mh_parser/vol_split/12 - 2Kings/Chapter 22.xml

<div2 id="iiKi.xxiii" n="xxiii" next="iiKi.xxiv" prev="iiKi.xxii" progress="71.47%" title="Chapter XXII">
<h2 id="iiKi.xxiii-p0.1">S E C O N D   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iiKi.xxiii-p0.2">CHAP. XXII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiKi.xxiii-p1">This chapter begins the story of the reign of good
king Josiah, whose goodness shines the brighter because it came
just after so much wickedness, which he had the honour to reform,
and just before so great a destruction, which yet he had not the
honour to prevent. Here, after his general character (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.1-2Kgs.22.2" parsed="|2Kgs|22|1|22|2" passage="2Ki 22:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>), we have a particular
account of the respect he paid I. To God's house, which he
repaired, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.3-2Kgs.22.7" parsed="|2Kgs|22|3|22|7" passage="2Ki 22:3-7">ver. 3-7</scripRef> II. To
God's book, which he was much affected with the reading of,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.8-2Kgs.22.11" parsed="|2Kgs|22|8|22|11" passage="2Ki 22:8-11">ver. 8-11</scripRef> III. To God's
messengers, whom he thereupon consulted, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.12-2Kgs.22.14" parsed="|2Kgs|22|12|22|14" passage="2Ki 22:12-14">ver. 12-14</scripRef> And by whom he received from
God an answer threatening Jerusalem's destruction (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.15-2Kgs.22.17" parsed="|2Kgs|22|15|22|17" passage="2Ki 22:15-17">ver. 15-17</scripRef>), but promising favour
to him (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.18-2Kgs.22.20" parsed="|2Kgs|22|18|22|20" passage="2Ki 22:18-20">ver. 18-20</scripRef>),
upon which he set about that glorious work of reformation which we
have an account of in the next chapter.</p>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xxiii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22" parsed="|2Kgs|22|0|0|0" passage="2Ki 22" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xxiii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.1-2Kgs.22.10" parsed="|2Kgs|22|1|22|10" passage="2Ki 22:1-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.22.1-2Kgs.22.10">
<h4 id="iiKi.xxiii-p1.9">Josiah's Pious Reign; the Book of the Law
Read. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p1.10">b. c.</span> 623.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xxiii-p2">1 Josiah <i>was</i> eight years old when he
began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.
And his mother's name <i>was</i> Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of
Boscath.   2 And he did <i>that which was</i> right in the
sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p2.1">Lord</span>, and walked in all
the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand
or to the left.   3 And it came to pass in the eighteenth year
of king Josiah, <i>that</i> the king sent Shaphan the son of
Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p2.2">Lord</span>, saying,   4 Go up to
Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is
brought into the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p2.3">Lord</span>,
which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:   5
And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work,
that have the oversight of the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p2.4">Lord</span>: and let them give it to the doers of the
work which <i>is</i> in the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p2.5">Lord</span>, to repair the breaches of the house,
  6 Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy
timber and hewn stone to repair the house.   7 Howbeit there
was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered
into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.   8 And
Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found
the book of the law in the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p2.6">Lord</span>. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and
he read it.   9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and
brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered
the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into
the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the
house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p2.7">Lord</span>.   10 And
Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath
delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p3">Concerning Josiah we are here told,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p4">I. That he was very young when he began to
reign (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.1" parsed="|2Kgs|22|1|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), only
eight years old. Solomon says, <i>Woe unto thee, O land! when thy
king is a child;</i> but happy art thou, O land! when thy king is
<i>such</i> a child. Our English Israel had once a king that was
such a child, Edward VI. Josiah, being young, had not received any
bad impressions from the example of his father and grandfather, but
soon saw their errors, and God gave his grace to take warning by
them. See <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.18.14-Ezek.18.22" parsed="|Ezek|18|14|18|22" passage="Eze 18:14-22">Ezek. xviii.
14</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p5">II. That he <i>did that which was right in
the sight of the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.2" parsed="|2Kgs|22|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. See the sovereignty of divine grace—the father
passed by and left to perish in his sin, the son a chosen vessel.
See the triumphs of that grace—Josiah born of a wicked father, no
good education nor good example given him, but many about him who
no doubt advised him to tread in his father's steps and few that
gave him any good counsel, and yet the grace of God made him an
eminent saint, <i>cut him off from the wild olive</i> and
<i>grafted him into the good olive,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.24" parsed="|Rom|11|24|0|0" passage="Ro 11:24">Rom. xi. 24</scripRef>. Nothing is too hard for that
grace to do. He walked in a good way, and turned not aside (as some
of his predecessors had done who began well) <i>to the right hand
nor to the left.</i> There are errors on both hands, but God kept
him in the right way; he fell neither into superstition nor
profaneness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p6">III. That he took care for the repair of
the temple. This he did in the eighteenth year of his reign,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.3" parsed="|2Kgs|22|3|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Compare
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.34.8" parsed="|2Chr|34|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 34:8">2 Chron. xxxiv. 8</scripRef>. He began
much sooner to <i>seek the Lord</i> (as appears, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.34.3" parsed="|2Chr|34|3|0|0" passage="2Ch 34:3">2 Chron. xxxiv. 3</scripRef>), but it is to be feared
the work of reformation went slowly on and met with much
opposition, so that he could not effect what he desired and
designed, till his power was thoroughly confirmed. The
consideration of the time we unavoidably lost in our minority
should quicken us, when we have come to years, to act with so much
the more vigour in the service of God. Having begun late we have
need work hard. He sent Shaphan, the secretary of state, to Hilkiah
the high priest, to take an account of the money that was collected
for this use by the door-keepers (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.4" parsed="|2Kgs|22|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>); for, it seems, they took much
the same way of raising the money that Joash took, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.12.9" parsed="|2Kgs|12|9|0|0" passage="2Ki 12:9"><i>ch.</i> xii. 9</scripRef>. When people gave
by a little at a time the burden was insensible, and, the
contribution being voluntary, it was not complained of. This money,
so collected, he ordered him to lay out for the repair of the
temple, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.5-2Kgs.22.6" parsed="|2Kgs|22|5|22|6" passage="2Ki 22:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>.
And now, it seems, the workmen (as in the days of Joash) acquitted
themselves so well that <i>there was no reckoning made with
them</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.7" parsed="|2Kgs|22|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>),
which is certainly mentioned to the praise of the workmen, that
they gained such a reputation for honesty, but whether to the
praise of those that employed them I know not; a man should count
money (we say) after his own father; it would not have been amiss
to have <i>reckoned with the workmen,</i> that others also might be
satisfied of their honesty.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p7">IV. That, in repairing the temple, <i>the
book of the law</i> was happily found and brought to the king,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.8 Bible:2Kgs.22.10" parsed="|2Kgs|22|8|0|0;|2Kgs|22|10|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:8,10"><i>v.</i> 8, 10</scripRef>. Some
think this book was the autograph, or original manuscript, of the
five books of Moses, under his own hand; others think it was only
an ancient and authentic copy. Most likely it was that which, by
the command of Moses, was laid up in the most holy place, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.21.24-Deut.21.26" parsed="|Deut|21|24|21|26" passage="De 21:24-26">Deut. xxxi. 24</scripRef>, &amp;c. 1. It
seems, this book of the law was lost or missing. Perhaps it was
carelessly mislaid and neglected, thrown by into a corner (as some
throw their Bibles), by those that knew not the value of it, and
forgotten there; or it was maliciously concealed by some of the
idolatrous kings, or their agents, who were restrained by the
providence of God or their own consciences from burning and
destroying it, but buried it, in hopes it would never see the light
again; or, as some think, it was carefully laid up by some of its
friends, lest it should fall into the hands of its enemies. Whoever
were the instruments of its preservation, we ought to acknowledge
the hand of God in it. If this was the only authentic copy of the
Pentateuch then in being, which had (as I may say) so narrow a turn
for its life and was so near perishing, I wonder the hearts of all
good people did not tremble for that sacred treasure, as Eli's for
the ark, and I am sure we now have reason to thank God, upon our
knees, for that happy providence by which Hilkiah found this book
at this time, found it when <i>he sought it not,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.65.1" parsed="|Isa|65|1|0|0" passage="Isa 65:1">Isa. lxv. 1</scripRef>. If the holy scriptures
had not been of God, they would not have been in being at this day;
God's care of the Bible is a plain indication of his interest in
it. 2. Whether this was the only authentic copy in being or no, it
seems the things contained in it were new both to the king himself
and to the high priest; for the king, upon the reading of it, rent
his clothes. We have reason to think that neither the command for
the king's writing a copy of the law, nor that for the public
reading of the law every seventh year (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.17.18 Bible:Deut.31.10-Deut.31.11" parsed="|Deut|17|18|0|0;|Deut|31|10|31|11" passage="De 17:18,31:10,11">Deut. xvii. 18; xxxi. 10, 11</scripRef>), had
been observed for a long time; and when the instituted means of
keeping up religion are neglected religion itself will soon go to
decay. Yet, on the other hand, if the book of the law was lost, it
seems difficult to determine what rule Josiah went by in doing that
which was <i>right in the sight of the Lord,</i> and how the
priests and people kept up the rites of their religion. I am apt to
think that the people generally took up with abstracts of the law,
like our abridgements of the statutes, which the priests, to save
themselves the trouble of writing and the people of reading the
book at large, had furnished them with—a sort of ritual, directing
them in the observances of their religion, but leaving out what
they thought fit, and particularly the promises and threatenings
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.1-Lev.26.14 Bible:Deut.28.1-Deut.28.68" parsed="|Lev|26|1|26|14;|Deut|28|1|28|68" passage="Le 26:1-14,De 28:1-68">Lev. xxvi. and Deut.
xxviii.</scripRef>, &amp;c.), for I observe that these were the
portions of the law which Josiah was so much affected with
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.13" parsed="|2Kgs|22|13|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), for these
were new to him. No summaries, extracts, or collections, out of the
Bible (though they may have their use) can be effectual to convey
and preserve the knowledge of God and his will like the Bible
itself. It was no marvel that the people were so corrupt when the
book of the law was such a scarce thing among them; where that
vision is not the people perish. Those that endeavoured to debauch
them no doubt used all the arts they could to get that book out of
their hands. The church of Rome could not keep up the use of images
but by forbidding the use of the scripture. 3. It was a great
instance of God's favour, and a token for good to Josiah and his
people, that the book of the law was thus seasonably brought to
light, to direct and quicken that blessed reformation which Josiah
had begun. It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a people
when he magnifies his law among them and makes that honourable, and
furnishes them with means for the increase of scripture-knowledge.
The translating of the scriptures into vulgar tongues was the
glory, strength, and joy of the Reformation from Popery. It is
observable that they were about a good work, repairing the temple,
when they found the book of the law. Those that do their duty
according to their knowledge shall have their knowledge increased.
To him that hath shall be given. The book of the law was an
abundant recompence for all their care and cost about the repair of
the temple. 4. Hilkiah the priest was exceedingly well pleased with
the discovery. "O," says he to Shaphan, "rejoice with me, for <i>I
have found the book of the law,</i> <b><i>eureka,
eureka,</i></b>—<i>I have found, I have found,</i> that jewel of
inestimable value. Here, carry it to the king; it is the richest
jewel of his crown. Read it before him. He walks in <i>the way of
David his father,</i> and, if he be like him, he will love the book
of the law and bid that welcome; that will be his delight and his
counsellor."</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xxiii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.11-2Kgs.22.20" parsed="|2Kgs|22|11|22|20" passage="2Ki 22:11-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.22.11-2Kgs.22.20">
<h4 id="iiKi.xxiii-p7.8">The Ruin of Judah Foretold; the Favour Shown
to Josiah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p7.9">b. c.</span> 623.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8">11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard
the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.  
12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of
Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe,
and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,   13 Go ye,
enquire of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8.1">Lord</span> for me, and for
the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book
that is found: for great <i>is</i> the wrath of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8.2">Lord</span> that is kindled against us, because our
fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do
according unto all that which is written concerning us.   14
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and
Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the
son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she
dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
  15 And she said unto them, Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8.3">Lord</span> God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you
to me,   16 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8.4">Lord</span>, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place,
and upon the inhabitants thereof, <i>even</i> all the words of the
book which the king of Judah hath read:   17 Because they have
forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they
might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands;
therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall
not be quenched.   18 But to the king of Judah which sent you
to enquire of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8.5">Lord</span>, thus shall
ye say to him, Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8.6">Lord</span>
God of Israel, <i>As touching</i> the words which thou hast heard;
  19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled
thyself before the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8.7">Lord</span>, when thou
heardest what I spake against this place, and against the
inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a
curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have
heard <i>thee,</i> saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxiii-p8.8">Lord</span>.
  20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers,
and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes
shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And
they brought the king word again.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p9">We hear no more of the repairing of the
temple: no doubt that good work went on well; but the book of the
law that was found in it occupies us now, and well it may. It is
not laid up in the king's cabinet as a piece of antiquity, a rarity
to be admired, but it is read before the king. Those put the truest
honour upon their Bibles that study them and converse with them
daily, feed on that bread and walk by that light. Men of honour and
business must look upon an acquaintance with God's word to be their
best business and honour. Now here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p10">I. The impressions which the reading of the
law made upon Josiah. He rent his clothes, as one ashamed of the
sin of his people and afraid of the wrath of God; he had long
thought the case of his kingdom bad, by reason of the idolatries
and impieties that had been found among them, but he never thought
it so bad as he perceived it to be by the book of the law now read
to him. The rending of his clothes signified the rending of his
heart for the dishonour done to God, and the ruin he saw coming
upon his people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p11">II. The application he made to God
hereupon: <i>Go, enquire of the Lord for me,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.13" parsed="|2Kgs|22|13|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p12">1. Two things we may suppose he desired to
know:—"Enquire, (1.) What we shall do; what course we shall take
to turn away God's wrath and prevent the judgments which our sins
have deserved." Convictions of sin and wrath should put us upon
this enquiry, <i>What shall we do to be saved? Wherewithal shall we
come before the Lord?</i> If you will thus enquire, enquire
quickly, before it be too late. (2.) "What we may expect and must
provide for." He acknowledges, "<i>Our fathers have not hearkened
to the words of this book;</i> if this be the rule of right,
certainly our fathers have been much in the wrong." Now that <i>the
commandment came sin revived,</i> and appeared sin; in the glass of
the law, he saw the sins of his people more numerous and more
heinous than he had before seen them, and more exceedingly sinful.
He infers hence, "Certainly <i>great is the wrath that is kindled
against us;</i> if this be the word of God, as no doubt it is, and
he will be true to his word, as no doubt he will be, we are all
undone. I never thought the threatenings of the law so severe, and
the curses of the covenant so terrible, as now I find them to be;
it is time to look about us if these be in force against us." Note,
Those who are truly apprehensive of the weight of God's wrath
cannot but be very solicitous to obtain his favour, and inquisitive
how they may make their peace with him. Magistrates should enquire
for their people, and study how to prevent the judgments of God
that they see hanging over them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p13">2. This enquiry Josiah sent, (1.) By some
of his great men, who are named <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.12" parsed="|2Kgs|22|12|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>, and again <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.14" parsed="|2Kgs|22|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Thus he put an honour upon the
oracle, by employing those of the first rank to attend it. (2.) To
Huldah the prophetess, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.14" parsed="|2Kgs|22|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>. The spirit of prophecy, that inestimable treasure,
was sometimes put not only into <i>earthen</i> vessels, but into
the <i>weaker</i> vessels, <i>that the excellency of the power
might be of God.</i> Miriam helped to lead Israel out of Egypt
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Mic.6.4" parsed="|Mic|6|4|0|0" passage="Mic 6:4">Mic. vi. 4</scripRef>), Deborah judged
them, and now Huldah instructed them in the mind of God, and her
being a wife was no prejudice at all to her being a prophetess;
<i>marriage is honourable in all.</i> It was a mercy to Jerusalem
that when Bibles were scarce they had prophets, as afterwards, when
prophecy ceased, that they had more Bibles; for God never leaves
himself without witness, because he will leave sinners without
excuse. Jeremiah and Zephaniah prophesied at this time, yet the
king's messengers made Huldah their oracle, probably because her
husband having a place at court (for he was keeper of the wardrobe)
they had had more and longer acquaintance with her and greater
assurances of her commission than of any other; they had, it is
likely, consulted her upon other occasions, and had found that the
word of God in her mouth was truth. She was near, for she dwelt at
Jerusalem, in a place called <i>Mishneh,</i> the second rank of
buildings from the royal palace. The Jews say that she prophesied
among the women, the court ladies, being herself one of them, who
it is probable had their apartments in that place. Happy the court
that had a prophetess within the verge of it, and knew how to value
her.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p14">III. The answer he received from God to his
enquiry. Huldah returned it not in the language of a
courtier—"Pray give my humble service to his Majesty, and let him
know that this is the message I have for him from the God of
Israel;" but in the dialect of a prophetess, speaking from him
before whom all stand upon the same level—<i>Tell the man that
sent you to me,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.15" parsed="|2Kgs|22|15|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. Even kings, though gods to us, are men to God, and
shall so be dealt with; for <i>with him there is no respect of
persons.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p15">1. She let him know what judgments God had
in store for Judah and Jerusalem (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.16-2Kgs.22.17" parsed="|2Kgs|22|16|22|17" passage="2Ki 22:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>): <i>My wrath shall be
kindled against this place;</i> and what is hell itself but the
fire of God's wrath kindled against sinners? Observe, (1.) The
degree and duration of it. It is so kindled that <i>it shall not be
quenched;</i> the decree has gone forth; it is too late now to
think of preventing it; the iniquity of Jerusalem shall not be
purged with sacrifice or offering. Hell is unquenchable fire. (2.)
The reference it has, [1.] To their sins: "They have committed
them, as it were, with design, and on purpose to provoke me to
anger. It is a fire of their own kindling; they would provoke me,
and at length I am provoked." [2.] To God's threatenings: "The evil
I bring is according to the words of the book which the king of
Judah has read; the scripture is fulfilled in it. Those that would
not be bound by the precept shall be bound by the penalty." God
will be found no less terrible to impenitent sinners than his word
makes him to be.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxiii-p16">2. She let him know what mercy God had in
store for him. (1.) Notice is taken of his great tenderness and
concern for the glory of God and the welfare of his kingdom
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.19" parsed="|2Kgs|22|19|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>): <i>Thy
heart was tender.</i> Note, God will distinguish those that
distinguish themselves. The generality of the people were hardened
and their hearts unhumbled, so were the wicked kings his
predecessors, but Josiah's heart was tender. He received the
impressions of God's word, trembled at it and yielded to it; he was
exceedingly grieved for the dishonour done to God by the sins of
his fathers and of his people; he was afraid of the judgments of
God, which he saw coming upon Jerusalem, and earnestly deprecated
them. This is tenderness of heart, and thus he <i>humbled himself
before the Lord,</i> and expressed these pious affections by
rending his clothes and weeping before God, probably in his closet;
but he that sees in secret says it was <i>before him,</i> and he
heard it, and put every tear of tenderness into his bottle. Note,
Those that most fear God's wrath are least likely to feel it. It
should seem that those words (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.32" parsed="|Lev|26|32|0|0" passage="Le 26:32">Lev.
xxvi. 32</scripRef>) much affected Josiah, <i>I will bring the land
into desolation;</i> for when he heard of <i>the desolation and of
the curse,</i> that is, that God would forsake them and <i>separate
them to evil</i> (for till it came to that they were neither
desolate nor accursed), then he rent his clothes: the threatening
went to his heart. (2.) A reprieve is granted till after his death
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.22.20" parsed="|2Kgs|22|20|0|0" passage="2Ki 22:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): <i>I will
gather thee to thy fathers.</i> The saints then, no doubt, had a
comfortable prospect of happiness on the other side death, else
being gathered to their fathers would not have been so often made
the matter of a promise as we find it was. Josiah could not prevail
to prevent the judgment itself, but God promised him he should not
live to see it, which (especially considering that he died in the
midst of his days, before he was forty years old) would have been
but a small reward for his eminent piety if there had not been
another world in which he should be abundantly recompensed,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.16" parsed="|Heb|11|16|0|0" passage="Heb 11:16">Heb. xi. 16</scripRef>. When the
righteous is <i>taken away from the evil to come he enters into
peace,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxiii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.57.1-Isa.57.2" parsed="|Isa|57|1|57|2" passage="Isa 57:1,2">Isa. lvii. 1,
2</scripRef>. This is promised to Josiah here: <i>Thou shalt go to
thy grave in peace,</i> which refers not to the manner of his death
(for he was killed in a battle), but to the time of it; it was a
little before the captivity in Babylon, that great trouble, in
comparison with which the rest were as nothing, so that he might be
truly said to die in peace that did not live to share in that. He
died in the love and favour of God, which secure such a peace as no
circumstances of dying, no, not dying in the field of war, could
alter the nature of, or break in upon.</p>
</div></div2>