. He raised
up Jonah the son of Amittai, a Galilean (so much were those
mistaken that said, <i>Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet,</i>
<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:John.7.52" parsed="|John|7|52|0|0" passage="Joh 7:52">John vii. 52</scripRef>), and by him
intimated the purposes of his favour to Israel, notwithstanding
their provocations, encouraged him and his kingdom to take up arms
for the recovery of their ancient possessions, and (which would
contribute not a little to their success) assured them of victory.
It is a sign that God has not cast off his people if he continue
faithful ministers among them; when Elisha, who strengthened the
hands of Joash, was removed, Jonah was sent to encourage his son.
Happy is the land that has a succession of prophets running
parallel with a succession of princes, that the word of the Lord
may endure for ever. Of this Jonah we read much in that little book
of scripture that bears his name. It is probable that it was when
he was a young man, and fit for such an expedition, that God sent
him to Nineveh, and that it was when he had yet been but a little
conversant with the visions of God that he flew off and fretted as
he did; and, if so, this is an undoubted evidence of the
forgiveness of his faults and follies, that he was afterwards
employed as a messenger of mercy to Israel. A commission amounts to
a pardon, and he that had himself found mercy, notwithstanding his
provocations, could the better encourage them with the hope of
mercy notwithstanding theirs. Some that have been foolish and
passionate, and have gone about their work very awkwardly at first,
yet afterwards have proved useful and eminent. Men must not be
thrown away for every fault. 2. By providence. The event was
<i>according to the word of the Lord:</i> his arms were successful;
he <i>restored the coast of Israel,</i> recovered those
frontier-towns and countries that lay from Hamath in the north to
the sea of the plain, (that is, the sea of Sodom) in the south, all
which the Syrians had possessed themselves of, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.25" parsed="|2Kgs|14|25|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. Two reasons are here given why
God blessed them with those victories:—(1.) Because their
distress was very great, which made them the objects of his
compassion, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.26" parsed="|2Kgs|14|26|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>.
Though he saw not any signs of their repentance and formation, yet
<i>he saw their affliction, that it was very bitter.</i> Those that
lived in those countries which the enemies were masters of were
miserably oppressed and enslaved, and could call nothing their own;
the rest, we may suppose, were much impoverished by the frequent
incursions the enemy made upon them to plunder them, and
continually terrified by their threatenings, so that <i>there was
none shut up or left,</i> both towns and countries were laid waste
and stripped of their wealth, and no helper appeared. To this
extremity were they reduced, in many parts of the country, in the
beginning of Jeroboam's reign, when God, in mere pity to them,
heard the cry of their affliction (for no mention is made here of
the cry of their prayers), and wrought this deliverance for them by
the hand of Jeroboam. Let those whose case is pitiable take comfort
from the divine pity; we read of God's bowels of mercy (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.63.15 Bible:Jer.31.20" parsed="|Isa|63|15|0|0;|Jer|31|20|0|0" passage="Isa 63:15,Jer 31:20">Isa. lxiii. 15; Jer. xxxi.
20</scripRef>) and that he is full of compassion, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.15" parsed="|Ps|86|15|0|0" passage="Ps 86:15">Ps. lxxxvi. 15</scripRef>. (2.) Because the
decree had not yet gone forth for their utter destruction; he had
not as yet said <i>he would blot out the name of Israel</i>
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.27" parsed="|2Kgs|14|27|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), and
because he had not said it he would not do it. If this be
understood of the dispersion of the ten tribes, he did say it and
do it, for that name still remains under heaven in the <i>gospel
Israel,</i> and will to the end of time; and because they, at
present, bore that name which was to have this lasting honour, he
showed them this favour, as well as for the sake of the ancient
honour of that name, <scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.23" parsed="|2Kgs|13|23|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:23"><i>ch.</i> xiii.
23</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xv-p19">IV. Here is the conclusion of Jeroboam's
reign. We read (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.28" parsed="|2Kgs|14|28|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>) of his might, and how he warred, but (<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.29" parsed="|2Kgs|14|29|0|0" passage="2Ki 14:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>) he <i>slept with his
fathers;</i> for the mightiest must yield to death, and there is no
discharge in that war. Many prophets there had been in Israel, a
constant succession of them in every age, but none of the prophets
had left any of their prophecies in writing till those of this age
began to do it, and their prophecies are part of the canon of
scripture. It was in the reign of this Jeroboam that <i>Hosea</i>
(who continued very long a prophet) began to prophesy, and he was
the first that wrote his prophecies; therefore the word of the Lord
by him is called <i>the beginning of the word of the Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="iiKi.xv-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.1.2" parsed="|Hos|1|2|0|0" passage="Ho 1:2">Hos. i. 2</scripRef>. Then <i>that part
of the word of the Lord</i> began to be written. At the same time
<i>Amos</i> prophesied, and wrote his prophecy, soon afterwards
<i>Micah,</i> and then <i>Isaiah,</i> in the days of Ahaz and
Hezekiah. Thus God never left himself without witness, but, in the
darkest and most degenerate ages of the church, raised up some to
be burning and shining lights in it to their own age by their
preaching and living, and a few by their writings to reflect light
upon us on whom the ends of the world have come.</p>
</div></div2>