Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	fervent_a	zeal_n	zealous_a	161	3	9.2158	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46811	Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that mights at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.	Jackson, Arthur, 1593?-1666.	1646 (1646)	Wing J65; ESTC R25554	997,926	828

kingdome so that till the one and thirtieth yeare of Asa he was not settled in the throne of Israel yet because he was first made king when he slew Zimri therefore it is added he reigned twelve yeares to wit from his first election for otherwise if we account his reigne from the one and thirtieth yeare of Asa when he was settled in the throne to the eight and thirtieth yeare of Asa when he dyed and his sonne Ahab succeeded him vers 29. it is manifest then that he reigned according to that account but eight yeares Vers 24. And he bought the hill Samaria c. This is given as the reason why it is said in the foregoing verse that he had reigned but six yeares in Tirzah it was because Zimri having burnt the royall pallace in Tirzah Omri bought the hill which was called Samaria of Shemer the owner of it and thereon built the citie Samaria which he made his royall citie the metropolis of his kingdome and so the other six yeares of his reigne he lived there Vers 26. For he walked in all the way of Jereboam c. If he onely continued in the sinnes of Jeroboam how is this rendered as a reason of that which is said before in the former verse that he did worse then all that were before him surely because having seen such fearefull effects of Gods wrath against the former kings of Israel for this their idolatry he notwithstanding continued obstinately therein as it were purposely to provoke the Lord yea and happely did with more violence force and presse the people to that idolatry whence we see there is mention made Mich. 6.16 of the slatutes of Omri to wit concerning that their idolatrous worship of the golden calves Vers 31. He took to wife Jezabel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians and went and served Baal c. This wife of Ahabs proved a most wicked wretch and a cruell scourge to the people of God we see Jehu complained of her witchcrafts and whoredomes 2 Kings 9.22 and it is often mentioned that she was the great persecutour of Gods prophets and the great promoter of the idolatry of Baal in the land and therefore it is that S. John cals that false prophetesse that in his time in the Church of Thyatira had seduced many to uncleannesse and idolatry Jezabel Revel 2.20 Baal it seems was the god of the Zidonians and so Ahab marrying a wife from thence did soon set up his wives god in the land of Israel Now this idolatry was farre worse then that of Jeroboams for in that though they had idols to wit the golden calves yet in them they pretended the worship of the true God but in the other they worshipped Baal as their god as is evident in that of Elijah to the Israelites chap. 18.21 If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him and so again vers 27. Cry aloud for he is a god c. Vers 34. In his dayes did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho c. This is here added to shew how many yeares after the curse which Joshua denounced was accomplished Josh 6.26 and that happely the rather as an instance of the horrible profanenesse and contempt of God in these dayes of Ahab for though Jericho belonged to the tribe of Benjamin yet it was at this time it seems under the power of the king of the ten tribes Hitherto Jericho had continued a heap of rubbish no man daring to hazard that curse by rebuilding of it but now this bold wretch Hiel the Beth-elite that is that dwelt in Beth-el undertook the work and paid dearly for it as Joshua had threatned See the note upon Josh 6.26 CHAP. XVII Vers 1. ANd Elijah the Tishbite who was of the Inhabitants of Gilead said unto Ahab c. Of all the Prophets that God raised up in the kingdome of Israel we find not any of whom so many strange passages are recorded both for his courage and miracles as there are of Elijah and therefore at the transfiguration of Christ Matth. 17 3. Elijah as chief of the prophets appeared together with Moses talking with Christ to signifie that both Moses and the prophets had in their severall seasons given testimony to Christ The people of Israel were never so corrupt as they were at this time for now the worship of Baal was established in the land and the worship of the true God was quite disregarded and the prophets and servants of God that would not bow to Baal were persecuted and slain as Elijah complaines chap. 19.10 and yet there were never more prophets sent unto them then there was at that time we see that Obadiah hid an hundred of them in caves chap. 18.13 nor never more glorious prophets as we see amongst the rest in this Elijah a man of transcendent courage and zeal as sitted for these corrupt times whence it is said of the Baptist who in his ministery was also fiery and fervent Luke 1.17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and in the power of Elias c. Against Ahab and Jezabels zeal to promote Idolatry the Lord raised up a prophet that should be as zealous for the opposing of their idolatry and the defence of Gods true worship as we see in this his first encounter with Ahab As the Lord God of Israel liveth saith he before whom I stand that is whom I continually serve according to that in Deut. 10.8 The Lord separated the tribe of Levito beare the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord or in whose presence I now am who is therefore a witnesse of the truth of that which I say there shall not be dew nor rain these yeares but according to my word that is there shall not be dew nor rain these ensuing yeares till I from the Lord shall say that again it shall rain Elijah moved with the horrible wickednesse of Ahab and Jezabel and particularly perhaps with their contempt and scorn of Gods prophets did it seemes by the instinct of Gods spirit pray that the Lord would shut up the heavens for some yeares and not suffer it to rain till he sought unto God that it might rain that so the wrath of God against the iniquitie of those times might be discovered and the pretious account he makes of his Prophets might be manifested and being by the same spirit of God assured that his prayer was heard he came to Ahab and threatned him before hand as is here expressed that he might see it was of God with this approaching drought and as he threatned it came to passe for three yeares and six moneths it rained not Jam. 5.17 Vers 3. Turn thee eastward and hide thy self by the brook Cherith c. When Elijah was gone from Ahab or at least when Ahab began to see there was no rain indeed for a long time as Elijah had said he began to be nettled with his words and enraged against the Prophet

therefore he must suffer for it yea the father must deliver his own sonne to death this they demanded peremptorily and nothing else would serve their turn wherein we see how God tryed the faith of Gideon in this first act of his obedience to Gods command Vers 31. And Joash said unto all that stood against him Will ye plead for Baal c. It seems that Joash had hitherto himself been a worshiper of Baal either therefore God did now extraordinarily change his mind and move him thus to plead against Baal or else Gideon had acquainted his father with the vision he had seen and so wonne him to approve of his fact and to desire the suppressing of that idol-worship which formerly himself had practised or else being a man indifferent for matters of Religion he sayes this to save his sonne not being very zealous for his idol-god as pretending it a wrong to plead for Baal as if he could not plead for himself Vers 32. Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal saying Let Baal plead against him c. As it were in memorie of this fact and to testifie his resolution to defend him in it For Jerubbaal is by interpretation Let Baal plead for himself In 2. Sam. 11.21 he is called Jerubbesheth Vers 33. Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the East were gathered together and went over and pitched in the valley of Jezreel That is they came over Jordan for they came out of the east and pitched in the valley of Jezreel which was in the tribe of Manasseh Josh 17.16 And the children of Joseph said The hill is not enough for us and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron both they which are of Bethshean and her towns and they who are of the valley of Jezreel and borders upon Issachar Josh 19.18 and not farre therefore from Ophrah where Gideon was there was another Jezreel in the tribe of Judah Josh 15.56 But the city which gave the name to this valley was in the tribe of Manasseh where the kings of Israel had a stately pallace 1. Kings 21.1 And it came to passe after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel hard by the pallace of Ahab king of Samaria Vers 34. But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon That is God by his Spirit did work upon him in an unusuall manner by stirring up in him a zealous desire to go against the Midianites and furnished him with all gifts requisite for the service he had called him to and because happely his carriage of himself in the businesse was such that every one might plainly see that it was a Spirit above that of mans that carried him on in this work therefore is it that in the Hebrew the word is clothed But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon And he blew a trumpet and Abiezer was gathered after him That is his own family the Abiezrites who now saw their folly in opposing him in Baals behalf or if not so were at least in their necessity glad to cleave to him Vers 35. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh c. That is both those within and those without Jordan And he sent messengers unto Asher and unto Zebulun and unto Naphtali and they came up to meet them The meaning is that he sent messengers to all the neighbouring tribes except Ephraim which occasioned that quarrell related afterwards in the eight chapter and so from all these tribes there came many in to Gideon for that is the meaning of the last clause And they came up to meet them that is from these tribes there came many to meet and to joyn themselves with those forces he had already gathered Vers 37. Behold I will put a fleece of wooll on the floore c. See the former note vers 13. No doubt Gideon had respect in these two following signes which he desired onely to be assured of Gods will concerning the event of his fighting with the Midianites and happely thereby to encourage his followers and souldiers whom he gathered together yet herein also we have a sweet resemblance of Gods dealing with the Jews first and afterward with the Gentiles the doctrine of salvation and spirit of grace are often in the Scripture compared to a dew distilling down from heaven Deut. 32.2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain my speech shall distill as the dew as the small rain upon the tender herb and as the showers upon the grasse Hos 14.5 I will be as the dew unto Israel he shall grow as the lillie and cast forth his roots as Lebanon A long time the Jews were filled with this dew whilst all the nations of the earth besides were dry and barren Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his Statutes and judgements unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them But now since Christs coming this fleece the people of the Jews are become dry whilst all nations of the earth about them are continually watered with this dew of grace Psal 107.33 34 25. He turneth rivers into a wildernesse and the water springs into dry ground A fruitfull land into barrennesse for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein He turneth the wildernesse into a standing water and dry ground into water springs Esa 35.6 7. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart and the tongue of the dumbe sing for in the wildernesse shall waters break out and streams in the desert Esa 43.19 20. Behold I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth Shall ye not know it I will even make a way in the wildernesse and rivers in the desert The beasts of the field shall honour me the Dragons and the Owls because I give waters in the wildernesse and rivers in the desert to give drink to my people● my chosen CHAP. VII Vers 1. THen Jerubbaal who is Gideon and all the people that were with him rose up early and pitched beside the well of Harod Which signifieth fear probable it is therefore that it was so called from the fear of those cowardly Israelites which here forsook their Captain and brethren Vers 2. The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands lest Israel vaunt themselves c. The whole army that Gideon had gathered when they were all together was but two and thirty thousand and the Midianites on the other side were at least a hundred thirty and five thousand for there were an hundred and twenty thousand of them slain in the first overthrow and the remainder that were left with Zebah and Zalmunna were fifteen thousand chap. 8.10 So that the Midianites were above foure times so many as the Israelites when Gideon had his whole army together Now considering first this great disproportion that was already betwixt the forces of

their superstition became a means to perpetuate the memorie of this wonderfull work of God in the confusion of their idol which otherwise within some short time might have been forgotten Vers 6. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod and he destroyed them and smote them with emerods Because that the Lord had so clearly discovered to the men of Ashdod that their Dagon was a vain idol and that the God of Israel whose ark they had boldly surprized was the onely true almighty God to wit by casting down their idol before the Ark and at last breaking it in pieces and yet notwithstanding they continued still as superstitiously devoted to their idol as they were before and were not afraid still to detain the ark of God in captivity as at the first therefore now the Lord began to take vengeance on the men of Ashdod the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the men of Ashdod c. Many Expositours understand the next words and he destroyed them of the plague of mice wherewith also that this time he destroyed and wasted their land chap. 6.5 and others of some other mortall disease which God sent amongst them besides the emerods but I rather conceive that all the following words are meant of the plague of the emerods wherewith God smote them and he destroyed them and smote them with emerods onely these words and he destroyed them are prefixed to make known that this disease of the emerods was amongst them not onely painfull and disgracefull Psal 78.66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts he put them to a perpetuall shame but mortall also so that many died of them and therefore the Ekronites cried out vers 10. They have brought about the Ark of the God of Israel to us to slay us and our people Vers 8. And they answered Let the Ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. This the Lords of the Philistines resolved upon to try hereby whether it were the presence of the ark that had caused those plagues or whether they came by chance with which conceit as yet they chuckered themselves else the Princes of Gath who were in this counsell amongst the other Lords of the Philistines would never have consented to the removing of the Ark to their city Vers 11. Send away the Ark of the God of Israel c. The men of Ekron being fully now convinced that it was because of the Ark that so much misery was fallen on them desire plainly that it might be sent back to the land of Israel but it seems their Princes loth yet to part with such a glorious trophee of their victory desired to try yet a little further for that after this it was sent both to Gaza and Ashkelon is evident chap. 6. vers 4. Then said they What shall be the trespasse-offering which we shall return to him They answered Five golden emerods and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines for one plague was on you all and on your Lords and again vers 17. And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespasse-offering unto the Lord for Ashdod one for Gaza one for Ashkelon one c. Vers 12. And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods The meaning of this may be that there were many smitten with the emerods besides those that died of them or else we must hold that there was some other deadly disease which God sent amongst them besides the emerods which is called in the foregoing verse a deadly destruction CHAP. VI. Vers 2. ANd the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners saying What shall we do to the Ark of the Lord c. Thus was God the more glorified when their very priests the most zealous maintainers of their idol-gods were brought to give this following advice which tended so much to the honour of the Lord and the shame of their idols The question they propounded to their priests was not What shall we do with the Ark but What shall we do to the Ark of the Lord Tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place that is in what manner and with what gifts shall we send back the Ark Being convinced by the heavy hand of God that lay upon them that they had trespassed some way against the Ark it seems their reason led them to think that some satisfaction or other was to be made and thereupon being resolved to send it away they consulted wherewith they should send back the Ark Vers 3. Then ye shall be healed and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you That is if they were healed as they confidently assured themselves it would prove then hereby they should know why hetherto his hand had not been removed from them Vers 4. They answered Five golden emerods and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines These were the trespasse-offerings which their priests and diviners advised them to send back with the Ark to wit as by way of acknowledgement that the God of Israel had brought upon them those plagues of the emerods and mice for their holding of the Ark of God captive amongst them and therefore the reason given in the following verse why they would have these presents sent back with the Ark is that they might hereby give glory to the God of Israel namely by an acknowledgement and confession of their sinne and the just hand of God that had been upon them for their sinne vers 5. Ye shall make images of your emerods and images of your mice that marre the land and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel the very same expression which Joshua used when he advised Achan to confesse his fault Josh 7.19 My sonne saith he give I pray thee glory to the Lord God of Israel It may well be indeed which some conceive that the sending of such absurd and ridiculous gifts with the Ark as emerods and mice was suggested by Sathan to their diviners in contempt of God but if it were so whilst Sathan intended hereby to dishonour God the Lord by his alruling providence intended hereby to cast the shame upon them and to bring great glory to his own name whilst the Philistines themselves were made to send into the land of Israel such things as might there remain perpetuall monuments and memorialls of those shamefull punishments wherewith God had humbled them It cannot well be conceived how they could make images of their emerods without making images of their secret parts where they were smitten with those ulcers which we call piles or emerods Now what a shame must it needs be to the Philistines to send to the Israelites the images of their secret parts thus tortured with an ignominious disease Doubtlesse they must needs judge it a great reproch to their nation but when men are under the wrath of the

the impotencie or her rage and passion which God by his all-ruling providence did now make use of for the preservation of his Prophet for else she would never have sent him word what she meant to do thereby giving him warning as it were to be gone Concerning this form of swearing So let the gods do to me and more also c. See the note Ruth 1.17 Vers 3. And when he saw that he arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba c. That he might not be exalted in mind because of those great wonders that had been wrought by him the Lord suffered him to be over-born with fears that he might see his own weaknesse insomuch that he who erewhile feared not Ahab and all his Baalites did now at the threats of a woman not onely flie into another kingdome the kingdome of Judah where good Jehoshaphat then reigned yea to the uttermost parts of that kingdome to Beersheba that was southward in the farthest part of all that land but also from thence withdrew himself into the wildernesse not as suspecting any evil from good Jehoshaphat the king of Judah but as fearing lest Ahab or Jezebel should send some or other into Judah to dispatch him there and happely the rather because there was too great correspondence betwixt Jehoshaphat and them and therefore when he went from Beersheba because he would not expose him to the wants of the wildernesse and because being alone he might the better hide himself he left his servant there Vers 4. And he requested for himself that he might die c. The misery that at present he underwent made him now as desirous to be rid of his life as before he was solicitous by flight to preserve it especially considering that dying here in an ordinary way Jezebel and her Baalites could not triumph over him It is enough saith he that is I have lived long enough I know I must die for I am no better then my fathers that have all dyed before me and therefore since my life is full of nothing but troubles and misery I desire to end my dayes presently Vers 6. And he looked and behold there was a cake c. This word behold intimates how wonderfull it was to him he not knowing from whence it came Vers 7. Arise and eat because the journey is too great for thee c. Though Elijah happely had not pitched upon the place whither he meant to go yet the Lord gives him notice that so farre and long he should still wander that it was fit he should well refresh himself with that provision which by his angels he had now sent to him Vers 8. And he went in the strength of that meat fourty dayes and fourty nights unto Horeb the mount of God So called because there the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush and there afterwards he gave the law to the Israelites How the strength of this meat could sustain Elijah so long it is needlesse to enquire since it was done miraculously by the command of God as he was pleased to sustain Moses as long without food so he was pleased by the strength of one meal thus to sustain Elijah thereby to shew with how little he can uphold the life and strength of his servants if they be brought into straits However observable it is that both Christ Moses and Elijah who appeared together when Christ was transfigured did each of them fast in their severall times fourty dayes and fourty nights without any sustenance Vers 9. What doest thou here Elijah As if he should have said why art thou not amongst my people executing the office of a prophet amongst them to which I have called thee Vers 10. And he said I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts c. That is I have been zealous for thy glory and worship and grieved in thy behalf to see thy people forsake thee and go a whoring after strange gods yea and I have opposed what in me lay the horrible apostacie of the times and hereby I have incensed the adversaries against me so that they seek to slay me as they have done the rest of the prophets and this is the reason I am here forced to hide my self but howsoever observable it is that the prophet makes not a direct answer to the question propounded but chooseth rather to imply the cause of his fear and flight then plainly to confesse that he fled thither which was his fault for fear of Jezebel For the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant thrown down thine altars c. That is the altars in the high places whereon the people had formerly sacrificed before the temple was built by Solomon for though it was a sinne to offer sacrifice upon any altar but that at the temple in Jerusalem and therefore those kings that pulled down these altars and took away these high places are highly commended for it yet the Israelites not doing it for this reason but onely out of their zeal for Baal that his worship might be promoted and that there might not be any memoriall left of the true God in the land of Israel it is reckoned as a sinne in them and a manifest proof of their bitter hatred of the true religion from which they were revolted Thus these words are usually understood by Expositours yet there may be another probable sense given of them they have thrown down thine altars that is they have destroyed thy worship to wit by restraining men from Gods altar at Jerusalem I even I onely am left and they seek my life to take it away That is there is none left but my self that do openly plead thy cause against thine enemies all the rest being either slain or hiding themselves chap. 18.13 Vers 11. And behold the Lord passed by c. That is the glory of the Lord wherewith he was pleased to manifest himself at present to his servant Elijah Thus in the first words the generall summe of the whole vision is expressed and then in the following words we are told more particularly how this was done first there was a great and strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks in pieces before the lord then after that there was an earthquake and after that a fire but the Lord was in none of these that is the Lord did not in these appear to Elijah speak and make known his will to him as he did afterward these were but glorious forerunners of Gods presence but then at last there came after the fire a still small voice and then the Lord appeared to him and instructed him what he should do Now the end of this vision or apparition I conceive was first to humble Elijah with those terrible foregoing signes of Gods Maiestie and power that so he might with the more awfulnesse and sear and readinesse to obey hearken unto that which God should say to him and withall acknowledge Gods mercy in that he

the city Eliakim therefore and those that were with him desired Rabshaketh to speak in the Syrian and not in the Jews language Speak I pray thee to thy servants in the Syrian language for we understand it and talk not with us in the Jews language in the eares of the people that are on the wall a strange request indeed this may seeme to be made to an enemy who they might be sure would do what he could to discourage the people and to raise sedition amongst them but first it is no wonder that men in danger should seek to help themselves in those wayes whereby there is little or no likelyhood that they should do themselves any good and secondly perhaps they desired this of him as refusing to continue the parley unlesse he would speak to them in the Syrian language upon which ground they might conceive he would yeild to them as hoping that upon this parley they would surrender the citie to him peaceably Vers 32. Vntill I come and take you away to a land like your own land c. Because the Assyrian king had lately carried away the Israelites captives into a strange countrey this people could not but feare the like measure by way of answering these their fears therefore he addes these words wherein he yeilds indeed that they might expect that at his return for their purpose was to go against Egypt assoon as they had perfected the conquest of Judea they should be removed out of their countrey but withall he addes that they should be carried to a land as good as their own Vers 36. But the people held their peace and answered him not a word for the kings commandment was saying Answer him not To wit lest they should rashly either exasperate the enemy or discover their fears or give any other advantage to them by any thing they should say and because there was no better way to pull down the swelling pride of this insolent tyrant then thus to seeme not to mind what he said or at least not to judge his words worthy an answer Vers 37. Then came Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah which was over the houshold and Shebna the scribe and Joah the sonne of Asaph the recorder to Hezekiah with their clothes rent c. To wit because of the blasphemy of Rabshakeh and the great distresse whereinto they were all like to fall CHAP. XIX Vers 3. THis is a day of trouble and of rebuke and of blasphemy That is this is a day wherein the poore people of God are in great trouble wherein the Lord hath testified his displeasure against us and rebuked us for our sinnes and wherein the proud enemy hath blasphemed Gods name For the children are come to the birth and there is not strength to bring forth That is such as is the condition of a woman in travell when the child is come to the very birth and then her strength fails her that she cannot be delivered such is our condition our sorrow is extreme our danger desperate as being brought to such extremities that unlesse help come presently we are sure to perish and no power or ability we have to help our selves so that unlesse God do miraculously help us we must needs perish both prince and people and in such extremities God is wont to come in to the help of his poore distressed people Vers 4. It may be the Lord thy God will heare all the words of Rabshakeh c. That is it may be he will manifest that he hath heard them by punishing him for them Wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left That is pray earnestly unto God for those few that are left of the people of God he calls them a remnant first with respect to the captivity of the ten tribes who were carried away into a strange land and so onely Judah and Benjamin were left secondly with respect to the havock that had been made amongst the people of Judah both in the dayes of Ahaz his father and now also by Sennacherib in many of their cities which he had taken and for these he desires him to lift up a prayer that is to pray fervently for in fervent prayer the soule of a man mounts up as it were to heaven and is above all thinking of earthly things according to that of David Psal 25.1 Unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul Vers 7. Behold I will send a blast upon him c. That is I will drive him out of the kingdome even as the dust or chaffe is driven by a blast of wind and thus the Lord shews how unable the Assyrian should be to stand against his indignation notwithstanding he thought his power could not be resisted What this blast was wherewith the Assyrian was driven out of the land may be probably gathered by that which is related afterward it may be meant either of the report of the king of Ethiopia's arming against him or of the slaughter which was made by the Angel in his army vers 35. or of the fear and terrour wherewith he was stricken of God upon those occasions or of all these together and so likewise for the rumour that is mentioned in the next words and he shall heare a rumour c. it may be mean● both of the rumour that the king of Ethiopia was come out against him vers 9. and of the rumour of the slaughter made in the Assyrian army perhaps the tumult and shreeking and grones that were then amongst them Vers 8. So Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah Rabshakeh finding that the inhabitants of Jerusalem would not yield to open their gates unto him went presently to Sennacherib to Libnah either to inform him of their resolution or rather to conferre with him concerning the army of Tirhakah the Arabian or Ethiopian king whereof it seems he had heard Whether he raised the siege and went away with that army he carried against Jerusalem chap. 18.17 it is not expressed The threatning letters which Sennacherib immediately sent to Hezekiah by terrifying him to make him yield is a probable argument that Rabshakeh had left his army still before Jerusalem under the command of the other captains and onely went himself to Sennacherib to consult with him concerning their affairs Vers 9. And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia Behold he is come out to sight against thee he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah And withall he gave them letters written to Hezekiah containing in effect the same message vers 14. and the reason why he thus sought by all means to terrifie Hezekiah was to make him yield presently to him that if it were possible he might be possessed of Jerusalem before they should heare of the coming of the Ethiopian army and that the rather because that citie would be the most convenient place for him to retreat unto with his army if need were to shelter themselves against the Ethiopians Vers

way of comparing of Jehoshaphat to Ahab we may see by that which follows vers 4. But sought to the Lord God of his father and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel Vers 6. And his heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord. That is he became zealous and very couragious in Gods cause and went forward with an high and magnanimous spirit without any basenesse fear or carnall respects Moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah The high places whereon the God of Israel was worshipped though contrary to his Law were not by Jehoshaphat taken away chap. 20.33 and therefore this must be meant of such high places and groves wherein they worshipped idol-gods These indeed Asa his father had taken away chap. 14.3 but it seems in the latter and declining dayes of Asa when he lay sick some of the people that lingred still after their former idolatry made use of the advantage of these times and did secretly set up their high places and groves again and these they were that Jehoshaphat after search made did now take away Vers 7. And in the third yeare of his reigne he sent to his princes c. to teach in the cities of Judah To see that they were taught We may not think that at other times the people of God did now live in the kingdome of Judah without any ordinary teaching but because he found that the people were in many places so inclined to idolatry as having set up their high places which his father Asa had pulled down these choice priests and Levites mentioned vers 8. were sent as visitours into the severall parts of his kingdome to see whether they were truely taught and by their own personall teaching both to confirm those that were rightly instructed and to convince those that were corrupt and to shew them how expressely the Law did forbid and threaten all idolatry whatsoever And with them these princes were sent to countenance and incourage them and happely to punish those that should oppose them or that should be found obstinate in their errours Vers 13. And the men of warre mighty men of valour were in Jerusalem That is his Generalls and captains and some companies of their souldiers still attended with them Vers 14. Adnah the chief and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand That is under his command Vers 16. Amasiah the sonne of Zichri who willingly offered himself unto the Lord. To wit to fight his battels some say as a Nazarite Vers 19. These waited on the king besides those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah That is these captains before mentioned and some of their bands by course for it is not likely that so many hundred thousand did at one time attend on the kings person at Jerusalem Yea because the totall number of the souldiers here mentioned amounts to eleven hundred and threescore thousand and it seems not probable that Jehoshaphat would have been so affrighted with the multitude of the Moabites and Ammonites that came against him chap. 20.12 if he had had eleven hundred and threescore thousand trained men in his kingdome besides those wherewith his strong cities were manned Therefore some conceive it more likely that he had not all these at one time but successively the trained band of Judah being first under the command of Adnah and then Adnah being dead under the command of Jehohanan and so likewise the trained band of Benjamin under the command of Amasiah first then Eliada and then Jehozabad and were in the severall times of these Generalls sometimes more and sometimes lesse CHAP. XVIII Vers 1. NOw Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance and joyned affinity with Ahab To wit by marrying his eldest sonne Joram to Athaliah Ahabs daughter chap. 21.6 and 2. Kings 8.18 Vers 2. And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria To wit about the seventeenth yeare of his reigne See the notes for this chapter 1. Kings 22.1 c. CHAP. XIX Vers 2. ANd Jehu the sonne of Hanani the seer went out to meet him Who reproved Asa Jehoshaphats father see chap. 16.7 And said to king Jehoshaphat Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord That is oughtest thou thus to joyn thy self in such strict wayes of love and friendship with such a wicked idolatrous wretch such an enemy to God and all goodnesse as Ahab is In some cases to joyn in league with infidels and idolaters is not unlawfull Gen. 14.13 when it is done onely to uphold peace to maintain mutuall traffick or for the common defence of their countreys but otherwise unnecessarily as out of love and friendship to joyn with them and help them is doubtlesse unlawfull and so it had been now with Jehoshaphat Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. That is God is highly displeased with thee and hath determined to poure forth his displeasure upon thee and this might have respect to that invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites which followed not long after chap. 20.1 or happely to some dissension that began at present betwixt his sonnes the seeds of that horrid slaughter which his eldest sonne did afterwards make amongst them chap. 21.4 Vers 3. Neverthelesse there are good things found in thee c. This is added to intimate that because of this the Lord would deal gently with him and even in judgement remember mercy Vers 4. And he went out again c. and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers That is where he found any idolatry or any corruptions amongst the people he reduced them to the true worship of God and reformed what was out of order amongst them Vers 5. And he set judges in the land c. To wit where he found any wanting Vers 6. Ye judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgement That is whose person ye represent and who is present seeing all you do and accordingly ready to stand by you and defend you if you judge aright and to punish you if you deal unjustly Vers 8. In Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and of the priests and of the chief of the fathers of Jerusalem c. See above vers 5. This is meant of the high senate or councel of the Sanhedrim in Jerusalem to which all appeals were made from inferiour courts and to which all causes of difficulty were referred both for ecclesiasticall and civill affairs and therefore it is said here that they were for the judgement of the Lord that is for ecclesiasticall causes concerning which God had determined in his law what should be done and for controversies to wit in causes merely civill See Deut. 17.8 9 10. Vers 10. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities between bloud and bloud between law and commandment c. That is where each party