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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. XXVIII.</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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This chapter is the history of the reign of Ahaz the son of Jotham; a
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bad reign it was, and which helped to augment the fierce anger of the
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Lord. We have here,
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I. His great wickedness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. The trouble he brought himself into by it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:5-8">ver. 5-8</A>.
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III. The reproof which God sent by a prophet to the army of Israel for
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trampling upon their brethren of Judah, and the obedient ear they gave
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to that reproof,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:9-15">ver. 9-15</A>.
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IV. The many calamities that followed to Ahaz and his people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:16-21">ver. 16-21</A>.
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V. The continuance of his idolatry notwithstanding
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:22-25">ver. 22-25</A>),
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and so his story ends,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:26,27">ver. 26, 27</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_5"> </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>The Wickedness of Ahaz.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 738.</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 Ahaz <I>was</I> twenty years old when he began to reign, and he
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reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not <I>that which
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was</I> right in the sight of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, like David his father:
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2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made
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also molten images for Baalim.
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3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom,
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and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the
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heathen whom the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had cast out before the children of Israel.
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4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and
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on the hills, and under every green tree.
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5 Wherefore the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> his God delivered him into the hand of the
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king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great
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multitude of them captives, and brought <I>them</I> to Damascus. And
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he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who
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smote him with a great slaughter.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Never surely had a man greater opportunity of doing well than Ahaz had,
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finding things in a good posture, the kingdom rich and strong and
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religion established; and yet here we have him in these few verses,
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1. Wretchedly corrupted and debauched. He had had a good education
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given him and a good example set him: but parents cannot give grace to
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their children. All the instructions he had were lost upon him: <I>He
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did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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nay, he did a great deal that was wrong, a wrong to God, to his own
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soul, and to his people; he walked in the way of the revolted
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Israelites and the devoted Canaanites, made molten images and
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worshipped them, contrary to the second commandment; nay, he made them
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for Baalim, contrary to the first commandment. He forsook the temple of
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the Lord and sacrificed and burnt incense on the hills, as if they
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would place him nearer heaven, and under every green tree, as if they
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would signify the protection and influence of heaven by their shade and
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dropping. To complete his wickedness, as one perfectly divested of all
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natural affection as well as religion and perfectly devoted to the
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service and interest of the great enemy of mankind, he <I>burnt his
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children in the fire to Moloch</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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not thinking it enough to dedicate them to that infernal fiend by
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causing them to pass through the fire. See what an absolute sway the
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prince of the power of the air bears among the children of
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disobedience.
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2. Wretchedly spoiled and made a prey of. When he forsook God, and at
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a vast expense put himself under the protection of false gods, God, who
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of right was his God, delivered him into the hands of his enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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(1.) The Syrians insulted him and triumphed over him, beat him in the
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field and carried away a great many of his people into captivity.
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(2.) The king of Israel, though an idolater too, was made a scourge to
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him, and <I>smote him with a great slaughter.</I> The people suffered
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by these judgments: their blood was shed, their country wasted, their
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families ruined; for when they had a good king, though <I>they did
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corruptly</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+27:2"><I>ch.</I> xxvii. 2</A>),
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yet then his goodness sheltered them; but now that they had a bad one
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all the defence had departed from them and an inundation of judgments
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broke in upon them. Those that knew not their happiness in the
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foregoing reign were taught to value it by the miseries of this
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reign.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch27_11"> </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>The King of Israel Defeats Ahaz.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 738.</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>6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and
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twenty thousand in one day, <I>which were</I> all valiant men; because
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they had forsaken the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of their fathers.
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7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's
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son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah <I>that
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was</I> next to the king.
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8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their
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brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and
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took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to
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Samaria.
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9 But a prophet of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was there, whose name <I>was</I> Oded:
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and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said
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unto them, Behold, because the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of your fathers was wroth
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with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have
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slain them in a rage <I>that</I> reacheth up unto heaven.
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10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and
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Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: <I>but are there</I> not
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with you, even with you, sins against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God?
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11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which
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ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> upon you.
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12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim,
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Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth,
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and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai,
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stood up against them that came from the war,
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13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives
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hither: for whereas we have offended against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>already,</I>
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ye intend to add <I>more</I> to our sins and to our trespass: for our
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trespass is great, and <I>there is</I> fierce wrath against Israel.
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14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the
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princes and all the congregation.
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15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took
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the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked
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among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat
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and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of
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them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm
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trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,</P>
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<P>
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I. Treacherous Judah under the rebukes of God's providence, and they
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are very severe. Never was such bloody work made among them since they
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were a kingdom, and by Israelites too. Ahaz walked in the ways of the
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kings of Israel, and the king of Israel was the instrument God made use
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of for his punishment. It is just with God to make those our plagues
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whom we make our patterns or make ourselves partners with in sin. A war
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broke out between Judah and Israel, in which Judah was worsted. For,
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1. There was a great slaughter of men in the field of battle. Vast
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numbers (120,000 men, and valiant men too at other times) were slain
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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and some of the first rank, the king's son for one. He had sacrificed
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some of this sons to Moloch; justly therefore is this sacrificed to the
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divine vengeance. Here is another that was <I>next the king,</I> his
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friend, the prime-minister of state, or perhaps next him in the battle,
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so that the king himself had a narrow escape,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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The kingdom of Israel was not strong at this time, and yet strong
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enough to bring this great destruction upon Judah. But certainly so
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many men, great men, stout men, could not have been cut off in one day
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if they had not been strangely dispirited both by the consciousness of
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their own guilt and by the righteous hand of God upon them. Even
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valiant men were numbered <I>as sheep for the slaughter,</I> and became
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an easy prey to the enemy <I>because they had forsaken the Lord God of
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their fathers,</I> and he had therefore forsaken them.
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2. There was a great captivity of <I>women and children,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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When the army in the field was routed, the cities, and towns, and
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country villages, were all easily stripped, the inhabitants taken for
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slaves, and their wealth for a prey.</P>
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<P>
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II. Even victorious Israel under the rebuke of God's word for the bad
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principle they had gone upon in making war with Judah and the bad use
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they had made of their success, and the good effect of this rebuke.
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Here is,</P>
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<P>
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1. The message which God sent them by a prophet, who went out to meet
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them, not to applaud their valour or congratulate them on their
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victory, though they returned laden with spoils and triumphs, but in
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God's name to tell them of their faults and warn them of the judgments
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of God.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) He told them how they came by this victory of which they were so
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proud. It was not because God favoured them, or that they had merited
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it at his hand, but <I>because he was wroth with Judah,</I> and made
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them the rod of his indignation. <I>Not for your righteousness,</I> be
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it known to you, but <I>for their wickedness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+9:5">Deut. ix. 5</A>)
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<I>they are broken off;</I> therefore <I>be not you high-minded, but
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fear lest God also spare not you,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:20,21">Rom. xi. 20, 21</A>.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) He charged them with the abuse of the power God had given them
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over their brethren. Those understand not what victory is who think it
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gives them authority to do what they will, and that the longest sword
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is the clearest claim to lives and estates (<I>Jusque datum
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sceleri</I>--<I>might is right</I>); no, as it is impolitic not to use a
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victory, so it is impious to abuse it. The conquerors are here
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reproved,
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[1.] For the cruelty of the slaughter they had made in the field. They
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had indeed <I>shed the blood of war in war;</I> we suppose that to be
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lawful, but it turned into sin to them, because they did it from a bad
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principle of enmity to their brethren and after a bad manner, with a
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barbarous fury, <I>a rage reaching up to heaven,</I> that is, that
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cried to God for vengeance against such bloody men, that delighted in
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military execution. Those that serve God's justice, if they do it with
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rage and a spirit of revenge, make themselves obnoxious to it, and
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forfeit the honour of acting for him; <I>for the wrath of man worketh
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not the righteousness of God.</I>
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[2.] For the imperious treatment they gave their prisoners. "<I>You now
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purpose to keep them under,</I> to use them or sell them as slaves,
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though they are your brethren and free-born Israelites." God takes
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notice of what men purpose, as well as of what they say and do.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) He reminded them of their own sins, by which they also were
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obnoxious to the wrath of God: <I>Are there not with you, even with
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you, sins against the Lord your God?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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He appeals to their own consciences, and to the notorious evidence of
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the thing. "Though you are now made the instruments of correcting Judah
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for sin, yet do not think that you are therefore innocent yourselves;
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no, you also are guilty before God." This is intended as a check,
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[1.] To their triumph in their success. "You are sinners, and it ill
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becomes sinners to be proud; you have carried the day now, but be not
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secure, the wheel may ere long return upon yourselves, for, if judgment
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begin thus with those that have <I>the house of God</I> among them,
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what shall be the end of such as worship the calves?"
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[2.] To their severity towards their brethren. "You have now got them
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under, but you ought to show mercy to them, for you yourselves are
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undone if you do not find mercy with God. It ill becomes sinners to be
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cruel. You have transgressions enough to answer for already, and need
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not add this to the rest."</P>
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<P>
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(4.) He commanded them to release the prisoners, and to send them home
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again carefully
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>);
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"for you having sinned, <I>the fierce wrath of God is upon you,</I> and
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there is no other way of escaping it than by showing mercy."</P>
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<P>
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2. The resolution of the princes thereupon not to detain the prisoners.
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They <I>stood up against those that came from the war,</I> though
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flushed with victory, and told them plainly that they should not bring
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their captives into Samaria,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
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They had sin enough already to answer for, and would have nothing done
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to add to their trespass. In this they discovered an obedient regard to
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the word of God by his prophet and a tender compassion towards their
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brethren, which was wrought in them by the tender mercy of God; for he
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regarded the affliction of this poor people, and hears their cry, and
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<I>made them to be pitied of all those that carried them captive,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:44,46">Ps. cvi. 44, 46</A>.</P>
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<P>
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3. The compliance of the soldiers with the resolutions of the princes
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in this matter, and the dismission of the captives thereupon.
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(1.) The armed men, though being armed they might be force have
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maintained their title to what they got by the sword, acquiesced, and
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left their captives and the spoil to the disposal of <I>the princes</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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and herein they showed more truly heroic bravery than they did in
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taking them. It is a great honour for any man to yield to the authority
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of reason and religion against his interest.
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(2.) The princes very generously sent home the poor captives well
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accommodated,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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Those that hope to find mercy with God must learn hence with what
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tenderness to carry themselves towards those that lie at their mercy.
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It is strange that these princes, who in this instance discovered such
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a deference to the word of God, and such an influence upon the people,
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had not so much grace as, in obedience to the calls of God by so many
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prophets, to root idolatry out of their kingdom, which, soon after
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this, was the ruin of it.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Death of Ahaz.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 738.</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>16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to
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help him.
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17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and
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carried away captives.
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18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low
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country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh,
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and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof,
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and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages
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thereof: and they dwelt there.
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19 For the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of
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Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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20 And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and
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distressed him, but strengthened him not.
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21 For Ahaz took away a portion <I>out</I> of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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and <I>out</I> of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave
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<I>it</I> unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
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22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more
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against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: this <I>is that</I> king Ahaz.
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23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote
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him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help
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them, <I>therefore</I> will I sacrifice to them, that they may help
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me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
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24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God,
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and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up
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the doors of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and he made him altars in
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every corner of Jerusalem.
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25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to
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burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God
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of his fathers.
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26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and
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last, behold, they <I>are</I> written in the book of the kings of
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Judah and Israel.
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27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
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city, <I>even</I> in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the
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sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned
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in his stead.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The great distress which the kingdom of Ahaz was reduced to for his
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sin. In general,
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1. <I>The Lord brought Judah low,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
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They had lately been very high in wealth and power; but God found means
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to bring them down, and make them as despicable as they had been
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formidable. Those that will not humble themselves under the word of God
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will justly be humbled by his judgments. Iniquity <I>brings men
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low,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:43">Ps. cvi. 43</A>.
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2. Ahaz made Judah naked. As his sin debased them, so it exposed them.
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It made them naked to their shame; for it exposed them to contempt, as
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a man unclothed. It made them naked to their danger; for it exposed
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them to assaults, as a man unarmed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+32:25">Exod. xxxii. 25</A>.
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Sin strips men. In particular, the Edomites, to be revenged for
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Amaziah's cruel treatment of them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+25:12"><I>ch.</I> xxv. 12</A>),
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smote Judah, and carried off many captives,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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The Philistines also insulted them, took and kept possession of several
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cities and villages that lay near them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
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and so they were revenged for the incursions which Uzziah had made upon
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+26:6"><I>ch.</I> xxvi. 6</A>.
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And, to show that it was purely the sin of Ahaz that brought the
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Philistines upon his country, in the very year that he died the prophet
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Isaiah foretold the destruction of the Philistines by his son,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+14:28,29">Isa. xiv. 28, 29</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The addition which Ahaz made both to the national distress and the
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national guilt.</P>
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<P>
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1. He added to the distress, by making court to strange kings, in hopes
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they would relieve him. When the Edomites and Philistines were
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vexatious to him, <I>he sent to the kings of Assyria to help him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
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for he found his own kingdom weakened and made naked, and he could not
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put any confidence in God, and therefore was at a vast expense to get
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an interest in the king of Assyria. He pillaged the house of God, and
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the king's house, and squeezed the princes for money to hire these
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foreign forces into his service,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
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Though he had conformed to the idolatry of the heathen nations, his
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neighbours, they did not value him for that, nor love him the better,
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nor did his compliance, by which he lost God, gain them, nor could he
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make any interest in them, but with his money. It is often found that
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wicked men themselves have no real affection for those that revolt to
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them, nor do they care to do them a kindness. A degenerate branch is
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looked upon, on all sides, as <I>an abominable branch,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+14:19">Isa. xiv. 19</A>.
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But what did Ahaz get by the king of Assyria? Why, he <I>came to
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him,</I> but he <I>distressed him,</I> and <I>strengthened him not</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
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<I>helped him not,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
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The forces of the Assyrian quartered upon his country, and so
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impoverished and weakened it; they grew insolent and imperious, and
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created him a great deal of vexation, like a broken reed, which not
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only fails, but pierces the hand.</P>
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<P>
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2. He added to the guilt, by making court to strange gods, in hopes
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they would relieve him. In his distress, instead of repenting of his
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idolatry, which he had reason enough to see the folly of, <I>he
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trespassed yet more</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
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was more mad than ever upon his idols. A brand of infamy is here set
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upon him for it: <I>This is that king Ahaz,</I> that wretched man, who
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|
was the scandal of the house of David and the curse and plague of his
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generation. Note, Those are wicked and vile indeed that are made worse
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|
by their afflictions, instead of being made better by them, who <I>in
|
|
their distress trespass yet more,</I> have their corruptions
|
|
exasperated by that which should mollify them, and their hearts more
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|
<I>fully set in them to do evil.</I> Let us see what his trespass was.
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(1.) He abused the house of God; for he <I>cut in pieces the
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vessels</I> of it, that the priests might not perform the service of
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the temple, or not as it should be performed, for want of vessels; and,
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at length, he <I>shut up the doors,</I> that the people might not
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attend it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
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This was worse than the worst of the kings before him had done.
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(2.) He confronted the altar of God, for he <I>made himself altars in
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every corner of Jerusalem;</I> so that, as the prophet speaks, they
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were like <I>heaps in the furrows of the fields,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+12:11">Hos. xii. 11</A>.
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And in the cities of Judah, either by his power or by his purse,
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perhaps by both, he erected high places for the people to burn incense
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to what idols they pleased, as if on purpose to <I>provoke the God of
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his fathers,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
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(3.) He cast off God himself; for he <I>sacrificed to the gods of
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Damascus</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
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not because he loved them, for he thought they smote him; but because
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he feared them, thinking that they helped his enemies, and that, if he
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|
could bring them into his interest, they would help him. Foolish man!
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|
It was his own God that smote him and strengthened the Syrians against
|
|
him, not the gods of Damascus; had he sacrificed to him, and to him
|
|
only, he would have helped him. But no marvel that men's affections and
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|
devotions are misplaced when they mistake the author of their trouble
|
|
and their help. And what comes of it? The gods of Syria befriend Ahaz
|
|
no more than the kings of Assyria did; they were <I>the ruin of him and
|
|
of all Israel.</I> This sin provoked God to bring judgments upon them,
|
|
to cut him off in the midst of his days, when he was but thirty-six
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|
years old; and it debauched the people so that the reformation of the
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|
next reign could not prevail to cure them of their inclination to
|
|
idolatry, but they retained that root of bitterness till the captivity
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|
in Babylon plucked it up.</P>
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<P>
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The chapter concludes with the conclusion of the reign of Ahaz,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:26,27"><I>v.</I> 26, 27</A>.
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For aught that appears, he died impenitent, and therefore died
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|
inglorious; for he was not buried <I>in the sepulchres of the
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|
kings.</I> Justly was he thought unworthy to be laid among them who was
|
|
so unlike them--to be buried with kings who had used his kingly power
|
|
for the destruction of the church and not for its protection or
|
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edification.</P>
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