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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Never surely did any kingdom change its king so much for the worse as
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Judah did, when Jehoram, one of the vilest, succeeded Jehoshaphat, one
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of the best. Thus were they punished for not making a better use of
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Jehoshaphat's good government, and their disaffectedness (or coldness
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at least) to his reformation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+20:33"><I>ch.</I> xx. 33</A>.
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Those that knew not now to value a good king are justly plagued with a
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bad one. Here is,
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I. Jehoram's elevation to the throne,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. The wicked course he took to establish himself in it, by the
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murder of his brethren,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:4">ver. 4</A>.
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III. The idolatries and other wickedness he was guilty of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:5,6,11">ver. 5, 6, 11</A>.
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IV. The prophecy of Elijah against him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:12-15">ver. 12-15</A>.
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V. The judgments of God upon him, in the revolt of his subjects from
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him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:8-10">ver. 8-10</A>)
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and the success of his enemies against him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:16,17">ver. 16, 17</A>.
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VI. His miserable sickness and inglorious exit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:18-20">ver. 18-20</A>.
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VII. The preservation of the house of David notwithstanding,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:7">ver. 7</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jehoram's Wicked Reign.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 889.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with
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his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in
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his stead.
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2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and
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Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah:
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all these <I>were</I> the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
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3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of
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gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but
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the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he <I>was</I> the firstborn.
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4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father,
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he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the
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sword, and <I>divers</I> also of the princes of Israel.
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5 Jehoram <I>was</I> thirty and two years old when he began to
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reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
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6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did
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the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and
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he wrought <I>that which was</I> evil in the eyes of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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7 Howbeit the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> would not destroy the house of David,
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because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he
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promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
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8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of
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Judah, and made themselves a king.
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9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his
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chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the
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Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the
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chariots.
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10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto
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this day. The same time <I>also</I> did Libnah revolt from under his
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hand; because he had forsaken the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of his fathers.
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11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and
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caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and
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compelled Judah <I>thereto.</I>
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We find here,</P>
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<P>
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I. That Jehoshaphat was a very careful indulgent father to Jehoram. He
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had many sons, who are here named
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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and it is said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>)
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that they were better than Jehoram, had a great deal more wisdom and
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virtue, and lived up to their education, which he went counter to. They
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were very hopeful, and any of them more fit for the crown than he; and
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yet, because he was the first-born
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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his father secured the kingdom to him, and portioned his brethren and
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disposed of them so as that they would be easy and give him no
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disturbance; as Abraham, when he made Isaac his heir, dismissed his
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other children with gifts. Herein Jehoshaphat was very kind and fair to
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his son, which might have obliged him to be respectful to him, and
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tread in the steps of so good a father. But it is no new thing for the
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children that have been most indulged by their parents to be least
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dutiful to them. Whether in doing this he acted wisely and well for his
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people, and was just to them, I cannot say. His birthright entitled him
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to a double portion of his father's estate,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+21:171">Deut. xxi. 17</A>.
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But if he appeared utterly unfit for government (the end of which is
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the good of the people), and likely to undo all that his father had
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done, it would have been better perhaps to have set him aside, and
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taken the next that was hopeful, and not inclined as he was to
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idolatry. Power is a sacred thing, with which men may either do much
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good or much hurt; and therefore <I>Detur digniori</I>--<I>Let him that
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deserves it have it. Salus populi suprema lex</I>--<I>The security of
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the people is the first consideration.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. That Jehoram was a most barbarous brother to his father's sons. As
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soon as he had settled himself in the throne he slew all his brethren
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with the sword, either by false accusation, under colour of law, or
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rather by assassination. By some wicked hand or other he got them all
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murdered, pretending (it is likely) that he could not think himself
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safe in the government till they were taken out of the way. Those that
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mean ill themselves are commonly, without cause, jealous of those about
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them. The wicked fear where no fear is, or pretend to do so, in order
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to conceal their malice. Jehoram, it is likely, hated his brethren and
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slew them for the same reason that Cain hated Abel and slew him,
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because their piety condemned his impiety and won them that esteem with
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the people which he had lost. With them he slew divers of the princes
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of Israel, who adhered to them, or were likely to avenge their death.
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The princes of Judah, those who had taught the good knowledge of the
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Lord
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:7"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 7</A>),
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are here called princes of Israel, as before <I>fathers of Israel</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+19:8"><I>ch.</I> xix. 8</A>),
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because they were Israelites indeed, men of integrity. The sword which
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the good father had put into their hands this wicked son sheathed in
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their bowels. Woe unto him that thus <I>foundeth a kingdom in blood</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:12">Hab. ii. 12</A>);
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it will prove a foundation that will sink the superstructure.</P>
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<P>
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III. That Jehoram was a most wicked king, who corrupted and debauched
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his kingdom, and ruined the reformation that his good father and
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grandfather had carried on: He <I>walked in the way of the house of
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Ahab</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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made high places, which the people were of themselves too forward to
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make, and did his utmost to set up idolatry again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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1. As for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, where he kept his court, he
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easily drew them into his spiritual whoredom: He <I>caused them to
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commit fornication,</I> seducing them <I>to eat things sacrificed to
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idols,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:20">Rev. ii. 20</A>.
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2. The country people seem to have been brought to it with more
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difficulty; but those that would not be corrupted by flatteries were
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driven by force to partake in his abominable idolatries: He
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<I>compelled Judah thereto.</I> He used that power for the destruction
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of the church which was given him for the edification of it.</P>
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<P>
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IV. That when he forsook God and his worship his subjects withdrew from
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their allegiance to him.
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1. Some of the provinces abroad that were tributaries to him did so.
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The Edomites revolted
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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and, though he chastised them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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yet he could not reduce them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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2. One of the cities of his own kingdom did so. Libnah revolted
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
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and set up for a free state, as of old it had a king of its own,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+12:15">Josh. xii. 15</A>.
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And the reason is here given, not only why God permitted it, but why
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they did it; they shook off his government because he had forsaken the
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Lord God of his fathers, had become an idolater and a worshipper of
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false gods, and they could not continue subject to him without some
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danger of being themselves also drawn away from God and their duty.
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While he adhered to God they adhered to him; but, when he cast God off,
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they cast him off. Whether this reason will justify them in their
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revolt of no, it will justify God's providence which ordered it so.</P>
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<P>
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V. That yet God was tender of his covenant with the house of David, and
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therefore would not destroy the royal family, though it was so
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wretchedly corrupted and degenerated,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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These things we had before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+8:19-22">2 Kings viii. 19-22</A>.
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The tenour of the covenant was that David's seed should be visited for
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their transgressions, but the covenant should never be broken,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:30-37">Ps. lxxxix. 30</A>,
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&c.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch21_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jehoram's Miserable End.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 884.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet,
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saying, Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of David thy father, Because thou
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hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the
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ways of Asa king of Judah,
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13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast
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made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like
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to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy
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brethren of thy father's house, <I>which were</I> better than thyself:
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14 Behold, with a great plague will the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> smite thy people,
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and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
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15 And thou <I>shalt have</I> great sickness by disease of thy
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bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day
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by day.
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16 Moreover the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of
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the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that <I>were</I> near the
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Ethiopians:
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17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried
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away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and
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his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left
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him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
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18 And after all this the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> smote him in his bowels with an
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incurable disease.
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19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end
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of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so
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he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him,
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like the burning of his fathers.
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20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and
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he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being
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desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in
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the sepulchres of the kings.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,
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I. A warning from God sent to Jehoram by a writing from Elijah the
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prophet. By this it appears that Jehoram came to the throne, and showed
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himself what he was before Elijah's translation. It is true we find
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Elisha attending Jehoshaphat, and described as pouring water on the
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hands of Elijah, after the story of Elijah's translation
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+3:11">2 Kings iii. 11</A>);
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but that might be, and that description might be given of him, while
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Elijah was yet on earth: and it is certain that that history is put out
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of its proper place, for we read of Jehoshaphat's death, and Jehoram's
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coming to the crown, before we read of Elijah's translation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+22:50">1 Kings xxii. 50</A>.
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We will suppose that the time of his departure was at hand, so that he
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could not go in person to Jehoram; but that, hearing of his great
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wickedness in murdering his brethren, he left this writing it is
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probable with Elisha, to be sent him by the first opportunity, that it
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might either be a means to reclaim him or a witness against him that he
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was fairly told what would be in the end hereof. The message is sent
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him in the name of <I>the Lord God of David his father</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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upbraiding him with his relation to David as that which, though it was
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his honour, was an aggravation of his degeneracy.
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1. His crimes are plainly charged upon him--his departure from the good
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ways of God, in which he had been educated, and which he had been
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directed and encouraged to walk in by the example of his good father
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and grandfather, who lived and died in peace and honour
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>)--
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his conformity to the ways of the house of Ahab, that impious
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scandalous family--his setting up and enforcing idolatry in his
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kingdom--and his murdering his brethren because they were better than
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himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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These are the heads of the indictment against him.
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2. Judgment is given against him for these crimes; he is plainly told
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that his sin should certainly be the ruin,
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(1.) Of his kingdom and family
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
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"With a heavy stroke, even that of war and captivity, <I>will the Lord
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smite thy people and thy children,</I>" &c. Bad men bring God's
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|
judgments upon all about them. His people justly suffer because they
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|
had complied with his idolatry, and his wives because they had drawn
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|
him to it.
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(2.) Of his health and life: "Thou shalt have great sickness, very
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|
painful and tedious, and at last mortal,"
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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This he is warned of before, that his blood might be upon his own head,
|
|
the watchman having delivered his soul; and that when these things so
|
|
particularly foretold, came to pass, it might appear that they did not
|
|
come by chance, but as the punishment of his sins, and were so
|
|
intended. And now if, as he had learned of Ahab to do wickedly, he had
|
|
but learned even of Ahab to humble himself upon the receipt of this
|
|
threatening message from Elijah--if, like
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|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+21:27">1 Kings xxi. 27</A>),
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he had <I>rent his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted</I>--who knows
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|
but, like him, he might have obtained at least a reprieve? But it does
|
|
not appear that he took any notice of it; he threw it by as
|
|
waste-paper; Elijah seemed to him <I>as one that mocked.</I> But those
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|
that will not believe shall feel.</P>
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|
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<P>
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II. The threatened judgments brought upon him because he slighted the
|
|
warning. No marvel that hardened sinners are not frightened from sin
|
|
and to repentance by the threatenings of misery in another world, which
|
|
is future and out of sight, when the certain prospect of misery in this
|
|
world, the sinking of their estates and the ruin of their healths, will
|
|
not restrain them from vicious courses.</P>
|
|
|
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<P>
|
|
|
|
1. See Jehoram here stripped of all his comforts. God <I>stirred up the
|
|
spirit of his neighbours</I> against him, who had loved and feared
|
|
Jehoshaphat, but hated and despised him, looking upon it as a
|
|
scandalous thing for a nation to change their gods. Some occasion or
|
|
other they took to quarrel with him, invaded his country, but, as it
|
|
should seem, fought neither against small nor great, but the king's
|
|
house only; they made directly to that, and <I>carried away all the
|
|
substance that was found in it.</I> No mention is made of their
|
|
carrying any away captive but the <I>king's wives</I> and <I>his
|
|
sons,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus God made it evident that the controversy was with him and his
|
|
house. Here it is only said, They <I>carried away</I> his sons; but we
|
|
find
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+22:1"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 1</A>)
|
|
|
|
that they <I>slew them all.</I> Blood for blood. He had slain all his
|
|
brethren, to strengthen himself; and now all his sons are slain but
|
|
one, and so he is weakened. If he had not been of the house of David,
|
|
that one would not have escaped. When Jeroboam's house, and Baasha's,
|
|
and Ahab's, were destroyed, there was none left; but David's house must
|
|
not be wholly extirpated, though sometimes wretchedly degenerated,
|
|
because a blessing was in it, no less a blessing than that of the
|
|
Messiah.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. See him tormented with <I>sore diseases and of long continuance,</I>
|
|
such as were threatened in the law against those that would not <I>fear
|
|
the Lord their God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+28:58,59">Deut. xxviii. 58, 59</A>.
|
|
|
|
His disease was very grievous. It lay in his bowels, producing a
|
|
continual griping, and with this there was a complication of other sore
|
|
diseases. The affliction was moreover very tedious. Two years he
|
|
continued ill, and could get no relief; for the disease was incurable,
|
|
though he was in the prime of life, not forty years old. Asa, whose
|
|
heart was perfect with God though in some instances he stepped aside,
|
|
was diseased only in his feet; but Jehoram, whose heart was wicked, was
|
|
struck in his inwards, and he that had no bowels of compassion towards
|
|
his brethren was so plagued in his bowels that they fell out. Even good
|
|
men, and those who are very dear to God, may be afflicted with diseases
|
|
of this kind; but to them they are fatherly chastisements, and by the
|
|
support of divine consolations the soul may dwell at ease even then
|
|
when the body lies in pain. These sore diseases seized him just after
|
|
his house was plundered and his wives and children were carried away.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Perhaps his grief and anguish of mind for that calamity might
|
|
occasion his sickness, or at least contribute to the heightening of it.
|
|
|
|
(2.) By this sickness he was disabled to do any thing for the recovery
|
|
of them or the revenge of the injury done him.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It added, no doubt, very much to his grief, in his sickness, that
|
|
he was deprived of the society of his wives and children and that all
|
|
the substance of his house was carried away. To be sick and poor, sick
|
|
and solitary, but especially to be sick and in sin, sick and under the
|
|
curse of God, sick and destitute of grace to bear the affliction, and
|
|
of comfort to counter-balance it--is a most deplorable case.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. See him buried in disgrace. He reigned but eight years, and then
|
|
<I>departed without being desired,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
Nobody valued him while he lived, none lamented him when he died, but
|
|
all wished that no greater loss might ever come to Jerusalem. To show
|
|
what little affection or respect they had for him, they would not
|
|
<I>bury him in the sepulchres of the kings,</I> as thinking him
|
|
unworthy to be numbered among them who had governed so ill. The
|
|
excluding of his body from the sepulchres of his fathers might be
|
|
ordered by Providence as an intimation of the everlasting separation of
|
|
the souls of the wicked after death, from the spirits of just men. This
|
|
further disgrace they put upon him, that they <I>made no burning for
|
|
him, like the burning of his fathers,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+21:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
His memory was far from being sweet and precious to them, and therefore
|
|
they did not honour it with any sweet odours or precious spices, though
|
|
we may suppose that his dead body, after so long and loathsome a
|
|
disease, needed something to perfume it. The generality of the people,
|
|
though prone to idolatry, yet had no true kindness for their idolatrous
|
|
kings. Wickedness and profaneness make men despicable even in the eyes
|
|
of those who have but little religion themselves, while natural
|
|
conscience itself often gives honour to those who are truly pious.
|
|
Those that <I>despise God shall be lightly esteemed,</I> as Jehoram
|
|
was.</P>
|
|
|
|
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